Proudly showing-off their rainbow of new public-school uniforms, 19 excited kindergarten students returned to their old stomping ground to give preschoolers an insight into what big school might be like.

Craft, the library and exploring a new playground are among the top pick for the students, who transitioned from preschool to big school at the start of this year.

“I love playing with my friends and also eating food and snacks.” six-year-old Kaisa said.

Five-year-old Leo was bursting to share what he loved to do at his new school.

“Playing superheros with my best friend,” he said.

While his friend Summer was excited to talk about her new classroom.

“It’s really big with pictures,” she said.

The group all had met at ECTARC Smith Street Early Education and Care Service, before going to 12 different public primary schools across this Illawarra this year.

The kindergarten students now attend Wollongong Public School, Mount Saint Thomas Public School, Port Kembla Public School, Coniston Public School, Mount Keira Public School, Gwynneville Public School, Lake Illawarra South Public School, Waniora Public School, Mount Ousley Public School, Robertson Public School and Austinmer Public School.

After a successful first term of school, the kindergarteners were quizzed by the preschoolers on lunchboxes, the canteen and how hard schoolwork is.

Setting up for success

While this year has been a new adventure for the children, they were well prepared thanks to the long-daycare service’s Transition To School Program.

ECTARC emphasises a smooth and confident transition to primary school by fostering essential skills in social development, independence, and early literacy/numeracy through a play-based learning approach.

Acting Director Megan Cracknell said each year they invited their preschool graduates back to share their experiences.

“As soon as they have their uniforms on, they look so grown up and bigger than the preschoolers,” she said.

“The children sit down with our current preschoolers, and they talk about what big school is like and they can bust some myths and explain the going to kindergarten is not such a daunting prospect.”

Part of the program is an excursion across the road to visit Wollongong Public School.

“It’s heartwarming to see they have all transitioned well and we knew that they would. We prepared them well.

“In our transition to school program, it is all play-based and we develop a range of skills, so they hit the ground running and are ready to learn. We do that through inquiry-based learning, following their interest, along with the reading and writing pre-literacy skills.

“We focus a lot on their social and emotional skills to ensure they are confident and resilient when they go to big school, so they can make friends, they can join in play with others, they can sit in a group time and take turns.”

A smooth transition to school

Principal of Wollongong Public School Harold Hosier has been a teacher for 40 years and says the early childhood years make or break a child’s attitude and engagement with education and learning.

“It's important preschoolers come to school feeling really confident and flourishing in education rather than just surviving,” he said.

“If we get it right in those early years then they will become lifelong learners.”

Mr Hosier said there were some simple things parents at home to help youngsters get ready for school.

“Getting them to do little tasks by themselves is helpful, and I cannot emphasise enough the importance of reading to them – it makes a big difference to kids’ literacy,” he said.

"When I talk to preschool parents I tell them, listen to what the educators say here about your child's readiness.

"We have conversations around age because we have some parents who think, 'oh my, my child is turning five, they're old enough', and they may be old enough, but they may not be ready, and we would much rather see a child come in and absolutely fly than come in and just struggle, just manage."

The NSW Department of Education is committed to creating better transitions between early education and primary school to give children the best start in learning. 

It’s never too early to begin taking the steps towards a successful transition to primary school, which has been shown to improve a child’s longer-term academic, social and wellbeing outcomes.   

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

School readiness: what should my child 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 

  Source: NSW Department of Education