Transition - Moving on 

Transition - Moving on

Effective transition support is important for all children and young people and this requires universal arrangements to be in place. However, it is also an important role for school practitioners to be able to identify children and young people requiring additional levels of support, either through targeted or specialist intervention. Some children and young people will only thrive with a highly bespoke transition with additional visits and scaffolds for new routines. Experience tells us that involving parents/carers in the transition process aids successful transition.

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When we talk about transitions, we could be thinking about: 

• Moving from one school or setting to another eg moving from an early years setting into school

• Moving between schools, perhaps from primary to secondary

• Moving from a school to a college, other post 16 provider or pathway

• Moving from children's social care into adults

• Moving from children's health services into adults

• Leaving school and moving into adulthood

If you or someone in your family is going to be experiencing a transition, it’s best to start to think about this early on. When moving between different educational settings, discuss with your setting what information is important to share with the new setting and how this will be shared. In Northumberland, schools and settings are expected to share information. This might include EHCPs and SEN Support Plans, but also what is working well in supporting your child/young person at the moment. 

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You may want to think about arranging a visit, either with or without your child to find out more about what to expect.  You can ask your school what plans they have to support the transition so that it is as smooth as possible. You might also want to talk it through with other professionals who support you and your child such as health and social care professionals who could also offer advice and support.

Here are some suggestions that you could discuss with the new setting:

• Let the setting know how you would like to be communicated with. It could be phone calls, emails or simply the school's newsletters

• Ask how you can be involved at every stage of the planning and discussion process around transition, including attending transition meetings for your child/young person if they need targeted or specialist transition arrangements

• Ask if the setting provides any transition advice that you can read on how best to support their child/young person over the transition period

• Read the transition booklet with your child/young person prior to transition

• Ask if there is support available to complete admissions forms from either the host or receiving setting

• Ask if there are open evenings or open day events due to take place

• Ask if there are opportunities for parents/carers to visit the school with their child/young person

• Ask if the setting can provide any strategies to support your child/young person to be more independent

• Ask if you can be provided with communication from the middle/secondary/high school up to 12 months before your child/young person moves. Half termly newsletters may be an example 

• Ask if a question and answer sheet for parents/ carers is available

• Ask if a calendar of transition events could be shared each half term so parents/carers know what is coming up