Transition : The Journey
Children’s lives today are so much more hectic than ever before. Going to a setting for the first time, moving to another one, starting school or moving into a new class are seen by many people as a normal part of the lives of children.
Yet transitions are milestone events for children and have a definite effect on their development. They are times of exciting change certainly and times of new opportunities and growth for every child.
They can also be times of uncertainty where surroundings are not the same, expectations and procedures different and faces as yet unfamiliar. Getting transition right is vital for every child and is not a single event that merely ‘happens’. Transition should be viewed as a process rather than an event that involves children, practitioners and parents together. Transition has been described as an ongoing journey rather than a destination.
Ref: Early Years Matters
Transition into Reception classes
Transition is always about change; particularly adjusting to change – and successful change is about then forgetting that the change happened. When young children move from a pre-school environment such as from home or a childminder or a daycare setting into a school environment they will experience huge change in their lives.
This change is invisible if children move from the Payhembury pre-school into Reception. There is a seamless move from one group to the other. Pre-school children have been fully integrated into the classroom while working in same environment. Transition for one pupil may not be identical to that of another, we ensure to adapt to the needs of the individual. This applies to all learning but is essential during transitional times.
Transition into Key Stage 1
Through the EYFS children are entitled to a curriculum that is based on what interests them and what they already know, can do and understand. Year 1 teachers build on these starting points and continue to nurture children’s natural desire for learning.
As they continue their journey into Year 1 consideration should be given to what children experience as similar in Reception and Year 1 classes and how this can be developed further. This should include consideration of physical resources such as sand, water and construction and opportunities for learning through first hand-experiences.
There should be opportunities for children to initiate activities themselves and to follow up their own interests independently. Headteachers and senior managers influence smooth transitions from the EYFS to Key Stage 1 through school organisation, staffing, resourcing and the transfer of information about children’s learning. Parents should be encouraged to continue to be involved as partners in their children’s learning.
At Payhembury School we endeavour to make the transition points with a child’s learning journey as smooth and supported as possible.
At any point on the journey, we will contact a previous setting to ensure clear transfer of key information takes place, this will ensure we are providing the individual child with the tools to be successful in the
Transition to Key sage 3 (move up to Secondary Education)
We work in partnership with all next schools as the children prepare to move on from Payhembury Primary School. The majority of children move to Kings which we have strong partnership links with. Children experience a week-long visit in July to familiarise themselves fully before moving on in September. Key teachers and leaders for other secondary schools visit our school in good time to meet new pupils and we a provide an enhanced transition to children who need specific personalised transitions
The key points of successful transition:
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Transition is a process, not an event.
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High quality transitions recognise the importance of feeling “known”.
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Some children are particularly vulnerable to at times of transition.
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Transitions are opportunities for professional dialogue.
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The key person makes essential connections.