Transition to school: case studies
These case studies were originally published 3 November 2021.
The NSW Department of Education is committed to ensuring that every student, teacher, leader and school improves every year. These case studies form part of a series to support the NSW Department of Education’s focus area ‘give children the best start in learning’ by creating better transitions between early education and primary school. A successful transition to school is about laying strong foundations for year-on-year improvement by ensuring that our students are engaged and ready for challenge. The case studies refer to and draw on the department’s new Strong and successful start to school transition guidelines.
For more information about how the NSW Department of Education is supporting a strong and successful transition to school, visit the NSW Department of Education Early Learning and Early Childhood Education web pages. For an overview of the key findings from literature on the transition to school, see CESE’s transition to school literature review.
Note. Fieldwork for the case studies was undertaken after the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, but before the 2021 Delta outbreak.
Purpose of resource
The ‘Transition to school: case studies’ resource supports the NSW Department of Education’s strategic goal of ‘All children make a strong start in life and learning and make a successful transition to school’. It explores transition strategies implemented in 4 NSW Government schools that support a strong and successful transition to school.
When and how to use
The resource is a suite of 4 case studies, and is accompanied by the Transition to school literature review. School leaders and teachers can read, reflect on, discuss and implement themes and strategies highlighted in the case studies as part of school-developed High Impact Professional Learning (HIPL).
The appropriate time to use this resource may differ for each school, leader and teacher.
School leaders can:
- unpack the case studies, using the accompanying discussion guide, as part of whole-school professional development and/or stage or grade team meetings
- encourage teachers to share key findings during professional development
- reflect on strategies, policies or practices currently in place that support a successful transition to school
- support staff to find alignment between the transition strategies, the School Excellence Framework and the department’s Strong and successful start to school transition guidelines.
Teachers can:
- read the case studies and reflect on how the themes and examples may be relevant to their specific setting
- unpack the case studies, using the complementary discussion guide, in a group setting.
Contact
Email feedback about this resource to info@cese.nsw.gov.au using subject line ‘Re: Transition to school: case studies’. You can also subscribe to the CESE newsletter and connect with us on Yammer.
Alignment to system priorities and/or needs: NSW Department of Education Strategic Plan 2018-2022: 'All children make a strong start in life and learning and make a successful transition to school.'
‘Brighter Beginnings’ initiative.
Alignment to School Excellence Framework: Learning domain – learning culture (transitions and continuity of learning).
Alignment with other existing frameworks: Australian Professional Standards for Teachers – Standards 1 and 7; NSW Department of Education’s Strong and successful start to school transition guidelines.
Reviewed by: Early Childhood Education; Curriculum, Early Years and Primary Learners.
Created/last updated: Originally published 3 November 2021.
To be reviewed: CESE publications are prepared through a rigorous process. Resources are reviewed periodically as part of an ongoing evaluation plan.