The only signs of upset Lorna Brennan saw when school started this year didn’t come from the usual suspects.

“The only tears we saw were from the parents,” Buninyong Public’s Schools as Community Centre (SACC) facilitator said.

The Kindergarten class of 2008 at Buninyong Public School was the first cohort to benefit from the extended transition program established with the opening of the adjoining school community centre in 2006. The program aims to increase the children’s school readiness skills and ensure a positive start to school for the students – and their parents.

Buninyong Public assistant principal Debbie Coyle said the Early Bird program, which this year ran throughout Terms 2 and 3, provided a learning opportunity for those children who had not had any experience with prior-to-school services.

“It caters for those children who haven’t been to preschool before and are not used to following rules and routines in a structured environment,” Mrs Coyle said. “They get to come along with their parents (as well as any younger sibling they may have) and work with the teacher through structured activities. Because we ask that the parents stay with their children we have the opportunity to start building those home/school partnerships.”

The program started in week five in Term 2, for half a day per week, and ran throughout Term 3.

This term the children (without their parents) joined their future Kindergarten classmates – who have had prior-to-school experience – in the Kinder Start program, which ran for two half-days each week.

Mrs Brennan said the children were paired up with Year 5 “buddies” who assisted and supported the students when they started Kindergarten.

Literacy and numeracy packs were developed with parents who could then use the resources at home with their children. Parent sessions on nutrition and health were run and the children had their sight, hearing and developmental milestones tested by community health workers.

“It allows us to see the children before they come to school,” Mrs Brennan said. “We’re aware of anything we need to have in place as well as informing the parents of any need for specialist intervention or referral.

“The children settle into school very well … and I think the parents are more comfortable to approach the school.”

Parents Colleen Senz and Chris Martyn said the transition programs allowed their children to form friendships and get familiar with classroom routines.

“It helps them integrate into the school,” said Ms Senz, whose daughter Shannon starts Kindergarten next year.

Mr Martyn, whose son will also start school next year, said the programs taught children how to play together and share.

“By coming here they’re happier playing with the other kids and it’s a lot easier for them to go to school,” he said.