The “My Preschool Memory Book” is a heartfelt end-of-year keepsake designed to honour each child’s unique early learning journey. This 6-page portfolio template helps educators capture meaningful moments, relationships, and milestones as children prepare to transition from preschool to kindergarten.

Kindergarten is a joyful and important year in your child’s learning journey. It builds the foundation for school readiness through play, relationships, and exploration. But every child develops at their own pace—and readiness isn’t just about knowing letters or numbers. This factsheet offers a holistic view of what “readiness” might look like, helping you reflect on your child’s strengths, needs, and personality.

In early childhood education, the phrase “school readiness” often conjures images of children sitting quietly at tables, practicing handwriting or phonics. But this narrow view overlooks the rich, embodied ways that young children learn. As research and practice continue to affirm, four-year-olds don’t need to sit still to be ready for school, they need to move, explore, and play.

The transition from preschool to kindergarten isn’t just academic—it’s deeply social. As children move from parallel play to collaborative learning, they begin to form friendships, navigate conflict, and express their unique identities. These social and personal skills are the bedrock of emotional wellbeing and school readiness.

In early childhood education, the decision to defer a child’s school entry by a year is often framed as “staying back.” But educators across Australia are challenging this language, advocating instead for a strengths-based perspective: sending children when they are developmentally ready.

This reflection guide is designed to support educators in rethinking school readiness through a holistic, child-centered lens. It encourages dialogue, challenges assumptions, and strengthens programming that honours each child’s unique journey.

Here’s a comprehensive guide on How to Approach School Readiness Planning for Preschoolers, grounded in evidence from ACECQA, the National Quality Standard (NQS), and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF V2.0).

This checklist can be used as a school readiness checklist.