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. 

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.

This template is used as a school readiness program plan.

Setting children up for a confident and joyful start to school begins long before the first bell. This guide brings together evidence-informed strategies, play-based activities, and partnership ideas to help preschoolers develop the skills, independence, and emotional resilience they need for their big leap into school. 

This template can be used for children transitioning to school.

School readiness in early childhood refers to the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills that prepare children for formal schooling. High-quality early childhood education programs play a crucial role in enhancing school readiness by fostering language, literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development.

Play-based learning and school readiness are closely connected, as this approach nurtures the skills children need to succeed in school while maintaining their natural curiosity and love of learning. The following article provides information on How Play-Based Learning Supports School Readiness, Examples of Play-Based Learning for School Readiness, How Do Children Learn Concepts Through Play Based Learning, Examples Of Learning Colours, Numbers, Shapes, Letters Through Play-Based Learning, Importance of Play-Based Learning and more.