Students starting Kindergarten this year at Bilgola Plateau Public School were able to sit back in the comfort of their lounge room and get a child’s eye view of what to expect at “big school”.

The school produced a DVD for its starting students, which was narrated by children and features the 2007 Kindergarten students giving the lowdown on everything from using computers to singing the national anthem.

“It’s literally a day in the life of Kindergarten and it’s from a child’s perspective,” said the principal, Sharon Sands.

The DVD takes the prospective students through rooms they will be using, including classrooms (and where to hang their bags), the Bush House for music, the canteen and library.

It highlights different play areas, the weekly infants’ assembly, the school’s “friendship groups” and how in Kindergarten you “learn lots of things”.

The DVD contains photos of key staff, including Mrs Sands, office staff and canteen workers.

“That gives them an idea of all those day-to-day people they’re likely to see,” Mrs Sands said.

The school, on Sydney’s northern beaches, has enthusiastically embraced technology – with even Kindergarten students using interactive whiteboards – and wanted to reflect that focus by upgrading the annual transition to school program.

The DVD complements existing programs where starting students come to school for three two-hour sessions in Term 4.

Beginning students are paired with a Year 5 buddy to help them navigate the early days of school.