experts know from previous research that there are children who are at risk of not making a successful transition to school and the gap between these children and their peers increases progressively australia s national early childhood development strategy investing in the early years australian government a also recognises the need to build a solid evidence base as one of its six reform priority areas the results from the aedi are now providing a wealth of information which is being used to influence early childhood initiatives at the community state and national levels as well as inform early childhood policy development