<p>Tip sheet and planner: kindergarten to primary school</p><p>Print this page as a planner for the different stages in moving from primary to secondary school. Visit the Learning Together section Education planning for your child for much more information about planning and supporting your child’s transition from kindergarten to primary school. Visit the section Choosing a school for more on school options and enrolment, and A guide to supports for students for more information about the supports available in schools, including the PSD application process.</p><p>Prior to your child’s 4-year-old kindergarten year  Start talking to friends, neighbours and other networks about school options.  Look at school websites and find out about different schools.  Go to primary school open days, tours, fetes and other events.  Telephone or meet with principals of any schools you are interested in.</p><p>Early in your child’s 4-year-old kindergarten year  Revisit the schools you are interested in and meet with principals of any schools you are interested in.  Go to primary school open days and tours – take your child with you if you can.  Once you have narrowed down your choices, take your child for a visit to the school.  Make a final decision on your preferred primary school and put in an enrolment application – check with the school about application processes and due dates.  Make an appointment to meet the principal after you have made your decision (well before the application due date, which is usually much later in the year), to begin planning how the school will support your child.  In the meeting, begin the process of applying for any supplementary funding if that your child might be eligible for, such as Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) funding, or funding to support building modifications or specialist equipment. Eligibility criteria for the PSD are outlined in PSD Guidelines, downloadable from the DET website.</p><p>April to June of 4-year-old kindergarten year  If the school is applying for PSD funding or its equivalent, attend appointments with therapists or for assessment, and collect information to support the school’s application for funding to help support your child.  If the school is applying for PSD funding, you will need to participate in the application process, including meetings of an Application Student Support Group, to discuss your child’s application.  With your input, the group will fill in the Educational Needs Questionnaire (ENQ), to determine your child’s support needs in various areas.  The answers to the ENQ are transferred to the Student Learning and Support Statement – Goals and Strategies. This is the initial plan for your child’s educational program.  The school collects all documentation for the PSD application and submits it, usually by July. </p><p>Association for Children with a Disability (ACD) T 03 9818 2000 or 1800 654 013 (rural callers) W www.acd.org.au 1 September of 4-year-old kindergarten year  If a PSD application was made, the result should be known by September.  Whether or not a PSD funding application was submitted or successful, meet with the school again to further plan your child’s supports, and to create a transition plan for supporting your child to transition from kindergarten to school. Such a meeting is required for children who have Kindergarten Inclusion Support (KIS) funding.  Suggest that the school invite any professionals to that meeting who know your child and can help support their transition, such as their kindergarten teacher, therapist or case manager. If your child is receiving KIS, you can receive additional support for transition – see the DET website under ‘Sharing our Journey’.  The school principal should know the outcome of any funding applications by this time. Unsuccessful applications can be appealed by the school within 15 working days. Whether or not applications for funding were successful, work with the school to plan your child’s supports.</p><p>October/November of 4-year-old kindergarten year  If your child’s kindergarten has not already worked with you to complete their ‘Transition Statement’ or equivalent, this should happen now. This is a key document that summarises your child’s needs and strategies to support their learning. It includes a section for parents and carers to fill in. </p><p>November to January prior to school starting  Attend orientation activities for the school, along with any additional orientation activities.  Over the holidays, spend time in the playground and getting to know the school layout  Work with your child at home to get them ready for school, for example using ‘social stories’ to prepare them, or practicing any of the independence skills they might need at school.  Attend any additional orientation activities prior to the first day of school, such as a visit during the student free day prior to the first day, for your child to meet their teachers and become familiar with their classroom and the school grounds.</p><p>First term of school  Support your child as agreed with the school during transition planning.  Make regular times to check in with the classroom teacher and any other staff about how your child is settling in.  Schedule the first SSG meeting for early in the term, to assess your child’s initial time at school, adjust their supports as needed, and further develop their Individual Learning Plan.</p><p>Association for Children with a Disability (ACD) T 03 9818 2000 or 1800 654 013 (rural callers) W www.acd.org.au 2</p>