Transition is always a challenge. The end of term creeps up on us very quickly! It is especially challenging for those children who are vulnerable, have SEND, are looked after or are anxious. Please find below some simple solutions to support children in feeling more secure for their next steps. Some of these ideas are taken from my previous post of Successful (virtual) transitions against all odds (with the downloadable infographic pictured below). I’ve added to this now we are back to the new normal. What we have improved on in the past few years however, is the ability to meet virtually and combine both face to face and virtual transition. This should hopefully equate to some of the best transition opportunities we’ve ever had!
Alongside all the standard transition activities, some of these little extras could make a world of difference to individuals:
Transition books and leaflets
These can be made for children with particular needs and emailed/sent home. This can be shared regularly at home and discussed with the child in a positive way. Including things such as a photographic school tour, positive quotes about school life from other pupils etc. For secondary, school maps and timetables could be included.
Virtual and actual tour
We have all harnessed the power of technology and learnt many new skills. Can you produce a virtual tour of your school and request virtual tours from other schools. just seeing the rooms and buildings can alleviate worries. Even better, children take their own pictures on a transition day and create their own tour.
Extra Transition days
Timetable in a few more days where children who need extra support can spend extra time at the new setting in a smaller group. Identify an adult (maybe the SENCO) who will be the main point of contact for the child if they have worries before or after the start. For younger children, extra opportunities to ‘stay and play’ would be useful.
Send a project home
Once classes are known, is there an ‘all about me’ project that could be completed at home so that you can get to know the children quicker? You could include sections for likes/dislikes and ways the pupil likes to learn, as well as questions they may have for you. Ask the children to attach a photo so you can learn names before they start.
Interview a class member
Before they move class or school, see if an anxious child can visit and discuss with another child in the new class/setting. The chosen child can share all the things that are good about being in the new class or school. Perhaps a buddy system can be set up once the bubble restrictions are lifted.
Class teacher information
Similarly, new teachers and LSAs could put together some information about themselves and the classroom with photos of where things are kept, where their nearest toilets are, staff likes and dislikes etc. Perhaps a virtual Q&A session could be set up if it is a different school.
Keep communicating and a detailed handover
Gather information from all sources. Make sure a full handover is undertaken with previous school and staff. Phone parents and speak to the child on the phone or via video link to build a relationship with them before they start. Can you interview older children over zoom to get to know them better?
Gradual transition and part time timetable
Once everyone knows what is going on, discuss with parents the possibility of gradual transition and part time timetable if you consider the child will have difficulty settling in for a full day. You can always increase or decrease hours depending how it goes. If you have any children who may be in this position, then please refer to my previous blog post: https://positiveyoungmind.com/social-and-emotional-support-for-school-refusers-8-ideas-to-coax-them-back-and-keep-them/
Anxiety
Parents and children of pupils going to new settings will be anxious to some degree. Sometimes the parent more than the child. Once these parents are identified its useful to have a key person at the new setting that they can talk to to answer all those questions that may seem silly to us but are big concerns for them. For those with extra anxiety at home – this post may be helpful: https://positiveyoungmind.com/8-worry-busting-tips-to-support-childhood-anxiety/
Apply for funding
If there are any children where you are expecting a lot of resources needing to be put in place, you can often apply for extra funding if they don’t have an EHCP. In Essex we have IPRA. It’s worth checking what your county can provide. Also if you feel that a child does need an EHCP, ensure that the previous school helps with the evidence gathering.
County/NHS support
It maybe that the child has extra people at county level or from the NHS supporting them such as specialist teachers or speech therapists. It would be useful to include them in transition as well as that is a person who will often follow the child from school to school.
Identify a champion
For children who need stability, a member of staff could come and work with the child in their previous setting on a 1:1 basis and then become their learning mentor at the next school. This goes a long way in building trust and respect much faster, thus preventing possible issues.
Fight or flight
For those children who have a safe space in school or just need to offload so they can start their day calmly, consider a room they can go to at the start of the day or whenever they need to if they need a few moments of calm at any point. They may need special passes for secondary to be able to leave. In primary, children will need support in being able to spot the point where they need to leave as it can be a very short time period between being annoyed and exploding. The sooner you get to know a child’s triggers, the easier this is.
Maintaining friendships and making new friends
Consider when grouping children with extra needs if they need a familiar person with them who they get on with. This will make the process less stressful. Also provide opportunities to make new friends. For some additional needs, this may need to be structured carefully by an adult.
No doubt many of these are things you do or have thought of but I hope at least one was a new idea! If you have any other ideas that have worked well, please add to the comments! – Thanks for reading.
Further reading:
Also see this blog by me over on Teacher Toolkit:
https://www.tinies.com/our-favourites/transition-from-primary-to-secondary-school.html – support for secondary parents
https://www.miracle-recreation.com/blog/helping-children-transition-easily-into-a-new-school-environment/?lang=can – support for parents
If you have any further ideas for successful SEND transition, please add them in the comments!