Education experiences prior to primary school are varied and disparate across the globe
(UNESCO 2007). But they do have one characteristic in common: Most early childhood care
and education programmes differ greatly compared to the education philosophy, teaching style
and structure of primary school. Creating continuity and maintaining learning expectations for
children between early learning and primary school environments is a defining characteristic of
ready schools (Lombardi 1992). The greater the gap between the early childhood care and
education system and the primary school system, the greater the challenge for young children
to transition from an early learning to a primary school environment. School Readiness: a conceptual