Transition to primary school
Starting school is a big step for children and families. Your child is about to begin their kindergarten journey at Sadleir Public School. This section is designed to support you and your child during this exciting transition, helping to make the start of school a positive and enjoyable experience. Here, you will find information about your child’s first year of formal learning. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact one of our kindergarten teachers for assistance.
Our school runs orientation and transition activities to help your child feel ready for Kindergarten and to support you as parents and carers.
Read the Getting ready for primary school guide for detailed tips and checklists.
What to expect in Kindergarten
Learning and development
Kindergarten follows the NSW curriculum. Children build early skills in literacy, numeracy, creative arts, health and physical activity, science and technology. Learning through play also supports social, emotional and academic growth.
Daily routines
Children learn routines such as morning arrival, snack and lunch breaks, lining up, using bubblers and moving safely around the school. Teachers guide children as they settle in, but practising at home helps.
Best Start Assessment
At the start of the year, all Kindergarten children take part in the Best Start Assessment. This is a friendly, one-on-one activity where teachers learn about your child’s literacy and numeracy skills. It is not a test and needs no preparation. The Best Start Assessment will occur within your child's first 5 weeks of school.
Getting ready at home
Kindergarten is a time for children to grow independence, make friends, and learn new skills. We understand that every child is unique and may achieve different milestones at their own pace. list below is designed to guide you in supporting your child as they prepare for school. You can help your child get ready by encouraging independence and establishing routines.
My child:
- Uses the toilet unaided (including a urinal for boys)
- Washes own face and hands
- Dresses themselves
- Uses a handkerchief or tissues correctly
- Attempts to tie shoelaces
- Recognises and cares for personal belongings
- Opens and closes lunch containers and bottles
- Unwraps and eats a packed lunch
My child:
- Follows directions/ instructions (more than 1 step)
- Provide full name
- Is understood easily by others
- Repeats a short message
- Speaks clearly and in sentences
- Expresses needs or wants
- Listens to others
My child:
- Shares and plays cooperatively with others
- Helps others
- Takes turns
- Invites others to play
- Waits patiently
- Participates in group activities
- Shares adult attention with others
- Adjusts to change of routine
- Independently greets and farewells parents, peers and staff
- Recognises they cannot always win in a game
- Shows interest in playing with others
- Accepts redirection or correction calmly
My child:
- Recognises own name in print
- Sits and listens to a story
- Shows interest in looking at books
- Remembers short rhymes or songs
- Shares what they like about a story read to them
- Makes connections about things in their life that
- happen in a story they’ve heard
- Uses children’s scissors
- Attempts drawings
- Realises that mistakes are a part of the learning process
- Attempts to hold a pencil with a tripod grip for writing
- Asks questions showing curiosity
- Persists with difficult tasks
- Counts objects or things with 1 to 1 correspondence
For more advice, see the Getting ready for primary school guide.