Supporting successful transitions after disrupted service delivery
The following toolkit was developed for early childhood teachers to support children’s successful transition and reconnection with kindergarten after COVID-19 disrupted service delivery.
Teachers and educators can apply these evidence–informed suggestions and reflections following any significant disruption to learning, for example, a natural disaster, health pandemic or local crisis.
In this toolkit
During difficult and uncertain times children learn about themselves and the world around them through their experiences and interactions.
As with all transitions, children learn from the changes they are navigating through.
This toolkit is broken up into four sections of practical ideas, considerations and resources to re-engage families and support children’s reconnection and sense of belonging.
Children are always learning. They learn from watching and interacting with those closest to them in family and community contexts.
Participation in early childhood education adds an extra dimension to children’s learning.
Children can access a range of spaces and materials, routines, rituals, and interactions with other children and adults in a planned and intentional learning environment.
Read how learning contexts matter.
Strengthening connections in times of uncertainty, pressure and disruption is important.
Being responsive and inclusive with children helps them to feel connected, builds trust, strengthens relationships and promotes wellbeing.
Read how connection supports wellbeing.
Relationships are essential to supporting successful transitions, particularly after disrupted kindergarten participation.
Each relationship will take time to establish and will be unique for every child and family.
Transitions are a critical time in which children and families make decisions about their feelings of belonging and connection with a service and its teachers, educators and staff, and other children who attend.
Read how transitions take time and partnerships.
A healthy, safe and well early childhood workforce is essential to delivering quality early learning and care.
Services can support teacher, educator and staff wellbeing by providing information on the signs of stress and burnout, strategies to respond early to these signs, self care and identifying when to ask for help.
Read how your wellbeing matters too.
The department acknowledges the contribution of Queensland Kindergarten Central Governing Bodies in this resource’s development, in particular, the significant contribution of The Gowrie (Qld) in developing key messages and practical reflections.