Come along with Little Ted and Kiya as they prepare for their first day at primary school. This episode reflects some of the common experiences for children starting school for the first time, sharing helpful ‘tried and tested’ strategies to incorporate at home and in early learning settings.
In this special episode, Play School explores helpful transition to school strategies – helping to build social and emotional readiness, nurture resilience and encourage independence – being ready together for the next big adventure.
Play School is delighted to have collaborated with early education expert and researcher, Anthony Semann (Semann and Slattery) on ‘Ready, Set, Big School’.
Linking To The EYLF
Engaging with this episode and follow-up learning experiences will link to Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Learning Outcomes including:
- Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity (1.1 and 1.2)
- Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world (2.1)
- Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing (3.1 and 3.2)
- Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners (4.1 and 4.3)
- Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators (5.1, 5.3, 5.5)
Follow Up Ideas
- Reduce the number of squashed sandwiches coming back home! In the weeks leading up to starting school, check online for some yummy, healthy lunch box ideas. Encourage children to help you decide on favourite filling combos for sandwiches and wraps. Visit Raising Children Network for lots of helpful information about packing healthy lunches for children. Get off to an environmentally friendly start by choosing sustainable lunch packaging and reusable containers.
- Using new school equipment can be tricky. Encourage children to practise opening and closing their bags, lunch boxes, clothing zippers and buttons, lunch boxes, pencil cases and shoes.
- Role playing is a great way to help children feel ready for new things. Try role playing as Abi and Maurice did and pretend to meet a new friend. You could also try scenarios such as asking to go to the bathroom, or you could play out other daily routines e.g. Where will we meet when the bell goes? What to expect at out of school hours care (OOSH)? If you are not sure about some of these things yourself, the transition to school information provided by your school should help. Read through information provided together in short snippets and encourage children to ask questions as you read.
- There will be lots of variation in how different children react to starting school. Provide opportunities to talk and think together about the changes ahead. When considering how much time to spend discussing and ‘preparing’ together, remember to be guided by your child. Talking too much about anticipated change is not beneficial and can sometimes create unnecessary worry.
- Most early education settings plan a series of intentional transition to school learning experiences. These may include lunch box days, wearing new uniforms to preschool, telling news about school visits, inviting special guests to talk about school (such as Kindergarten teachers or school aged students). Keep up to date with the things your child is doing around school readiness at their early learning setting - you might like to try those ideas at home over the summer school holidays.
For more Resource Ideas: Early Education Notes, Special Episode - Ready Set, Big School
To watch the episode: Play School: Ready, Set, Big School
Reference:
Early Education Notes, Special Episode - Ready Set, Big School
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