Supporting positive transitions

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Starting school is an important milestone in a family and child's life and the transition period to formal schooling is an opportunity for families, community, early childhood settings and schools to work together.​

A successful transition to school is marked by a child’s positive approach to schooling and sense of belonging and engagement.

For schools, transition planning should be responsive to children and families and consider other contexts that may influence the transition, including the local community, existing services and supports and social and economic influences.

Educationally, children’s transition to school is supported when there is real and purposeful alignment between the way learning is presented in kindergarten and the early years of school. This supports children to feel at ease in the new environment and to see themselves as successful learners.

Support available

A range of supports are available to help strengthen transition practices​ and provide the tools to have meaningful conversations with partners when implementing high-quality transition-to-school programs and improving outcomes for children.

• Information for early education and care service providers​ ​
• Information for families fact sheet​​
• School decision-making tool is designed to assist schools in strengthening their approach to transition and their selection of transition-to-school strategies. The tool provides a framework for school reflection on current transition practices.
  
• Transition statements​​ contain valuable information about a child's learning and development at kindergarten as well as suggestions for supporting their continued learning at school.​
  
• ​ Starting school resources​ contain activities, videos and other resources available to early education and care services, schools and families to assist children to positively transition to school.
  
• Wondering about school resources provide schools with an opportunity to connect with families and early education and care services, to support children with their transition to school.​
  

Helping your child move to school

A positive ​tran​​​​sition to school is your child feeling welcome, safe and confident in their new school environment. This journey begins before your child starts school and only ends when they feel a sense of belonging.

As a parent or carer, there are many ways you can help your child enjoy a great start to school including these simple tips:

• ​be ready to support your child
  
• listen to your child's thoughts about starting school
• make time to talk, read, play and relax with your child
• share your positive feelings about school
• practise new routines
  
• encourage your child to know how to seek help
  
• meet new children and families before the first day
• celebrate starting school.​​​​​​​​​​​
  

Orientation to school

Orientation is an important part of the transition to school. It can be described as an event or series of events and activities, which familiarise children and families with significant features of their new environment.

​For an optimal transition to school, all partners have a key role to play. The aim is to support every child to feel secure and have a sense of belonging at school.

Contact your local school to find out more about orientation for your child.

Watch videos about orientation:​​

• Orientation to school by Bradley Clarke, transcript—​​School principal Bradley Clarke discusses orientation to school.
• Orientation to school by Professor Bob Perry, ​transcript​—Leading Australian transitions researcher discusses orientation to school.​​
  

Enrolling in Prep

Find a Queensland state school near you and see how to enrol in Prep.​

Use the Enrolling in Prep checklist​, so you don't forget anything. Keep it handy on your phone or computer.