"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." -- P.11 School Readiness: a conceptual framework © United Nations Children’s Fund, New York Updated in April 2012