Preschool to primary school transition: how we get Toongabbie children ready

Starting big school is a big step, for children and for parents. If you are wondering how the preschool to primary school transition really works, you are in good company. At Little Stars in Toongabbie, we don't leave it until the last week of preschool. We have a long-term relationship with Metella Road Public School, just along our street, and we work closely with the school so our preschoolers meet it well before their first day. Here is what that looks like, and what you can do at home.

What does a smooth transition to school look like?

A smooth start isn't about a child knowing everything before day one. It's about a child who feels safe, curious and ready to have a go.

The NSW Department of Education says strong relationships and shared information between families, early childhood services and schools all help. So a good transition has three parts working together:

• Your child, building confidence and everyday skills.
• Your family, knowing what is coming and who to ask.
• Preschool and school, talking to each other and making the step feel familiar.

How we work with Metella Road Public School

Our relationship with Metella Road goes back a long way, and many Little Stars children go on to start kindergarten there. Children feel braver about places they have already seen. That is why our preschoolers visit the school.

On a visit, they walk through the grounds in their hats and bright vests, with their educators beside them. They sit together in the shade and talk about what they notice. They also settle on the carpet in a real classroom, with the number charts, the big screen and a teacher up the front, and see what a lesson looks like.

For a four-year-old, that changes everything. "Big school" stops being a mystery and becomes a place they know. They can picture the classroom, and they have already done the walk.

Not just visiting: getting ready every day

The visits are the exciting part, but most of the preparation happens quietly in our Waratah room, our program for children aged three to five. We don't run it like a classroom. We build the skills children will use at school through play, routines and real-life learning.

• Early literacy and numeracy. Stories, letters, sight word games, counting and even LEGO addition.
• Listening and group time. Small groups, whole-group activities and practice at waiting for a turn.
• Independence. Managing belongings, routines and everyday self-help skills.
• Friendships and feelings. Sharing, kind words and having a go when something feels hard.
• Problem solving. Independent exploration, hands-on science and lots of questions.

You also see how your child is going along the way, through half-yearly and yearly reports and parent-teacher nights.

When can my child start kindergarten in NSW?

In NSW, children can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn five on or before 31 July that year. By law, they must be in school by their sixth birthday.

When to start is an individual decision, and the department encourages families to talk it through with their preschool teacher, doctor or local school. If you are unsure, bring it up with your child's educators. They know how your child learns and plays, and they are happy to talk.

What is a Transition to School Statement?

A Transition to School Statement is a short summary of your child's learning, strengths and interests, written by their early childhood educators. It goes to you and, with your written consent, to your child's new school, so their Kindergarten teacher can get to know them before they arrive. You can read more on the department's transition to school pages.

Five things you can do at home

Small habits make a real difference, and none of them needs a worksheet.

• Practise the practical things. Opening a lunchbox, using the toilet alone, and putting on shoes and a hat.
• Read together every day. Talk about the pictures and ask what might happen next.
• Walk past the school. Point out the gate, the playground and where you will say goodbye.
• Talk it up, gently. Share something you loved about school, and let your child ask anything.
• Go to orientation. Most schools hold orientation days towards the end of the year. If Metella Road is your local school, its Kindergarten 2027 website is a helpful place to start.

Wherever your child is headed

Not every family's next step is the same school, and that's fine. The confidence, independence and love of learning your child builds with us go with them, wherever they start Kindergarten.