Partnerships in learning : linking early childhood services, families and schools for optimal development

Vygotsky believed that 'individual consciousness is built from outside through relations with others' (Vygotsky, 1997, p. xxiv). He argued that human higher mental functions are products of mediated activity and that the mediator uses a range of psychological tools and interpersonal communication to achieve understanding. In the early years parents, community members, early childhood and school educators are instrumental in mediating children's developing cognition. Increasingly, the importance of congruence between home, community, and school philosophies and experiences is being recognised. Successful transitions to school are more likely when such partnerships exist, ensuring a balance between continuity and new experiences.