Cross-sectoral professional relationships and transition to school: an Australian study

ABSTRACT

Research highlights the importance of seamless transitions between early childhood services and schools to ensure a positive start to school for young children. Drawing on an ecological model of transition where positive outcomes for children depend on the relationships formed between key players in their transition, this paper examines cross-sectoral relationships between the professionals involved. It categorises interactions taking place within the transition then utilises Bourdieu’s field theory to explore and illuminate the social processes involved in the pre-school/school relationships. Data are drawn from field visits and interviews with early childhood teachers at 12 services and primary school teachers in 11 schools across the state of New South Wales, Australia. The findings show that not all categories of professional relationships are apparent when classified through transition activities, with personal experiences and historical positionings accounting for such differences. This paper argues that more effort and support is required to build collaborative partnerships that move from being unidirectional to mutually respectful and responsive. This move will enable teachers to engage in professional dialogue and build sustainable professional networks; however, for this to occur teachers need to become aware of how their practices have been shaped by their habitus, capital and the field.

KEYWORDS:

• Cross-sector professional relationships
• transition to school
• teacher perspectives
• early childhood education
• Bourdieu

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the NSW Department of Education and Communities for recognising the importance of seamless transitions to school and aiming to improve transitions for all children and families across the state. They are also grateful to the early childhood teachers, primary school teachers and senior school leaders who participated in the project at a very busy time of year.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Education and Communities.