27 Nov 2025
Weaving the mat: Rethinking the transition to school as a shared journey
Every year, thousands of five-year-olds across Aotearoa step across the threshold from early childhood education (ECE) into primary school. For many, this marks a rite of passage, celebrated with a photo at the gate and often a few nerves. But beyond this symbolic moment lies a complex process that carries profound implications for children’s learning, wellbeing and sense of identity. ECE and primary teacher Jennifer Neill shares her doctoral research on how, when educators across early childhood and school sectors collaborate – and when children’s voices are centred – transitions become opportunities for growth, not rupture.
