Transition to Kindergarten

Starting primary school is a big step for children and families. Our school runs orientation and transition activities to help your child feel ready for Kindergarten and to support you as parents and carers.

Read the Getting ready for primary school guide for detailed tips and checklists.

Kindergarten 2027 - Parent information evening

Wednesday 29 July | 5.30-6.30pm | Library

We warmly invite you to join the team from Forestville Public School for an informative session on about our school. Meet our Principal and the Assistant Pricipal for Early Stage One, and learn more about preparing your child for school as well as details unique to Forestville Public School. We look forward to welcoming you!

No RSVP required. All prospective parents are welcome.

Kindergarten orientation mornings

Thursday 19 November | 9.30-10.45am

Wednesday 25 November | 9.30-10.45am

Tuesday 1 December | 9.30-10.45am

We warmly welcome our new Kindergarten families to attend our orientation sessions, designed to help children settle smoothly into school life. These sessions give your child a chance to explore the classroom and get comfortable with the school environment.

At the same time, we offer parent information sessions to provide important details about our school routines, curriculum, and how you can support your child's learning journey. These sessions are a great opportunity to meet staff and ask any questions you may have. If you need an interpreter, let us know.

Kindergarten teacher preschool visits

Each year, our Kindergarten teachers visit local preschools in November and December. These visits are an important part of preparing for the new school year and supporting children as they transition from preschool to primary school.

During their visits, our teachers:

Meet children who will be starting Kindergarten at our school in the following year.
Observe the children in their current learning environment, which helps teachers understand each child’s interests, strengths, and any support they might need.
Talk with preschool educators to learn more about the children’s development and experiences.

These visits are designed to ensure a smooth and positive start for our new Kindergarten students and to help families feel supported during this important transition.

First week of school

Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th February 2027

School hours are 9.00am to 3.00pm

Supervision is provided in the playground from 8:30am each school morning.

Pick up is at 3:00pm from outside the classroom. For families using after school care, OSHC staff will collect students at 3:00pm from the classroom.

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Getting ready at home

You can help your child get ready by encouraging independence and routines. Try:

packing and unpacking their school bag
dressing themselves and practising hygiene
following simple routines at home.

For more advice, see the Getting ready for primary school guide.

What to expect in Kindergarten

Best Start Assessment

At the start of the year, all Kindergarten children take part in the Best Start Assessment. This is a friendly, one-on-one activity where teachers learn about your child’s literacy and numeracy skills. It is not a test and needs no preparation.

Learning and development

Kindergarten follows the NSW Early Stage One curriculum. Children build early skills in literacy, numeracy, creative arts, health and physical activity, science and technology. Learning through play also supports social, emotional and academic growth.

Daily routines

Children learn routines such as morning arrival, snack and lunch breaks, lining up, using bubblers and moving safely around the school. Teachers guide children as they settle in, but practising at home also helps develop these skills.

At Forestville we use the InitiaLit program

InitiaLit is an evidence-based whole-class literacy program designed to provide children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. It is a three-year program covering the first three years of school (Kindergarten to Year 2) and is delivered by classroom teachers.

Why reading with Dad matters | First ...

The program focuses on systematic synthetic phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, covering the Five Big Ideas of Reading. It is structured and aligned with the NSW syllabus and the Australian Curriculum, ensuring consistency in teaching methods and literacy content.

InitiaLit is designed to be delivered in a 90-minute instruction block, including whole-class teaching, further literacy work, and a Storybook session. Regular progress monitoring using curriculum based assessments helps identify the needs and strengths of students and ensures they are on track to become successful readers and writers.