Waratah Public supports early learners to transition to ‘big school’

More than 60,000 four- and five-year-olds are gearing up to start Kindergarten in 2025 in New South Wales public schools. 

Many of the schools expecting early learners are hosting special events including playgroups throughout Term 3 and orientation sessions in Term 4. 

 

At Waratah Public early learners are visiting their new classrooms, meeting the three current Kindergarten teachers and taking part in play-based learning activities.

 

The transition to school, Assistant Principal Leoni Butler said, is an exciting time for children, families and teachers and involves navigating and adjusting to several changes.

 

“These activities give children a feeling of belonging in the school,” Mrs Butler said.

 

The children become familiar with the layout of the school and the playground, the older students, and uniforms.

 

During orientation sessions parents also have the opportunity to understand how the school starts teaching at the beginning of the year, the structure of sitting at a desk and play-based learning, and the importance of regular school attendance.

 

“The more the parents feel comfortable with the school the easier it is for their children to transition into Kindergarten next year,” she said.

 

“It’s solving the fear of the unknown.”

 

Around 40 of the 51 children enrolled for Kindergarten at Waratah Public in 2025 have attended the orientation sessions. In the first week they were given their home reading folder filled with resources. In the following week they took home a placemat with photos and names of their Year 4 buddies and this week they will receive their library bag.

 

During their visits the children have enjoyed play-based learning activities including cutting and colouring, reading a story and personalising a worksheet that shows their families what they did that day.

 

“While the children are doing these activities the teachers have a checklist they’re checking off – are they left-handed, do they wear glasses, do they play socially with other kids,” Mrs Butler explained. 

 

“The teacher will pass that on next week to another teacher, who will add to it as they see things that come up,” she said.

 

“It’s identifying their strengths, interests, any additional needs, their preferences and their choices. The teacher can then implement some activities into the program ready for next year. If they really love dinosaurs, for example, we need to know that so we can make sure we have a selection of those sorts of activities for them to go to.”

 

The orientation sessions are part of an integrated program of school transition, which included a buddy playdate earlier this term where 37 children spent time with their Year 4 buddies in the playground.

 

Last term the school offered a playgroup for the first time, with the three sessions giving families the opportunity to visit their children’s classrooms with them.

 

These playgroups were a huge success, and something the school hopes to extend in the tail end of 2025, expanding to offer eight sessions. 

 

“It gives them the confidence of ‘This is my school, this is my classroom and I’m off to have some fun’,” Mrs Butler explained. 

 

“They’re all very happy and the kids were running out the door to show their parents their pictures and drawings.”

 

Tips for a strong transition from the NSW Department of Education 

 

A successful transition to primary school has been shown to improve a child’s longer-term academic, social and wellbeing outcomes, the NSW Department of Education notes. 

 

It also lays a strong foundation for positive partnerships and relationships with families to support their ongoing engagement in a child’s learning. 

 

The Department offered the following as a list of things children who are ‘ready for school’ should be able to do: 

 

• Recognise their belongings

• Open and close lunchboxes including packets

• Know how to ask for help when needed

• Be able to separate from parent or carer

• Interact socially with other children

• Put on their uniform

• Know hygiene routines

 

For more information about school readiness please see here. 

 

Image shows Teacher Arrabella Beal Atwood with current and future Kindergarten students.