Transitions

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Early childhood
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Transitions

HomeEarly childhood education resourcesTransitions

Topic summary

Positive transitions during a child’s life have far-reaching benefits.

During early childhood, children make a number of transitions. In addition to starting at ECE and moving from ECE to school, children also undergo transitions within ECE, such as the transition from one group, room or carer to another. Children may also shift from one ECE setting to another as the result of moving house or for other reasons. 

Research indicates that the success of any major transition in the early years of life has a positive correlation with the success of other transitions people experience throughout their lives. Starting school is as significant to children as many other major life events. In terms of meaningful lifetime transitions, starting school is on a par with the likes of the birth of a sibling, moving to a new house, the separation of parents, or even the loss of a loved one. 

A number of studies have established the importance of transitions in young children’s lives as well as the key factors that contribute to positive and successful transitions. It is particularly important to attend to children’s social emotional competence and readiness for transitions, and to build their resilience by retaining an element of challenge and uncertainty in any transition. 

Transitions should be thought of as a process that takes place over several months rather than as a single event. The evidence on positive transitions indicates that they rely on close collaboration and communication between the graduating and the receiving school or centre, and among children, teachers and families. It is important to pay careful attention to the practical steps involved in the transition process as well as the academic and social emotional challenges they create for children. 

  • How does your centre manage the transition for children who are arriving or leaving?
  • How can you ensure that you begin preparing for the transition early?
  • How can you work with parents and whānau to evaluate children’s social and emotional readiness for school?
  • How can you involve parents and whānau in the process and support them to support their children?

Research reviews

Using social media to support the transition from early childhood education to school

Innovative ways to use Facebook and other social media tools to support the transition to school.

Supporting children and their families through the transition to school

Practical ways that early childhood education and primary school teachers can help ensure that the transition to school is a positive and successful experience for children and their families.

Webinars

Early transitions into, between and out of early childhood education

This webinar speaks to earliest transitions in early childhood education as threads of significance in and across time.

Transitions from early childhood education to school – Part 2

This webinar examines the Pathways section of Te Whāriki and its potential to support learning as children transition from early childhood education to school.

Understanding and enhancing young children’s transitions – Part 1

Sally Peters and Hazel Woodhouse from the University of Waikato explore transitions in the early years.

Infographics

Snapshots

Key insights: Supporting early transitions in early childhood education

Learn more about the international research project exploring transitions in early childhood education.

Making connections between Te Whāriki and the NZC to support transitions

Further insights from our second webinar with Sally Peters and Hazel Wodhouse on supporting enriching transitions from early childhood education to school.

Key insights on transitions from Sally Peters and Hazel Woodhouse

Supporting children’s transitions in the early years.
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