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Transitions
'Transition' in educational terms means moving into, between or out of educational settings.
Good transition planning is important for all children and young people. Children with SEND require additional planning and preparation so transition arrangements should start early to ensure success.
All educational settings must comply with the Equality Act 2010 which means they have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so that disabled learners are not put at a disadvantage. Settings should therefore anticipate needs and make any reasonable adjustments in advance.
A transition in education, whether that be to primary, secondary or post-16 can be a difficult yet exciting process for children and young people with SEND. As a result, you may find it necessary to advocate for your child during times of transition to ensure the process is as successful as possible.
What happens when a child transitions with an EHC plan?
If your child has an EHC plan the local authority (The London Borough of Havering) has a legal duty to review and amend the plan in the year of the transition.
The EHC plan should be amended to include the name of the new school/ type of setting in section I.
The EHC plan should be reviewed and amended in the year of the transition by:
- 31st March if the transition is from secondary to post-16
- 5 months before a young person moves from a post-16 setting to another post-16 setting
- 15th February for all other transitions e.g. early years to school, infants to juniors, primary to secondary
When should annual reviews take place in Year 6?
For transition from primary to secondary placements, the annual review should ideally take place in the Autumn term of year 6 in order to allow sufficient time for the draft and final EHC plan to be issued by 15th February.
How can I help prepare my child for primary or secondary school?
Here are some useful hints/ tips to support your child during this transition period:
Before the summer break:
1. If your child requires specific support and resources, you should speak with the SENCo at the earliest opportunity so they can put things in place prior to the start of term to ensure a smooth transition.
2. Before the end of the summer term, you could request images of the new school environment from the school SENCo. You can show these pictures to your child over the summer break. These could include pictures of classrooms, toilets, lunch area and teachers so your child can familiarise themselves before starting.
3. Before the end of the summer term, you could request a map of the new school from the SENCo/school office and share this with your child/young person. This will help them become familiar with the layout of the school prior to starting.
4. You could speak with the new school and ask for details of key staff that your child/young person can speak to if they need help whilst at school.
5. If your child/young person has an education, health & care plan (EHC plan) make sure you understand what support will be in place when they start school.
During the summer break: 
1. During the summer break complete activities that help your child with their organisation skills. These could involve activities like packing a bag, reading a timetable.
2. Discuss the school environment with your child/young person and highlight all the positive things they will experience such as friendships, new activities and clubs etc.
3. Throughout the summer break you could have the school uniform on display to help your child mentally prepare for September. You could also encourage your child to wear the uniform for a few minutes each day so they get used to the fabric and fit. If your child has sensory processing needs you may wish to purchase school wear that has been discreetly adapted for example flat seams, no labels and velcro fastenings for school shirts with minimal buttons - this may help them to feel more comfortable.
4. Show your child the school website and let them explore what is on offer.
5. If your child likes advanced warning and preparation, you could use a calendar to mark off the days until the school term starts. Only use this if appropriate.
6. Practise the school journey throughout the summer holiday with your child so they become familiar and confident with the walk/ bus route. If your child has never travelled on a bus alone, it’s essential that they familiarise themselves with the bus route(s) to get to and from their school. Using public transport will reduce air pollution, improve air quality, reduce traffic on the roads, lessen congestion and also make your child more independent.
To plan the journey you can use this TfL Journey Planner : TFL journey planner
If you take your child to school by car, please be aware that the 'School Streets Scheme' is in place near some schools. This restricts vehicle use at certain hours in some streets near schools.
7. For secondary transition you may want to see if another child they know is travelling the same way and encourage them to travel together. Provide your child with emergency contact numbers in case they have difficultly on the way to or from school.
8. If you are concerned about your child’s anxiety regarding the transition to secondary school make sure you give them the opportunity to ask questions about their concerns and explain why the change will benefit them. You could provide them with a worry toy, book or box where they can write or draw any concerns they have.
9. Try to set aside some time to try and teach your child some relaxation techniques. You could also create an anxiety plan or a social story to explain what your child should do if they are anxious.
10. Towards the end of the summer holiday try and stick to a bed time and wake up routine for your child that mimics the school day as this may help ease the adjustment of going back to school.
Starting the new academic year: 
1. Remind your child that it is perfectly normal to feel nervous about the transition. Give them opportunities to communicate any concerns with you that they might have before starting. They can do this verbally, in writing or through drawing.
2. Once term starts, get into the habit of helping your child/young person pack their school bag the night before. You could use a checklist to help your child tick-off what they need each day. Having a copy of their timetable on the fridge is always useful too!
3. Ensure your child wakes up early enough to get ready without having to rush.
4. You may find that visual supports and the use of a visual timetable can help your child to understand what's happening.
5. If they need a packed lunch, you could involve your child when choosing and preparing their food. If they are having a school lunch make sure they are aware of the food options and the payment system in place. Some schools have an online payment system by which the parent can monitor what the child has bought for lunch.
6. Give them lots of praise for coping with the change and adapting to a new routine.
Seeking support from the current and new school setting:
- Your child’s current school could organise individual or group work on preparing for the transition. This could include activities in the curriculum that will help your child with transition.
- Ask the current school to pass on any information about your child’s educational/behavioural, sensory, communication, social/emotional needs to the new school.
- Ensure the new school is aware of any equipment your child may need and that they have this in place ready for them to use.
- Keep in regular contact with staff working with your child to see how they are progressing.
- If you notice that the new school is not dealing with specific behaviours appropriately or using the means of communication that your child is familiar with, bring this to the attention of the relevant staff and arrange a meeting.
What your child’s new school should do :
When your child starts school, the school is likely to assess your child’s levels of attainment, even though they may already have received information from the previous setting.
If additional support or special educational needs have been identified, staff should use assessment information to develop an appropriate curriculum which identifies and focuses on your child’s skills and areas where support will be needed in class.
They should ensure there is ongoing observation and assessment. They should also involve you in developing and implementing a joint learning approach at home and in school.
You should always be consulted and kept informed of actions taken to help your child and the outcomes of these actions. The school must tell you if your child is receiving SEN Support or if the school feels an application for an EHC plan may be necessary.
How can my child build resilience to help with the transition to secondary school?
The University of Reading and the charity 'Boys in Mind (BIM)' have collaborated to create this short video called 'Stepping Forward' as part of their Resilience Rucksack project:
Moving to a new school can bring up a big mix of emotions for children, including feeling nervous and excited! But building their resilience and understanding how to look after their wellbeing, can help them to face these emotions during this time of change.
The video follows the journey of a Year 7 pupil on their way to secondary school for the first time, with their older friend, who has already joined the school.
As the two friends walk to school, we follow their conversation discussing the four important ‘active ingredients’ that help resilience and wellbeing - sleep, movement, friendships, and self-kindness.
You can access information sheets here from the Resilience Rucksack Project on the key themes from the video that help resilience and well-being :
Movement information sheet : Resilience Rucksack Project: Uni of Reading
Sleep information sheet : Resilience Rucksack Project : Uni of Reading
Friendship information sheet : Resilience Rucksack Project : Uni of Reading
Self - Compassion information sheet ; Resilience Rucksack Project : Uni of Reading
For more information on the project please visit the project's website via this link:
Resilience Rucksack Project : University of Reading
Credit: with thanks to Professor Stella Chan at the University of Reading - Resilience Rucksack Project
How can I find out more about my child's new school?
We understand that you may want more specific information and advice about the new school/ setting therefore, we advise the following:
- Attend an open day at the school if you have not already done so.
- Obtain the school brochure or prospectus
- Visit the school website and view the following policies:
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Policy (SEND)
- Behaviour Policy
- Bullying Policy
- Equal Opportunities Policy - or any other you feel appropriate.
- View the home/school agreement (This can be found on the school website)
- Read the Governors' Annual Report to parents (This can be found on the school website)
- Read the Ofsted Inspection Report : https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/)
Where can I get further information, advice & guidance?
If you have further queries regarding transition or have any concerns it would be appropriate to contact the school first.
You can also contact us via our Contact Form which you can access and complete via this website.
In addition, there are a range of local and national support organisations that you may wish to contact. For information on these please view our 'Local/ National Support Organisation' pages.
Transition web resources
Transition to primary school:
Starting Reception Guide : https://startingreception.co.uk/
Place2Be:
Advice for families on coping with the change to primary school : Place2Be advice
BBCBitesize:
Advice and support to help you from the first day of school onwards: The first year of primary school
Transition from primary to secondary:
Foundation For People with Learning Disabilities:
Moving on to secondary school information: Moving on to secondary information
Young Minds:
Supporting school transitions information and resources :Young Minds transition activities
Twinkl:
Year 6 transition pack: Year 6 transition pack: Twinkl
'Sen All about me' : transition to secondary school pack: SEN All About Me pack - Twinkl
BBC Teach:
Transitioning to secondary school : BBC Teach Transition information
London Borough of Havering:
Starting secondary school advice : Getting Organised
Charlie Waller Trust:
Supporting school transitions - top tips: Supporting school transitions