At SMSS, we believe that a transition for students into their first year of schooling is a crucial step in their educational journey. Our Prep Transition Program is designed to foster connections between local Early Childcare Education Centers (ECECs), children, families, and school staff, and supports positive and confident transitions into our school environment.
The Early Years Transition Support Pathways aim to:
- Build strong connections and collaborate with local feeder ECECs
- Provide opportunities for future Prep students to familiarise themselves with our school staff and environment
- Build open communication and trust between our school and community
- Provide opportunities for future Prep students to understand the expectations and routines that keep them safe in our school learning environments and play spaces
- Provide opportunities to learn about each individual student and their family through our Prep Conversations
- Provide transitions that meet the needs of individual families and children
- Support all students and families to have a successful transition into their first year of formal schooling, at SMSS
Our unique transition pathways occur BEFORE students begin Prep at SMSS and provide opportunities to support all future Prep Students and Families start the YEAR successfully in our school environment.
SMSS Prep Parent Information Evening:
Each year we invite all our confirmed in catchment future Prep parents to our Prep Parent Information Evening. This provides families with an opportunity to meet our Leadership Team, teachers and staff, and learn more about our school.
This presentation will provide information about:
- School routines and processes throughout the school day
- School philosophy on learning
- Supportive behaviour processes
- Start and finish times
- Uniform expectations
- Curriculum delivery
- Opportunities to stay connected and be involved with our school
Prep Enrolment Conversation
All future confirmed in catchment Prep students and their families will attend a 20-30 minute conversation with a member of our school staff. Parents/Carers will have the opportunity to share information (e.g. family background, medical, social and emotional, special interests) about their child/ren. Students will complete diagnostic activities to support the makeup of balanced classes.
Connections with Feeder ECEC Centers:
As a school, we are in contact with local Early Childhood Education Centers to organise ways in which the centers and the school can connect and assist in making the transition process for children and families as supportive as possible. Members of staff visit the centers to observe, learn about, and build connections with children anticipated to attend our school. We also present parent information sessions at the centers in the second half of each year, to ensure parents have as much information as possible to set their child/ren up for success when transition to a formal schooling environment.
'Monty's Mates' – Prep Induction:
All in-catchment and enrolled future Prep students are invited to attend our 'Monty's Mates' transition sessions, designed to create a warm and welcoming environment where students can build a strong sense of belonging. Children are given the opportunity to visit, work and play in a variety of learning spaces which includes the Prep classrooms and outdoor play areas. They will meet and build connections with our Prep teachers, teacher aides, Leadership Team members and supporting staff, whilst having opportunities to make new friends.
While the children are in the classrooms, parents attend information sessions hearing from leaders about Prep readiness, milestones, our school processes, and curriculum delivery. Parents will also hear from our school Parents and Citizens Association (P&C), Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and Outside School Hours Care provider, Jabiru.
By working in partnership with families, we ensure that each child's needs are met, making the transition to SMSS smoother and more enjoyable. We lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning, helping our students thrive socially and emotionally as they embark on their exciting new adventure in Prep.
SMSS Community Playgroup:
Our SMSS Community Playgroup facilitated by our Early Years Transition Teacher. We cater for children from birth - 4 years and meets every Friday from 8.45am-10.15am. Playgroup provides a wonderful opportunity for SMSS families to make connections and build relationships, all while spending quality time with their children through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Programming for playgroup is aligned to the Australian Curriculum, Early Years Learning Framework, Age-Appropriate Pedagogies and 3a (Abecedarian Approach Australia).
Playgroup provides opportunities for:
- The parent/carer and child to take part in shared experiences, strengthening their relationship
- Strengthening parenting capacity through modelling of how to facilitate and engage in play
- Develop children's language by engaging in conversation and pre-reading and pre-writing skills
- Developing children's social skills, group interactions, turn taking and responsibility to others
- Establishing strong, warm, and supportive relationships with other children and adults
- Building an awareness of the school and staff
Numbers are limited for each term to ensure the best opportunity for all children/families attending the program to be supported and engaged. If you are interested in attending and engaging each week, please email community_playgroup@springmountainss.eq.edu.au .