The power of playgroups in playfully preparing for school and lifelong learning!

The Enhanced Transition to Schools (ETTS) Project is a partnership between Playgroup WA, the Department for Education, Association of Independent Schools WA (AISWA), and Catholic Education WA (CEWA).

The focus of the project:

• Strengthening family engagement with schools through the creation, maintenance, and growth of community playgroups hosted on or near school sites
• Developing relationships between playgroups and schools.
• Reduce financial barriers for playgroup participation by utilising existing school infrastructure.
• Enrich home learning environments for children prior to school entry with evidence-based play resources.

This is expected to lead to more positive school transitions and long term improved educational outcomes.

 

Why Enhanced Transition to School Project is important

• Learning starts at least from birth – Learning happens through interaction and play
• Parents are their child’s first and most influential educators
• Transition to school is a process which starts well before starting formal schooling

A substantial body of research over decades show that children’s experiences prior to school build the architecture of their brains, influences their development and lays the foundation for learning, behaviour and health during their school years and beyond.

Research has shown that children who participate regularly in playgroups are much more likely to be developmentally on track when they start formal school. We know the substantial benefits of community playgroups for children and families. Playgroups in schools have all those benefits and have the additional benefits of the children and families together becoming familiar and confident in the school environment, getting to know other families likely to attend that school, and getting to know some of the staff who will be at the school. Children are more likely to feel safe and secure in the school environment when they do start formal school and their parent/caregiver needs to leave them. That sense of familiarity and belonging is expected to lead to a more successful school transition.

 

The Enhanced Transition to School Project Team

• Liaise with schools and families wanting to establish family playgroups on the school site
• Provide advice and support in the initial startup of new groups
• Provide an initial startup kit of toys, equipment and resources for the families to get started
• Ongoing advice is available when the playgroup is established and has PGWA Family Membership
• Encourage connection and relationships between existing playgroups and local schools

Information and resources

• Resources were drafted by experienced staff with training in early childhood education, developmental occupational therapy, speech pathology and child psychology.
• A suite of 40 different low cost/no cost play idea graded for babies, toddlers, 3–6-year-old children and play ideas suitable for the whole playgroup to enjoy! These play resources include a comprehensive variety of different types of play and cover all developmental domains – physical, social, emotional, communication, and cognitive (thinking, reasoning, literacy and numeracy). Check out the play ideas HERE!
• The Brain Box toolkit is a resource to provide accurate, consistent, and critical information on early brain and child development to parents and other community members. It is packed with extensive research on brain and child development presented in easily digestible sections focusing on early development, responsive relationships, stress, protective factors, play and learning ideas.

What has been achieved

This program has allowed access to no-cost venues with initial startup support and equipment has reduced financial and confidence barriers for new family run playgroups. The feedback from families and schools has been overwhelmingly positive, the 2023/24 financial year saw the below results:

Initially the Project was funded for two years. It has consistently proved to be successful with significant benefits for children, families and schools. Funding was extended several times and we now celebrate 10 years of the ETTS Project. We have recently been contracted for one more year of funding. With special thanks to the Project Manager of ETTS, Dianne, who has been with the project since day one and her team of amazing Development Officers! For the past 10 years, Dianne and the team’s dedication, vision, and tireless efforts have been instrumental in growing ETTS from a two-year initiative into the impactful, decade-strong program it is today. Their commitment to supporting families, fostering school connections, and creating welcoming playgroups has touched countless lives across WA.

Click here to explore ETTS play ideas