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Transitions in Education

Transitions in education can be times of stress and anxiety for parents / carers of all children but even more for those with Special Educational Needs and / or disabilities.

Right from the start, it is important that transition phases are managed well to support and encourage preparing for a child's adulthood ambitions.

There are four key transitions that take place in a child’s education:

  • From home to Early Years (nursery, school nursey class, preschool or a childminder)
  • Moving from Early Years to reception class
  • Moving from primary school to secondary school
  • Moving from secondary school to college, further education or into work

 Helpful suggestions for parents around transitions:

  • Make sure you meet regularly with the team at the setting or school and discuss with any concerns or anxieties and update them with any information that you feel would be helpful.
  • Talk to your child about the transition - visual aids for some children will be helpful, for example a calendar
  • Involve your child in the purchasing of new items for the new setting or school, for example, a new school bag or uniform
  • Practice the new journey
  • Meet with staff at the new setting or school with your child and make sure that information is shared that will support your child’s transition

Starting in a Early Years setting

From home to an Early Years setting (under 5’s) or from one Early Years setting to another (such into a nursery class)

You can discuss your concerns with the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) in the setting (and the one you are leaving if your child is changing setting)They will have access to information about the best way to support your child in education.

The Local Authority can provide advisory support to settings to help the setting support your child’s needs. For further information on advisory support in the Early Years, see the leaflet Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disability which you can download from this page

Starting reception class at primary school

Planning for transition into reception should take place the term before your child is due to start, to enable sufficient time for any plans or support to be put into place

Once you have been offered a school place, your Early Years setting may produce an information pack summarising your child’s achievements that will be passed on to the new school. The school may arrange a welcome visit for you and your child where there will be the opportunity to meet the teacher and support staff and look around the school.

The Local Authority provides annual transition meetings which allow Early years providers and schools to share information about children who are transitioning into reception class. Staff can discuss and exchange information to help make sure that children who need special consideration have a smooth transition. It is important that parents give consent for information to be shared during this important transition phase.

If you have any concerns about your child’s transition, contact your child’s current setting SENCo as the first point of call. They will set up a transition review to discuss your or your child's anxieties and plan a supported transition to meet the needs and aspirations of your child.

Moving from primary to secondary school

If your child has an EHC plan, they will be assigned a Senior Case Officer from the SEND team. They will meet with you when your child is in year 5 (9 and 10 years of age) to start planning the transition.  

If your child does not have an EHCP, but requires SEN Support, during the review meetings with the school’s SENCo, the transition to the new school will be planned considering the individual educational needs of your child. 

If you have any concerns about your child’s transition, contact your child’s current school SENCo as the first point of call. They will set up a transition review to discuss your or your child's anxieties and plan a supported transition to meet the needs and aspirations of your child.

The Local Authority provides annual transition meetings which allow schools to share information about children who are transitioning into secondary school. Staff can discuss and exchange information to help make sure that children who need special consideration have a smooth transition. It is important that parents give consent for information to be shared during this important transition phase.

Moving on from secondary school

Moving from secondary school to college / further education / work

Transition discussions will usually start when your child is 14 years old and in Year 9 at school. Please refer to the Preparation for Adulthood Pathways for more information.

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