Canterbury kids get a “Good Start” to their School Years

Starting school is a critical moment setting tamariki on the path to educational success.

The aim of the Tātai Aho Rau Core Education and Rātā Foundation research partnership was to shift the practice of teaching staff working with children (aged 3-6) so that children experience successful transitions to school and kura experiences. 

There were three streams to the whole project - English medium, Māori medium, and Pacific medium. Each stream had differing aims, outcomes, and recommendations.

Learning to support successful transitions from early childhood education (ECE) to school takes time, attention, and personalised approaches. A successful transition makes a huge difference for a child and their whānau by giving them a sense of belonging, wellbeing, and engagement in their new learning community.

The Why – the whakapapa of the project

In 2017, discussions between Rātā Foundation, Tātai Aho Rau Core Education, and the Ministry of Education around the transition for tamariki from early learning services to schools. Despite a plethora of research, some tamariki continued to experience barriers to learning success.