The importance of transitions
Professor Bob Perry
00:00-04:01
What we know from research that's been done over the last 20-odd years is that the early years are very important. The years before children come to school are extremely important in terms of brain maturation and so on. But we know that it doesn't stop there. It's not a case of getting it all right in early childhood, and then we don't have to worry about it anymore. We also know that if children have a successful transition to school, it's much more likely that they will have a successful schooling. It's not a guarantee, clearly things can go wrong, but it makes it much more likely that they can actually do well in school; do well socially, do well emotionally, do well academically. 
When the child feels that they belong in the new place, whatever it is, when the educator feels that they belong as part of this new group of children, when the family feels that they belong - I think then you can say they have all made an optimal transition. 
What is the most important aspect of transition to school?
What do I think are the most important things around transition to school? I think relationships, relationships, relationships. Relationships among children, so that children have friends when they're going to school, or if they don't have friends, that they have someone who can support them in making those friends. Relationships among educators;  prior to school and school educators. So that educators can feel a trusting professional arrangement which allows them to talk to each other as equals, to talk about the pedagogies that they use, to talk about the learnings that the children have, to talk about the needs that the children might have. Relationships [between] parents [and] educators in preschools, [so] parents [are] able to assist in the development of their child,  the academic development, the social development and so on. Then [parents] take that confidence in assisting their child into the school context, and build on a relationship with the school teacher, which is also designed to have them help their child. 
Those relationships are absolutely critical. Everyone has to feel that they're in this thing together, and they're in it for the benefit of the children. You can't do that without strong, positive relationships. 
Why is transition to school important?
Transition to school is an important matter, because of the way in which it impacts on everyone involved, and the way in which success follows success. 
Principals need to know their children, and they need to know the families of their children. They need to do things that make the children's eyes sparkle. 
So that's what I think optimal transition means. What it means in practice of course depends on the context and the people around, and all those sorts of things, but as a principle, that's what I think it means.