Teacher and Student Teacher Perspectives of School Readiness

Abstract

Sixty preschool teachers and 75 final year student teachers completed a questionnaire about the importance of a number of child characteristics for school readiness. Significant differences emerged between the two groups in the importance placed on most characteristics, with considerable variance within each group. Teachers were more likely than students to see retention in preschool as a useful option. Personal experience was reported to be a significant influence on teachers' and students' views.