Transition to School
Starting school is an important milestone for both tamariki and their whānau.
Here at Swannanoa Preschool, we work closely with families and local schools to ensure this transition is a smooth, positive and confident experience for every child.
We have established strong relationships with our surrounding schools and these collaborative relationships help our tamariki experience successful transitions.
Te Whāriki outlines the wider world of family and community as being an integral part of the Early Childhood Curriculum.
Building Familiar Connections with our Surrounding Schools
We have strong relationships with our surrounding schools, particularly our neighbour Swannanoa School. These connections help tamariki become familiar with the school environment before they begin.
Our tamariki regularly visit the school and take part in everyday experiences such as visiting the library, attending assemblies, having lunch with the “big kids”, and joining in events like pet days and sports days
These experiences help children feel comfortable, capable and excited about their next step.
All tamariki have the opportunity to visit their future school with their preschool teacher. This helps build confidence and familiarity with their new learning environment.
We invite our local schools to visit us here at preschool.
We hold parent information sessions.
We have a transition to school board that shows which schools the tamariki will be attending.
Helping your child throughout the transition process
During the preschool years you can help your child by encouraging the following skills and dispositions
Encourage your child to:
Put on their shoes and socks.
Go to the toilet and wash their hands afterwards.
Dress and undress themselves. Especially important during swimming season.
Be able to ask for help and to share and take turns.
Show respect to others, listen when others are talking.
Show respect for the environment and resources in it.
Open their lunch box, the packets inside and their drink bottle. Many tamariki have difficulty with opening packets. Pre open packets or transferring to a plastic container can help.
Be able to blow their own nose.
Pack and unpack their backpack.
Be keen to try new experiences.
Foster an enjoyment of literacy and numeracy at home
Enjoy books together, have fun with the sounds of letters.
Talk about the beginning and end of the book.
Sometimes point to the words you are reading.
Ask them what might happen next during the story or for older tamariki, after the end.
Talk about what you are writing and why.
Model left to right reading and writing.
Let tamariki experiment with writing, squiggles are fine.
Have fun with numbers and counting during play.
Sandpit play, baking, building with blocks, imaginative play, painting, climbing, jumping, swinging and balancing are all experiences that support literacy and numeracy.
If your child shows an interest in writing their name, model a capital at the beginning and lower case for the remaining letters.
Working in Partnership
Successful transitions are supported through strong partnerships between families, early childhood services and schools.
We value these relationships and work together to support each child’s individual journey.