Preparing children for the leap into formal schooling involves more than academic knowledge—it means supporting their holistic development across cognitive, social, emotional, and physical domains. This checklist supports educators and families in identifying foundational skills and strengths, in alignment with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) outcomes and contributing toward Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) goals such as practice refinement, documentation, and improved transition planning.

The Pencil Grasp Posters show the ages and stages and different ways that children hold their pencil that is most common among children. It is fairly common for young children to still be learning how to correctly hold their pencil. These will be great to add to the learning environment or even used as a reference for Educators when observing a child holding a pencil. 

Among all the changes that impact a child’s early life, one of the most significant is the move from early education and care setting to a full-time school. The following article provides Educators with a guide on planning supportive transition practices for preschoolers going to primary school the following year including practical ideas to involve children, partnering with families, collaborating with other professionals, planning transition programs and more. 

The Early Years Learning Framework identifies that positive attitudes and competencies in literacy and numeracy are important aspects
of communication and are vital for children’s successful learning. The indicators have been developed to support teachers to extend and enrich every preschool child’s numeracy and literacy learning. The following article provides information on What Are The Indicators, the Importance of The Indicators, Learning Processes, Numeracy and Literacy Indicators and more. 

Let's celebrate with these spectacular colourful shaving cream fireworks! Easy to make and it's messy and fun!

It is essential that all children growing up in Australia have access to opportunities to become proficient speakers of English.

At this point preschoolers begin to interact effectively with others. Play becomes more innovative and organized and “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” begins to emerge. Preschoolers have developed an understanding for other’s feelings and become more sensitive. They will also want to be given more responsibility and enjoys helping out with chores... basically at this stage a preschooler is a mini adult.

Preschoolers enjoy talking and are happy to tell their ideas or what they're thinking. They combine words with gestures and facial expressions to make their stories more believable and interesting. Words begin to flow easily and with little effort. During this age, preschoolers will have an endless amount of questions and seeks more detailed information about events or topics that interest them.

At this age, preschoolers make big progress in gross motor skills such as running, jumping, balancing and climbing. Their movement becomes agile and more controlled and learning ability also begins to increase. This enables preschoolers to take part in a variety of activities.

Preschoolers continued progress with fine motor skills depends on the stimulation and encouragement they receive on a daily basis. Improvements typically occur steadily between this age and preschoolers begin to complete small tasks that they couldn't do earlier. Such as cutting with a knife, holding a pencil correctly etc.