This study aimed to examine views, concerns and expectations of immigrant Bangladeshi parents and children in Sydney concerning transition to kindergarten (the first year of school). This study builds on the previous work of the Starting School Research Project at the University of Western Sydney by:

• deriving data from families and children for whom English is not the first language; and
• exploring the transitional experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children from prior-to-school to school settings.

Ten parents and four children were interviewed on the topic of transition to school. In particular, parents were asked to indicate their concerns and expectations that would assist schools in meeting the needs of Bangladeshi children and would make transition to school a positive experience for all concerned. The results revealed issues specific to families and children of non-English-speaking background regarding transition to school.

AJEC, Vol. 30 No. 3, September 2005, pp. 45-52.