Message from Norm Hart, President, APPA

Partnerships with parents have been a significant part of my success as a teacher and principal. Principals, teachers and parents must be partners to help each other and in turn help children.The cornerstone of successful partnership is shared knowledge. If I’d had a book like Your child’s first year at school I know the journey would have been easier for my students and all the parents I have worked with.

This book, in the spirit of being a tool for partnership building, has been rewritten in consultation with parents themselves, as well as teachers, principals and many related experts. This book empowers your teachers and parents with information and understanding.

 
What parents and teachers say

‘We used it in our orientation packs for the parents of the new kindergarten class joining school in 2012. They were given out at our October 2011 orientation session so that parents could read them and be better prepared about what to expect and everything in the new year when their children start school.’
Natasha Mitchell
Deputy Head of Shore Preparatory School,
Northbridge, NSW

‘It was fabulous. The chapters were clear, concise and contain practical information. A perfect resource for new parents.’
Felicity Molineux
Primary school teacher and mother of 3, NSW

‘This book provides a very comprehensive source of relevant information ... it supports parenting strategies we already employ and reminds us of others that will help our children and our relationships with them.’
Parent

‘Parents were very pleased to receive this book. Many mentioned it gave them a sense of what to expect as well as strategies for dealing with issues during a time which can cause both parents and children anxiety, stress and emotional upheaval.’
Melissa Mason
Learning Community Leader, Early Years Methodist Ladies College, WA

‘It is simple to understand and extremely realistic. Very good suggestions, also. I have read many books and this has covered all topics that are important to parents and children starting school.’
Lindsey Panizza
Mother of 2, WA

‘As a teacher I found this book instrumental in educating beginning parents about school. Thank you!’
Michelle Freeman
Early Childhood Teacher, Condingup Primary School, WA

Free sample chapter
To help you decide if Your child's first year of school is for you we have provided the complete first chapter of the book for free. (15 pages)

About the authors

	Jenni Connor has been an early childhood teacher, a superintendent and a primary school principal. She has been a curriculum manager and writer and advised the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) on the development of the Australian Curriculum. Jenni is the author of many Early Childhood Australia publications and is contracted by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to illustrate early childhood teaching standards. She conducts professional learning programs for teachers on literacy, learning and curriculum.
	Pam Linke is an early childhood and parenting consultant who has over many years worked with parents, children and early childhood staff. She has written many books and articles for parents and professionals about parenting and child behaviour and development, especially social and emotional development. She has also written on parenting topics for websites. She is a social worker who has done further training in early childhood education, specialising in children’s literature. She is currently chair of the Early Childhood Australia Publications Committee and Advocacy Representative on the National and State committees of the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health.

Order forms

Individual copies are available here.