Other resources

The following resources have been compiled for parents and carers who may be seeking further information about transition to school. A range of resources have been included but the list is not exhaustive. Since materials have been selected to represent differing perspectives, inclusion of a particular item on the list should not be taken as endorsement by KidsMatter. If you are concerned about the mental health of your child you can find information about getting help here.

Download ‘Other resources’ as a PDF (288KB) or select from the following:

Australian government and non-government organisation online resources

Raising Children Network
(Federal Government, Parenting Research Centre)

Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children’s Hospital

National Childcare Accreditation Council

The factsheet is also available in numerous languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Farsi, Filipino, Greek, Indonesian, Korean, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese.

Kindergarten Parents Victoria (KPV)

Vision Australia
Vision Australia has information on transition to school for all children and includes information for children who are blind or have low vision.

Early Childhood Australia

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State and territory government websites

State and territory government websites have varying amounts of information on starting school and transition. Whilst some of this information is specific to government schools in their particular state or territory, often the information is useful for families in other states and territories and non-government schools as well.

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Department of Education and Training
This website has information for parents and carers with children starting school including the booklet Starting School – A Guide for Parents.

Other information includes directory of schools, term dates, curriculum, and disability education.

New South Wales
NSW Department of Education and Training
The NSW Public Schools website has a section with information on transition to school.
NSW Department of Education and Training

The NSW DET also has a booklet called Time to start school – Family guide to starting kindergarten with tips from other parents, teachers, principals and early childhood specialists.

Northern Territory
NT Department of Health and Families
The NT Families website has a tip sheet library which includes a Starting School leaflet.

Queensland
QLD Department of Education and Training
The QLD DET has information on preparing for school, and includes a Get Set for Prep kit with a number of information sheets for parents and carers.

South Australia
SA Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service – Parenting and Child Health
The SA CYH website has a section with information on starting school and includes the topics of preparing for school, once at school, starting school can be stressful, listing resources in South Australia. SA Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service website

SA Ministerial Advisory Committee: Students with Disabilities
The SA Ministerial Advisory Committee has a document containing information to assist children with a disability or additional needs to transition during early childhood care and education: Transition Guidelines

Tasmania
TAS Department of Education
The School Life webpage contains information for parents, carers and the community. It includes enrolment and starting school issues and links to the following resource:

Victoria
VIC Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
The VIC DEECD Starting School webpage contains specific information about starting school and transition to school in Victoria, including the Transition Learning and Development Statement and Information.

Western Australia
WA Department of Education
The WA Department of Education resource Schools and you includes information for parents, carers and the community on getting ready for school.

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International resources
PBS Parents have a Going to School resource which includes information on starting school, before school starts, talking with kids about school, parent-teacher partnership:

Books for parents and carers on starting school

  • Your child’s first year at school: A book for parents
    J. Connor & P. Linke. (2008). Early Childhood Australia, Canberra, ACT.
  • Is your child ready for school?: A guide for parents
    S. Heriot & I.L. Beale. (2004). Acer Press, Camberwell, Vic.
  • Our family is starting school
    B. Perry & S. Dockett. (2008). Pademelon Press, Sydney.

Books for children starting schools

There are many children’s story books available about starting school. Some examples of these are listed below:
Australian

  • A Special Place – NSW Department of Education and Training (online book)
  • Fiona the pig’s big day
    Leigh Hobbs (2008) (Penguin)
  • First day
    Margaret Wild and Kim Gamble (1998) (Allen & Unwin)
  • Tom goes to kindergarten
    Margaret Wild and David Legge (2010) (ABC Books)/li>

International books available in Australia

  • Billy and the big new school
    Catherine and Laurence Anhold (2009) (Albert Whitman & Co)
  • Buzzy had a little lamb
    Harriet Ziefert and Emily Bolam (2005) (Blue Apple Books)
  • I am too absolutely small for school
    Lauren Child (2005) (Candlewick Press)
  • Meet the Barkers: Morgan and Moffat go to school
    Tomie de Paola (2006) (Penguin)
  • Mr Ouchy’s first day
    BG Hennessy (2006) (Putnam)
  • When an elephant comes to school
    Jan Ormerod (2004) (Lincoln)
  • Who will go to school today?
    Karl Ruhmann (2008) (Michael Neugebauer Book)

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Other useful websites

Raising Children Network is an Australian parenting website containing articles on a range of topics such as development, behaviour and health for children of all ages.

HealthInsite contains links to a wide range of up-to-date and quality assessed information on important health topics. Topics are listed alphabetically, and information relevant to children can be found under ‘C’ at: www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics

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