Mini vic.gov.au

This is a low bandwidth version of vic.gov.au. Contents may not be up to date. © Copyright State Government of Victoria

Transition to school resources for families

Templates and guidelines to help you introduce families to transition to school and support families and children during the transition.

On this page

Relationships are at the core of positive transition to school experiences.

When families, early childhood services, schools and communities work together in positive and collaborative ways, a child’s capacity to achieve their learning potential is significantly enhanced - and so is their general health, wellbeing, positive outlook and sense of purpose in life.

Introducing families to transition: a positive start to school

The most successful transition approaches prioritise ongoing communication and relationships with children and families. To ensure consistent messaging, you should begin to talk to families about transition: a positive start to school early in the year.

Families should be provided with the introduction to transition to school information sheet as part of this process.

Introduction to the transition information sheet

This information sheet explains to families the importance of sharing relevant information with schools and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services and how this information will be shared.

Family letter to accompany information sheet

A customisable letter has been written for you to provide to families with the introduction to the transition to school information sheet. This document can be easily used by your service by copying the letter onto your service letterhead, attaching it to regular newsletters or adding it to online communication to families.

This information sheet explains to families the importance of sharing relevant information with schools and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services and how this information will be shared.

Getting ready to start school

This fact sheet has been written for you to provide to families to explain what they can do at home to support their child to have a positive start to school.

Transition Learning and Development Statement

Every child attending a funded kindergarten program that is going to school will have a Transition Learning and Development Statement (TLDS) written for them. A child’s TLDS is written by early childhood educators and includes a section for families and the child to complete.

Families should be invited to contribute to the TLDS by writing in section 3: the family and reviewing the sections written by early childhood educators.

Families may also help their child complete section 2: the child, but sometimes this section will be filled out as part of the kindergarten program.

Families should be provided with the following resources to accompany their child’s draft TLDS.

Guidelines to help families complete Transition Learning and Development Statements

The Guidelines to help families complete the Transition Statement document explains to families the importance of contributing to their child’s TLDS.

English guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 71.32 KB (opens in a new window)

English guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 122.5 KB (opens in a new window)

Acholi guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.28 KB (opens in a new window)

Acholi guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 82.11 KB (opens in a new window)

Amharic guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.02 KB (opens in a new window)

Amharic guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 144.17 KB (opens in a new window)

Arabic guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.98 KB (opens in a new window)

Arabic guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 134.98 KB (opens in a new window)

Assyrian guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 77.56 KB (opens in a new window)

Assyrian guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 209.99 KB (opens in a new window)

Bengali guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 76.38 KB (opens in a new window)

Bengali guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 197.37 KB (opens in a new window)

Burmese guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 74.88 KB (opens in a new window)

Burmese guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 146.2 KB (opens in a new window)

Chin Zomi guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 92.16 KB (opens in a new window)

Chin Zomi guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 75.43 KB (opens in a new window)

Chinese simplified guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.5 KB (opens in a new window)

Chinese simplified guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 145.35 KB (opens in a new window)

Chinese Traditional guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.82 KB (opens in a new window)

Chinese Traditional guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 145.35 KB (opens in a new window)

Dari guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.87 KB (opens in a new window)

Dari guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 131.55 KB (opens in a new window)

Dinka guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 49.72 KB (opens in a new window)

Dinka guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 128.32 KB (opens in a new window)

Falam Chin guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.42 KB (opens in a new window)

Falam Chin guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 155.32 KB (opens in a new window)

Filipino guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.21 KB (opens in a new window)

Filipino guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 55.3 KB (opens in a new window)

Gujarati guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 76.89 KB (opens in a new window)

Gujarati guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 197.4 KB (opens in a new window)

Hakha Chin guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.48 KB (opens in a new window)

Hakha Chin guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 51.83 KB (opens in a new window)

Hindi guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.81 KB (opens in a new window)

Hindi guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 208.55 KB (opens in a new window)

Indonesian guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.27 KB (opens in a new window)

Indonesian guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 53.09 KB (opens in a new window)

Karen guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 75.12 KB (opens in a new window)

Karen guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 103.41 KB (opens in a new window)

Khmer guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 78 KB (opens in a new window)

Khmer guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 83.65 KB (opens in a new window)

Korean guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.03 KB (opens in a new window)

Korean guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 159.87 KB (opens in a new window)

Macedonian guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 49.99 KB (opens in a new window)

Macedonian guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 163.08 KB (opens in a new window)

Malayalam guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 71.39 KB (opens in a new window)

Nepali guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 75.64 KB (opens in a new window)

Nepali guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 203.55 KB (opens in a new window)

Nuer guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 49.72 KB (opens in a new window)

Nuer guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 189.28 KB (opens in a new window)

Oromo guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.24 KB (opens in a new window)

Oromo guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 96.41 KB (opens in a new window)

Pashto guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.27 KB (opens in a new window)

Pashto guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 149.01 KB (opens in a new window)

Persian guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 50.25 KB (opens in a new window)

Persian guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 127.32 KB (opens in a new window)

Punjabi guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 76.18 KB (opens in a new window)

Punjabi guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 174 KB (opens in a new window)

Russian guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.29 KB (opens in a new window)

Russian guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 169.51 KB (opens in a new window)

Samoan guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 49.31 KB (opens in a new window)

Samoan guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 113.66 KB (opens in a new window)

Sinhalese guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.34 KB (opens in a new window)

Sinhalese guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 193.12 KB (opens in a new window)

Somali guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.35 KB (opens in a new window)

Somali guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 53.35 KB (opens in a new window)

Spanish guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.3 KB (opens in a new window)

Spanish guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 53.79 KB (opens in a new window)

Swahili guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 49.29 KB (opens in a new window)

Swahili guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 51.57 KB (opens in a new window)

Tamil guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 201.36 KB (opens in a new window)

Tamil guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 182.29 KB (opens in a new window)

Telugu guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.09 KB (opens in a new window)

Telugu guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 185.8 KB (opens in a new window)

Thai guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.58 KB (opens in a new window)

Thai guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 217.17 KB (opens in a new window)

Tigrinya guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.99 KB (opens in a new window)

Tigrinya guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 152.06 KB (opens in a new window)

Tongan guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.72 KB (opens in a new window)

Tongan guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 135.71 KB (opens in a new window)

Turkish guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 72.19 KB (opens in a new window)

Turkish guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 152.79 KB (opens in a new window)

Urdu guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 73.16 KB (opens in a new window)

Urdu guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 120.12 KB (opens in a new window)

Vietnamese guidelines to help families complete TLDS Word 49.71 KB (opens in a new window)

Vietnamese guidelines to help families complete TLDS PDF 215.27 KB (opens in a new window)

Family letter to help families complete Transition Learning and Development Statements

A customisable letter has been written for you to provide to families outlining the guidelines. You can add your letterhead to this information or add the information to your family newsletters.

Transition: a positive start to the school resource kit

The Transition: a positive start to school resource kit is designed to provide practical guidance for professionals working with children and families during the transition to school process.

Section 2 of the kit contains helpful information and guidance on building relationships to support transitions.

Supporting English as an additional language in transition to school

This online resource provides advice and practical examples of how children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are supported to make a successful transition to school. It is designed to assist and guide early childhood professionals and teachers in schools. See: Supporting EAL at the transition to school

Enhanced transitions to support children with a disability or developmental delay

The department has an enhanced process to support children with a disability or developmental delay as they transition to school.

Support for children and families at risk of experiencing vulnerability

Transition to school can be an exciting, stressful and challenging time for young children and families due to the significant changes and adjustments required. Some children and families will take longer to settle into school and will find the transition more difficult than their peers will.

Resources are available for early childhood professionals to strengthen the experience of transition for children and families experiencing vulnerability.

View the full 2017 research - support for children and families at risk of experiencing vulnerability resource.

Background

Children and families experiencing vulnerability tend to have more complex support needs in early years transitions and this varies according to their unique circumstances.

A child is vulnerable if they or their families are experiencing multiple, complex challenges which may limit the capacity of the parents and other family members to effectively care, protect, and provide for their children, putting at risk their immediate wellbeing and long-term development.

Enrolling in Foundation (Prep) for 2027

All Victorian government primary schools follow the same timeline to enrol children starting primary school in 2027.

Key dates for 2027 Foundation (Prep) enrolment include:

These timings only apply to government primary schools. For details on non-government school (Catholic or Independent School) enrolment timelines, please contact these schools directly.

To help you support families understand the enrolment timeline, refer to the:

This pack provides a range of materials to support you to share primary school enrolment information with families and staff.

For more information and resources, visit Enrolling in Foundation (Prep).

Early childhood education and care

Updated 30 March 2026

About the VIC Government

Grants and programs

Jobs and careers

Arts, culture and heritage

Business and the workplace

Communities

Education and training

Environment, water and energy

Finance and economy

Health and social support

Housing and property

Law and justice

Safety and emergencies

Science and technology

Sport and recreation

Traffic and transport

Working in the Victorian Government