Transitions Between Year Groups
As a school, we understand that the move to any new class as well as secondary school can cause a lot of anxiety for children. As a result, we hold our TASS Passport Day where all children ‘travel’ up to their new classes in order to spend the day with their new teacher & do lots of lovely ‘getting to know you’ activities. We find that this takes the worry out of change & actually serves to get children excited about their new learning environment & adults that they will be working with.
For our very youngest children, we also offer three Parent & Child Workshops in the July before they start, in order that parents & carers, as well as their children, can come in & experience what it is like school so that it can be talked about over the summer weeks leading up to starting. This, & the New to FS2 Parents’ Evening, held in June after being offered a place, also help to settle the anxieties of parents too!
For our oldest children coming to the end of primary school, we understand a this change can be the most challenging of all & again try to take the anxiety out of this as much as possible. As a result, we do lots of preparatory work on what that change will mean as well as have visits to, as well as visitors from, the main feeder schools. We also do a full hand over of information (academic, social, Special Educational Needs information, etc.) in order that secondary school staff know everything necessary to ensure that the move can be a real success for those that we are sending their way. As part of this information, we also talk about friendship groups & who your child gets on best with. Some of our most vulnerable children, may even be offered further opportunities to visit with special days & bonding opportunities.
As parents & carers, you can of course help your child with their anxieties by visiting the open evenings that the secondary puts on. This will not only help in your final choice of school, but will also serve to get your child excited about all of the amazing things that the secondary school can offer.
To help your child with the transition to secondary school, you may also find the following information & resources helpful:
