This longitudinal multiple case study explores children's transitions within early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Finland. In ECEC children typically transition from one group or center to another. This study explores how physical, social and philosophical discontinuities and continuities constitute these transitions. Five focus children's…

This study aims to address gaps in the literature on continuity of care through focus group interviews with teachers at public early care and education programs in San Diego County, California, USA. To better understand various perspectives on continuity of care, focus groups were conducted at programs that currently practice continuity of care,…

Education is a continuous and creative process, which primarily fulfils the moral potential of each individual. Its aim is to develop the capacities latent in human nature and to coordinate their expression for the enrichment, progress and transformation of society. (Contains 6 footnotes.)

This issue addresses the policies and practices associated with sustaining school readiness and boosting achievement for young children throughout the early elementary years. All three studies support the notion that an aligned and coordinated set of policies and practices linking early learning with the early elementary grades will maximize a…

Recent theoretical conceptions of transition have emphasised the key influence of educational transition on young children's learning. The Foundation Stage was established in England in 2000, creating a distinct phase of education for children aged three to five, which spans the transition to school. In the Foundation Stage children learn through…

Omaha, Nebraska's, full-day kindergarten program was designed to allow students to become actively involved with their environment in a child-centered classroom. The program integrated new learning with past experiences, aided by carefully selected materials fostering interaction and problem solving. The district next designed a developmentally…

Home/kindergarten transition activities comprise two distinct categories: those involving coordination or communication between school and preschool levels and those including parents as participants. Transition activities are more often found in schools with a prekindergarten program, a high poverty level among families served, and considerable…

Successful early childhood program transitions involve the coordination and continuation of developmental and comprehensive services from birth through age eight. This guide is designed to facilitate the successful transition of children and their families into and out of Early Head Start and Head Start programs and assists in planning for daily…

Despite teacher layoffs and program eliminations across United States, extra-year programs before kindergarten or between kindergarten and first grade are booming. Such developmental retentions are costly and could lead to higher incidence of dropping out. Schools should be ready for each child. Early-grade teachers and principals must reject…

Over the years, little has changed about elementary education. As the "American common school," elementary education attained a universality of purpose and attendance far earlier than did secondary education. The 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), with Head Start's inception and renewed interest in early childhood…

Recognizing that children who experience continuity as they enter formal education are more likely to sustain their earlier gains than children who do not experience continuity, this document provides guidelines for preschool, Head Start, and elementary teachers and administrators on transition procedures. An executive summary begins the document.…

Provided is a statement on Alberta, Canada's policy on educational program continuity for early childhood services and elementary grades through grade six. Specifically, discussion focuses on the definition of educational program continuity, background to the policy initiative, rationale for the policy, principles of child development…

This study examined barriers to the implementation of continuity-of-care practices in child care centers. We collected qualitative and quantitative data for 52 children at four centers that advertise their programs as continuity programs. Of the 52 children, only 7 of the children had been cared for in a single child-caregiver dyad between the…

Cites examples from Pacific Rim countries to illustrate concerns about the ongoing process of continuity between early childhood programs. Includes discussion of philosophical, curricular, developmental, physical, organizational, and administrative continuities. Reiterates that the challenge of maintaining continuity among early childhood programs…

Age-appropriate activities for children and curriculum guidelines for mothers operating family day care homes for infants and toddlers were developed with the goal of improving the quality of day care programming. Curriculum goals were to (1) facilitate children's achievement of self-identity and self-esteem; (2) provide an outlet for creative…