Supporting successful transitions 
Information for early childhood education and care services

A positive start to school can lead to children developing a lifelong love of learning.
Transition programs help children to feel welcome, safe and confident in their new school environment and lead to reduced behavioural difficulties, improved social skills and ultimately improved academic outcomes. 
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services play a crucial role in ensuring all Queensland children enjoy a successful transition to school. 

What is transition to school?
Transition-to-school is an active process of continuity and change as a child moves into their Prep year. The process of transition occurs over time, beginning well before a child starts school and extending to the point when the child and their family feel a sense of belonging at school.
Transition programs include a range of actions or strategies that focus on meeting the individual needs of each child starting school, including continuity of learning and their social and emotional wellbeing. 
Strong relationships and communication between the child, their family, ECEC services, the school and the community are key to effective transition programs.

Statewide approach to support transitions
The Queensland Government has introduced a statewide approach for the development and implementation of transition-to-school programs. The approach focuses on strengthening partnerships between ECEC services, schools and families to ensure transition programs meet the needs of all children and families in their community. 
Each department region has an Early Childhood Education and Care Director and dedicated Transitions, Partnerships and Innovation Officers to work with ECEC services and schools in the region and promote collaboration on local transition-to-school programs. 
Schools will use information in the Supporting Successful Transitions: School decision-making tool to assist in planning and implementing targeted and evidence-based strategies with their transition partners.

Supporting children and families
With the increased focus on transition to school, ECEC services have an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience in supporting children and their families with this important step.
The trusting relationships you have built with children and their families are integral in ensuring their individual needs are met. 
Children and families might have questions about getting ready for school and are likely to look to you for support and encouragement.
You can help families understand the important role they will play in the transition-to-school process and help them to connect with their new school.
Your preparation of Transition Statements is one part of the transition process. The observations included in the statements on each child’s knowledge, skills and dispositions and the ways in which they respond to change is valuable information for all transition partners.
Supporting families to understand the purpose and value of Transition Statements will help to encourage families to share these with the school.

Collaborating with other partners
The Supporting Successful Transitions: School decision-making tool highlights the significance of partnerships as key to supporting children’s transition to school.
ECEC services are well placed to support children’s transition-to-school and act as a conduit between schools and children and their families.
All Queensland schools are encouraged to engage with local ECEC services and to consider their role as partners in the transition-to-school process. 
Having strong relationships with local schools and community partners can help you support children and their families as they prepare to start school.
Arranging visits between your service and local schools can help children begin to build relationships and increase their understanding of what to expect in a school environment.
Queensland schools are also encouraged to utilise the information contained in Transition Statements to ensure they are ready to welcome each child and meet their needs.
Your service’s approach to developing Transition Statements may be an appropriate starting point for your discussions.
By renewing and/or strengthening relationships with your local schools, your service can help shape transition-to-school strategies to meet community needs.

More information
Visit www.dete.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/about/successful-transitions for more information on:
•	the statewide approach to transitions
•	the Supporting Successful Transitions: School decision-making tool
•	transition resources for families
•	collaborating with schools
•	writing Transition Statements.