Preschool Pathways
A positive start to school can help children to become lifelong learners
Starting preschool is an exciting time for children and their family.
Each child’s journey to preschool is different. Children might transition from home or an early childhood education and care setting, they might attend a public preschool or continue into their early childhood education and care preschool program.
As part of Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT (845kb) the ACT Education Directorate has launched the Preschool Pathways program, designed to support children in their transition to preschool.
The program acknowledges parents and carers as their child’s first teacher and recognises that a successful transition will look different for every child. When parents and carers, schools, early childhood education and care settings and the broader community work together to support children through transitions, we help them to feel secure, confident and connected as they take the next step on their learning journey.
Resources for families
Resources for families are accessible on the Education Directorate website:
Resources for early childhood professionals
A suite of modules is available to support ECECs, early childhood service providers, preschools and community groups to enhance transition practices and work with parents and carers to build their knowledge and confidence to support their child in their transition to preschool.
The modules include:
Module 1: Supporting your child in their transition to preschool (for parents/carers)
Module 2: Learn to play, play to learn (for parents/carers)
Module 3: Best practice transitions (for ECECs/Preschools)
Module 4: Train-the-trainer (for facilitators)
Each module provides online and face-to-face delivery options and includes a powerpoint presentation, supporting resources and a facilitator guide. The modules can be delivered as stand-alone sessions or connected sessions and are designed to be adapted to meet the needs of your context and community.
If you would like support to deliver the modules in your context please email the Preschool Pathways Partners preschoolpathways@act.gov.au
Module 1: Supporting your child in their transition to preschool
This workshop provides resources and strategies based on research, for parents and carers in the ACT to ensure best practice for children and families as they transition to preschool. You can adapt the resources to suit delivery in your context and support existing transition approaches. The Preschool Pathways partners are also available to support delivery.
Target audience: Parents and carers
Module aims:
Build parent/carer confidence to support a smooth transition to preschool.
Empower parents to be active partners in their child’s learning, as their first teacher.
Module 1 - Slide Deck.PPTModule 1 - Facilitator Outline.DOCModule 1 - Facilitator Guide.DOCModule 2: Learn to play, play to learn
This workshop provides information for parents and carers on play-based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). You can adapt the resources to suit delivery in your context - the workshop can be delivered as a stand alone workshop or incoroporated into other parent/carer information sessions about preschool. The Preschool Pathways partners are also available to support delivery.
Target audience: Parents and carers
Module aims:
Build parent/carer understanding of play-based learning and what learning looks like in a preschool setting
Build parent/carer understanding of the EYLF.
Module 2 - Slide Deck.PPTModule 2 - Facilitator Outline.DOCModule 2 - Facilitator Guide.DOCModule 2 - Supporting Resource.PDFModule 3: Best practice transitions
This wokshop enables early childhood settings to reflect on their approach to transitions and identify areas for further improvement. You can deliver this session in your context with your preschool team. The Preschool Pathways partners are also available to support delivery.
Target audience: Early childhood professionals, educators, schools, ECECs (for delivery in house to teams)
Module aims:
Understand the importance of quality transitions to ECEC and year- before-school settings
Collaborate with EC professionals to discuss and gather ideas to promote effective transitions that promote relationship building and coordination between families, ECEC settings and preschools
Develop approaches and practices for ECEC and government preschools to effectively transition children and families into their setting with positive relationships and confidence.
Module 3 - Powerpoint.PPTModule 3 - Supporting Resource.PDFModule 3 - Facilitator Outline.DOCModule 3 - Facilitator Guide.DOCModule 4: Train-the-trainer
This workshop supports partners to deliver the Preschool Pathways program modules and provides facilitation tips and tricks. This module has two components: Train-the-trainer for online delivery and Train-the-trainer for face-to-face delivery.
Target audience: Facilitators of Preschool Pathways modules
Module aims:
build confidence and skills to deliver face to face and online workshops.
Face to face facillitation resources
Module 4 - Face to Face.PPTModule 4 - Face to Face Guide.PDFModule 4 - Face to Face Checklist.DOCOnline facilitation resources
Module 4 - Online Slide Deck.PPTModule 4 - Online Guide.PDFModule 4 - Online Checklist.DOCFurther Support Available
Preschool Pathways Partners
The Preschool Pathways Partners are a team of four who work with educators in ACT public preschools and in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) services that are partners in the ACT Government’s 3 year old initiative, to build their knowledge, confidence and capacity to implement inclusive practices, enhance transitions and provide continuity for children and families.
The Preschool Pathways partners are also available to support delivery of the Preschool Pathways modules in partnered ECEC and ACT public preschool settings.
For more information please contact preschoolpathways@act.gov.au