A governmental focus is on supporting ‘priority’ families to take part in early childhood education. This presentation discusses findings from Stage 4 of an evaluation of the Ministry’s Early Childhood Education Participation Programme, a rare New Zealand study that found out about the views and experiences of priority families directly and how these were met or not. In Stage 4, we Children in the early years: Pedagogy, policy and community connectedness Page 6 examined the early learning experiences of 18 children in early childhood education and as they transitioned to school. Our presentation will highlight the experiences of some of the children and families involved, particularly in relation to challenges arising from their transient lives. Data presented will illustrate some of the situations that arose and the ways in which they challenge expectations of ECE participation and of transition to school processes. The presentation concludes with possible implications and provocations for ECE participation as a prerequisite to positive transition experiences.