Preschool + school + communication = What for educator relationships?

Abstract

Communication between educators in preschool and school settings has been promoted consistently in research literature and policy as a practice to enhance children’s transition to school. Underlying the practice are the assumptions that communication between educators is (a) a way of building on children’s learning and responding to their diverse needs and interests as they start school and (b) a means of developing positive relationships between educators. Whilst it is an advocated practice, there has been little research about the consequences of preschool–school communication or exploration of the ways in which the practice might support positive transition experiences. This paper specifically addresses what happens for educators as a result of preschool–school interactions. The communication experiences of preschool and school educators reported in an online questionnaire provide important insights into the impact of intersetting communications, particularly on educator relationships. Most outcomes for relationships between educators in preschool and school settings were reported to be positive. However, the results contest the notion that preschool–school communication automatically results in the development of positive relationships; relationships which support collaboration between educators as children start school.

Keywords:

• transition to school
• communication
• educators
• preschool
• relationships

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the ETC² Writing Circle Group who were readers of this paper and provided invaluable advice. The author would also like to acknowledge Professors Sue Dockett and Bob Perry, the supervisors of the Doctoral thesis from which this paper is written.

Notes

1. ‘Preschool’ refers to the range settings in Australia which provide care and education programmes for children the year before they start school. These include those more commonly referred to as ‘preschool’ as well as childcare centres, family day care and mobile children’s services.