Starting school is an exciting but also potentially stressful time for children and families alike. It is one of the key transition points during childhood. All such transitions are known to be times of particular vulnerability for young children, when earlier developmental and social progress is placed at risk. A successful transition to school is...

This brief focuses on what the research tells us about the nature of and pathways to school readiness. It emphasises the importance of schools, services and communities supporting children and families and providing the conditions and experiences needed to ensure that all children reach school able to take advantage of the academic and social learning...

Some parents are concerned about whether their child is ready to start school and they start to seek advice from a range of professionals to support them in making a decision. Often the preschool or kindergarten teacher may raise concerns with the parents, because of observations of the child while in this setting. For the...

Domestic violence is responsible for most of the violence that children encounter. The effect on their lives is significant. The article considers the extent of the problem, its origins and the effects on children's lives. It also incoporates a case study. School readiness is a difficult to define term. The article encourages recognising a child's...