Start Strong Connections

Project summary

Objective

The objectives of Start Strong connections are to:

  • Build the research and evidence base for transition to school for children with disability and additional needs, to inform future policy and program development.
  • Increase the capacity of early childhood educators to support children with disability and additional needs and their families with early intervention and the transition to school process.
  • Identify, document and promote a best practice service coordination model to support children with disability and additional needs who are transitioning to school, and support their families.

Benefits

Research shows that children with disability and/or additional learning and support needs who are provided with transition to school support experience improved academic and social outcomes.

What will success look like and how will it be measured?

Objective Outcome Indicator/s

1. Build the research and evidence base for transition to school for children with disability and additional needs to inform future policy and program development.

There is robust research available into transition to school for children with disability and additional learning needs.

Literature review complete

Research projects identified, and funded

Research complete/published

See Objective 1.

The school is ready for the child day one of Term One.

Number of pilot programs that offer targeted supports and services

Number of children/schools/preschools supports or services are delivered to

Number and type of reasonable adjustments made by the schools involved, and whether these are ready for the beginning of the school year.

2. Increase the capacity of early childhood educators to support children with disability and additional needs and their families with early intervention and the transition to school process.

Early childhood educators and schools have the information, skills, resources and networks they need to support a best-practice transition to school process for children with disability and additional needs.

Feedback from early childhood educators

Number of professional development/training sessions delivered

Number of resources developed

Number of networking sessions held/networks identified and/or developed

See Objective 2.

Strong data and information sharing channels exist to support early intervention and transition to school, and to encourage a holistic, collaborative approach.

Online transition to school statement (and related resources) are available, and inclusive of children with disability and additional learning needs

Data from the Disability and Inclusion program, and other relevant data sources is shared within the Department, and more broadly where possible/relevant (including through the National Disability Data Asset pilot ECE project)

Definition of disability and additional needs clarified through National Disability data asset pilot ECE project

See Objective 2.

Children participate meaningfully in all aspects of the school community from day one of kindergarten.

Reasonable adjustments data from primary schools (i.e. number of reasonable adjustments identified and made on schedule)

Feedback from families

3. Identify, document and promote a best practice service coordination model to support children with disability and additional needs transitioning to school and their families.

There is an evidence-based, best practice and ‘business as usual process’ for ECE services, schools and families to follow for children with disability transitioning to school that is widely available and accessible for families, ECE services and schools.

Best practice process/processes identified

Process is documented and promoted through various, audience appropriate channels

Website downloads of processes documents

Feedback from pilot projects using the process

See Objective 3.

Stronger transition to school networks develop between schools and ECE services.

Number of ECE and DoE primary school staff using the online transition to school statement


Key project milestones

This project is currently in re-scoping phase, after not being resourced for the previous two years. The timelines for the project milestones identified below will be developed once the project lead is recruited later in 2021.

  • Literature review (draft completed)
  • University research projects underway
  • Transition to school process is mapped
  • Begin pilots of innovative and best practice projects on TTS for children with disability
  • Make available professional development for ECE educators on TTS for children with disability
  • Develop communications resources and materials for key stakeholders
  • Support data sharing initiatives related to TTS for children with disability within the Department and across agencies

Project Governance

  • Division: Education and Skills Reform
  • Project executive: Executive Director, Early Childhood Education and Schools Policy
  • Project lead: Manager, Strategic Initiatives
Return to top of page Back to top