Coming, ready or not [citation] : Aboriginal children's transition to school in urban Australia and the policy push
Material type:
ArticlePublication details: 2011Subject(s): Readiness for school
In:
International Journal of Early Years Education Vol. 19, no. 2 (2011), p. 145-161Abstract: Concern that too many Australian children, particularly Indigenous children, are not ready to start school has spurred a series of changes to the pre-school sector. Included among these changes are nationwide mass surveying and the introduction of a unified curriculum framework together with moves towards standardised entry assessment. Focusing on Indigenous children in mainstream schools in settled Western Australia, it is argued that such measures have a limited capacity to address misplaced notions of deficit and assist Indigenous children in making the transition to school. Currently missing from policy and profession is a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture and language use.
Concern that too many Australian children, particularly Indigenous children, are not ready to start school has spurred a series of changes to the pre-school sector. Included among these changes are nationwide mass surveying and the introduction of a unified curriculum framework together with moves towards standardised entry assessment. Focusing on Indigenous children in mainstream schools in settled Western Australia, it is argued that such measures have a limited capacity to address misplaced notions of deficit and assist Indigenous children in making the transition to school. Currently missing from policy and profession is a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture and language use.
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