For Families

What is school readiness?

School readiness is a broad definition that involves a holistic assessment of a child. Traditionally, the focus has been on a child’s age and their general competencies to determine whether a child is ready for school. With greater research, we now understand that there are a range of additional factors which may affect a child’s ability to adapt to a new environment. This may include their physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, communication skills and general knowledge.
In Dockett and Perry’s study, teachers highlighted that children need to have certain skills rather than only specific knowledge to successfully transition to school.5 For example, this may mean being able to independently use the toilet, dress themselves, recognise their own belongings and pay attention.
Consideration of school readiness extends to the school environment, ensuring the school is ready to receive the child. This includes the school being prepared to provide the necessary support to optimise a child’s learning and development. Ready schools are flexible, supportive and guided by strong and positive leadership. Possible indicators of a school’s readiness include the existence of processes to plan and monitor a child’s transition to school, the adequacy of facilities, the school’s approach to student wellbeing, and collaboration between families and teachers.
 Transition to School: A Guide for Early Childhood Education”

Source: NSW Dept of Education

Where is my local school?

This page links to four informative booklets on a family’s transition to school, click on the link below.
1. Setting the Scene
2. Getting Ready
3. Settling In
4. Looking Forward
 What to do in the lead-up to school, what things are important, what to look for during transition and AFTER they attend school for the first time…

The Importance of Play based Learning

Children are naturally motivated to play. A play-based program builds on this motivation, using play as a context for learning. In this context, children can explore, experiment, discover and solve problems in imaginative and playful ways.

A play-based approach involves both child-initiated and teacher-supported learning. The teacher encourages children’s learning and inquiry through interactions that aim to stretch their thinking to higher levels.
Find our more here:

ECA Value of Play Statement

Play based learning can set your child up for success at school and beyond

21st Century Learners

The NSW Department of Education has identified four key 21st Century Learning Skills that are critical in preparing children for a positive start to school and beyond into adult life:

-Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
-Creativity
-Independent learning / Agency
-Resilience

NSW Department of Education 21st Century Learner

Family Strategies Sheet

 The role of your Early Childhood Education Service

 Relationships underpin children’s feelings about school. Working collaboratively with children, families, educators, teachers and the community promotes active participation and helps ensure every child is supported as they embark on the next phase of their educational journey.
When educators and teachers proactively engage in a process of shared learning and understanding about each child, the process of starting school can be a smoother one for all involved, with schools better prepared to receive each individual child.
Your child’s early childhood centre may be discussing and exploring big school within their program, teachers and students from local schools may be coming to visit, some centre may even be going on excursions to participate in a local school’s event.
Your centre’s educators will support your child’s transition by preparing a digital transition to school statement during Term 4, the year before your child starts school. The statement provides information about your child’s strengths, interests and preferred ways of learning. After providing consent, the statement is then shared online with your child’s school to help teachers prepare for Kindergarten students and support continuity of learning.

Child Health and Development

Understanding your child’s development is important.

NSW Health have developed a great range of resources to support families to understand, support and track their child’s development 
Child Health and Development

If you have concerns or are unsure about your child’s development, NSW Health provide
Learn the Signs. Act Early – Milestone monitoring tools

Alternatively you might want to contact Connect’s Pathways Program for face to face support.

Recommended Readings

5 things parents/guardians can do to make school transition easier

‘Getting Ready for School’ (social story) – NSW Dept of Education

Understanding the Continuity of Learning and Connect

Useful Websites

Guide for Parents and Caregivers

English – My child is starting school
A guide for parents and caregivers 

Filipino – ANG ANAK KO AY MAG-AARAL NA
Isang patnubay para sa mga magulang at tagapag-alag

Arabic – طفلي هو بدء المدرسة  
 دليل للآباء ومقدمي الرعاية

Hindi – मेरा बच्चास्कूल जाना आरम्भ करने वाला है 
 माता-पिता व देख-भाल कर्ताओं के लिए मार्गदर्शिका

Samoan – O LA’U TAMAITITI LEA UA AMATA I LE AOGA
 O le ta’iala mo matua ma i latou e tausia tamaiti

Chinese – 我的孩子 要开学了
父母和看护人指南

Vietnamese – CON TÔI ĐANG BẮT ĐẦU ĐI HỌC
Hướng dẫn cho phụ huynh và người chăm sóc

Punjabi – ਮੇਰੇ ਬੱਚੇ ਨੂੰ ਸਕੂਲ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ
ਮਾਪੇ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਗਾਈਡ

Spanish – MI NIÑO ESTÁ  EMPEZANDO LA ESCUELA
Guía para padres y cuidadores 

Tamil – என் பிள் ளள பாடசாளைப் படிப் ளபத் துவங் குகிறது
பபற் யறார்களுக் கும் கவனிப் பாைர்களுக் குமானவழிகாட் டி 

Urdu – میرا بچہ سکول شروع کر رہا ہے
  والدین اور سنبھالنے والوں کیلئے رہنمائی

Dari – طفل من دارد مکتب را شروع می کند 
                ​رهنمودی برای والدین و مواظبین