The transition to school is a time of change and expectation for children, families, and communities. It is also a time when a range of factors--both within and outside the family--influence educational experiences and outcomes. This paper reports the experiences and expectations of 24 Australian families as their children with special needs…

Fifty young children were interviewed concerning their experiences, expectations, and perceptions about starting school. Responses indicated strong focus on rules encountered in school and feelings about going to school. Conventional rules were mentioned most often, with moral and task rules negligible. Seventy-five percent of references to…

Draws on findings from case studies and interviews with children, parents, and early childhood educators to highlight several issues relevant to children's transition to school within the context of Australia's Starting School Research Project. Illustrates the cultural diversity of school children and the initiatives that respond to particular…