Strategies to support successful transitions to school
Early childhood educators play a crucial role preparing and supporting children and their families as they embark on their school journey.
29 August 2024
Transition to school is a significant milestone for children and families, marking the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in a child’s educational journey. Early childhood educators play a crucial role in this process, working closely with families and children to ensure they are ready for school. This is because early learners who experience a smooth transition exhibit better academic success and are more likely to stay engaged in school.
The following strategies are designed to help support children at your service have a positive transition experience and start school with a strong foundation for ongoing learning and social development.
Collaborate with families
Engaging meaningfully with parents and carers is an important aspect of effective transitions. Regular communication and working collaboratively helps families feel valued, supported and included in their child's educational journey, leading to better outcomes for children and stronger school-community connections. You can do this in many ways, including:
creating opportunities for families to share their thoughts and concerns, for example, via surveys or conversations during drop-offs or pick-ups
organising family information sessions to provide parents and carers with an opportunity to ask questions, learn about what to expect in the school environment and understand how they can support their children at home
seeking their knowledge, perspectives and expertise about their child and support they might offer. Draw on these insights, together with your understanding of each child's unique needs and strengths, to develop transition plans that are comprehensive and responsive to each child’s needs.
encouraging families to access transition to school resources for further guidance and resources on how they can support their child’s transition to school.
Practice example
Learn how Goodstart Bathurst supports children’s transition to school, including through its ‘Big School Shed’ play-based learning program.
Engage in ongoing preparation
Transitions should be viewed as a long-term process rather than a one-time event. Preparing children for school starts well before the final year of early childhood education. Continuous support and engagement during the years leading up to school can significantly ease the transition experience.
Play-based learning is crucial in preparing children for school. The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) emphasises the importance of play in providing opportunities for children to learn problem-solving, social interaction and critical thinking. Activities that incorporate these elements can help children develop the necessary skills for a successful transition to school experience. Outdoor play activities that encourage teamwork and cooperation can help build the social skills needed for the primary school environment.
Activity ideas
What you need – materials for simple science experiments, such as baking soda and vinegar or objects to test sinking and floating.
What to do – allow children to freely explore, make predictions and observe outcomes. Introduce an element where children record their hypotheses and observations using drawings, symbols or early mark making. Document the outcomes.
Ask – pose thought-provoking questions, such as:
what do you think will happen next?
why do you think that occurred?
Next – help children reflect on their results and discuss their conclusions, integrating literacy and numeracy into the activity.
What you need – a large canvas or butcher’s paper and a variety of open-ended art materials.
What to do – allow children to take the lead in deciding what themes to explore or add a prompt to inspire creating a collective artwork together.
Facilitate discussions about the children’s ideas and plans for the artwork, encouraging them to articulate their thoughts and collaborate. Introduce new techniques or materials to stretch their creative thinking.
Ask – pose questions to enhance language and self-expression, such as:
can you tell me about what you’re creating?
how did you decide on these colours?
Next – encourage collaboration, communication and the sharing of ideas, and support children to resolve conflicts if they arise. These skills can enhance a successful transition to school and support a child’s language development and self-expression as they articulate their plans and negotiate with peers.
Build connections with local schools
Building connections with schools in your local area will assist in identifying joint opportunities or activities that can support children’s transitions.
Where possible, collaborative planning sessions between early childhood teachers and educators and primary school teachers can help ensure transition activities are aligned and responsive to the needs of the children. This may include:
inviting school staff or students to visit the service
holding regular video calls with Kindergarten classes
identifying ways children may be able to attend school-run transition activities.
Facilitating strong partnerships between families and schools is also fundamental to supporting transitions. If frequent visits, joint excursions or community events can be organised, these activities can foster relationships and create a sense of familiarity and support as children navigate their new setting.
Practise school routines and experiences
Providing play opportunities and experiences that simulate common school routines can support children to develop their independence and social skills. This may include introducing routine activities at mealtimes or setting up a home corner focused on transition to school.
Role play focused on school routines can help children feel more prepared and confident about starting school, and enables them to express feelings and thoughts through their play in a safe environment. Role play also provides opportunities for children to engage with their peers and develop important social skills such as cooperation and empathy, as well as self-help skills as they explore dressing up in school uniforms and packing school bags.
Other transition activities, such as reading books about starting school and having regular ‘lunch box days’ where children practise opening and eating their own lunch, can also build familiarity and excitement.
Tools to support effective transitions
- How are we tailoring our transition activities to accommodate the diverse needs of all children in our service?
- How do we provide families with comprehensive information and resources?
- How are we creating opportunities for families to be actively involved in the transition process
- What opportunities have we explored to ensure we can effectively collaborate with local schools to ensure a successful transition for children?
- Explore our suite of Transition to school resources to enhance your strategies and practice.
- Use the Transition to School Digital Statement document.
- Share resources with families:
- Visit the Inclusive learning support hub, which offers information on how schools can support families of children with additional needs.
- News