These discussion guides were originally published 3 November 2021.

Transition to school case studies discussion guide

Purpose

This document is intended to support principals, school leaders and teachers unpack and reflect on CESE’s transition to school cases studies and consider how the content is relevant to your school.

Discussion

Use this document in a group setting with colleagues from your school or network. If you are working with colleagues from other schools, consider sharing differences and similarities in your transition practices during the discussion.

1. Working in pairs or a small group, allocate 1-2 cases studies to each person.
2. As you read the case studies allocated to you, consider:
   
   a. What are the main themes covered in this case study?
   
   b. What examples are provided for each theme?
   
   c. What else stood out to you?
   
   
3. In your pair or small group:
   
   a. Explain the context of the school you read about and share the main themes covered in the case study.
   
   b. Identify which of the themes can be seen at your school. Discuss how this is similar or different to how this looks in your school compared with the case study school.
   
   c. Identify themes or examples from the case study that could be put in place in your setting. Discuss what action is needed to do this.
   
   d. Consider who should be involved in the actions you’ve identified in point c. What can you do to get started on implementing some of these actions?

Transition to school literature review discussion guide

Purpose

This document is intended to support leaders and educators in schools and early childhood education services to unpack and reflect on CESE’s transition to school literature review update, and consider how the content is relevant to your setting.

Discussion

Use this document in a group setting with colleagues from your school, network or early childhood education service. If you are working with colleagues from other settings, consider sharing differences and similarities in your transition practices during the discussion.

Questions

1. What are the main points being made in this publication? What stood out to you? Whichmain points are most relevant in your context?
2. Think of a time when a child made a successful transition to school. What did this looklike? What did you observe that indicated they made a successful transition? Whatworked well, and what, if anything, would you do differently now?
3. Think of a time when a child did not have a successful transition to school. What did this look like? How did you know they were experiencing challenges with the transition? What did you do to support this child? What, if anything, would you do differently now?
4. What strategies, policies or practices are currently in place at your school, early childhood education service or in your classroom that support a successful transition to school?
5. What other strategies, policies or practices could be put in place at your school, early childhood education service or in your classroom to support a successful transition to school?
6. What action is needed as a next step to implement or strengthen transition to school practices at your school or early childhood education service? Who should be involved?