Preparing for Kindergarten

Starting Kindergarten is an exciting milestone for both children and their families. At St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School, we understand that every child begins their school journey with unique experiences, strengths and interests. Our goal is to make the transition to school a positive, enjoyable and confidence-building experience for every child.

Join Our Free Playgroup

One of the best ways to prepare your child for school is by joining our free community Playgroup.

Open to all families with children aged 0–5 years, our Playgroup provides a fun and welcoming environment where children can learn through play, make new friends and begin to develop confidence in a school setting. Parents and carers also have the opportunity to connect with other local families while getting to know our school community.

Regularly attending Playgroup helps children become familiar with the St Brendan’s environment, making the transition to Kindergarten feel comfortable and exciting.

Our ‘I’m Starting School’ Booklet

To help your child feel confident and excited about starting school, every new Kindergarten student receives our “I’m Starting School at St Brendan’s” booklet.

Designed especially for young children, the booklet uses photographs and simple language to introduce them to life at St Brendan’s. It walks children through what their school day will look like, from arriving at school and meeting their teachers to visiting their classroom, playground, library, hall, church and canteen. It also introduces some of the friendly faces they will see each day, helping children feel familiar with their new environment before their first day.

I'm Starting School

A Smooth Transition

We work closely with families, early childhood educators and our onsite Early Learning Centre to ensure children feel comfortable, supported and excited about starting school. Through our comprehensive transition program, children have the opportunity to become familiar with our teachers, classrooms and school environment before their first day.

By building positive relationships early, we help children develop a strong sense of belonging and confidence as they begin their learning journey.

Kindergarten Orientation

Our Kindergarten transition program provides opportunities for children and families to:

Meet our Kindergarten teachers and school leaders
Visit classrooms and explore the learning environment
Make new friends before the school year begins
Become familiar with school routines and expectations
Participate in fun, engaging learning experiences

These experiences help children feel prepared and excited for their first day of school.

Supporting School Readiness at Home

School readiness is about much more than knowing letters and numbers. It is about helping your child develop the confidence, independence and social skills they need to thrive in a classroom environment.

You can support your child’s transition to school by encouraging them to:

Manage their own belongings, including unpacking their bag and putting on their hat and jumper
Open lunch containers and drink bottles independently
Use the toilet confidently and practise good hand hygiene
Follow simple instructions and complete small tasks independently
Take turns, share and play cooperatively with others
Express their thoughts, feelings and needs using words
Recognise and write their first name
Enjoy books together every day by reading, talking and asking questions
Explore numbers, shapes and patterns through everyday play
Strengthen fine motor skills through drawing, colouring, cutting, threading and playdough
Develop resilience by trying new things and persevering when tasks become challenging
Establish consistent morning, mealtime and bedtime routines

Every child develops at their own pace, and there is no single checklist for being “ready” for school. At St Brendan’s, we value each child’s unique strengths and work in partnership with families to ensure every student feels supported, confident and excited as they begin their learning journey.