Prime times – Transition to school

Moving on to school is a major transition in a child’s life and involves separation from familiar adults and children. Older children usually have a more secure understanding of people permanence and can approach new experiences with confidence, but they still need preparation if they are to approach transition to school with a positive outlook and an awareness of what to expect.

Partnership with schools

Details of the school a child will attend are recorded in the child’s file along with the name of the reception class teacher.
Every effort is made to forge and maintain strong links with all schools that children may attend.
Where links do not already exist, the setting manager approaches schools to open lines of communication.
Details of each school’s transition or settling-in procedures are kept so that staff can support a consistent approach with teachers, parents and children.
Teachers are welcomed into the setting and given time to spend with the child, their parents or carers and the key person to share information that will support the child’s transition.
A child’s learning journey record is forwarded to the school along with other information that will aid transition and settling. Parents and carers receive a copy of this.
Any action plans relating to additional needs are also shared where appropriate and with consent.
Formal documentation such as safeguarding information is prepared and shared in line with record transfer procedures.

Partnership with parents and carers

Key persons discuss transition to school with parents and carers and set aside time to go through learning and development summaries.
Parents and carers are encouraged to contribute to summaries and share how they are preparing their child for school at home.
Key persons explain what information will be shared with the school, including information regarding child protection and steps taken to support the child’s welfare.

Increasing familiarity for children

Where the setting is on or adjacent to a school site, there are opportunities for children to become familiar with staff and premises, for example through shared outdoor spaces, indoor activities and resources.
Where possible, the key person accompanies children on visits to their new school if this is part of the school’s transition process.
If there are several possible schools or the setting is not near the school, other ways of building familiarity are used, such as videos, photographs and stories about the school within the setting.
Resources from schools may be borrowed and used with children to help them understand what school will be like.

Preparing children for leaving

Children and parents or carers build strong relationships with staff and other families in the setting and need preparation for leaving these behind.
The child’s last day is planned for in advance and marked with a simple celebration or special activity that acknowledges they are moving on.
Parents and carers are not discouraged from occasionally bringing the child back for a brief visit, as separations can take time and some children benefit from reassurance that their nursery or pre-school is still there and that they are remembered.