Transitions

Guidance and resources to help families support children through key educational transitions, such as moving between school stages or preparing for adulthood, with tailored advice for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Transition

Transition is the word used when your child is moving from one stage (or phase) of education to another. Sometimes this might include moving school or setting. For children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), transition requires careful planning.

The key educational transition stages are:

  • starting early years
  • moving from early years to primary school
  • moving from one key stages (KS) to another in primary school:
    • Early years to KS1
    • KS1 to KS2
  • primary to secondary school
  • moving from one key stage to another in secondary school:
    • KS2 in Primary to KS3
    • KS3 to KS4
  • secondary school to further education or work and preparing for adulthood

Transition stages can include moving between year groups.

Transition can cause anxiety for both you and your child. It is important to have a plan in place that will:

  • put you and your child at the centre
  • involve you both at every stage
  • support you both when necessary

Getting help

You can ask for advice about your child's transition from:

  • an educational psychologist
  • a SEND specialist teacher
  • a health visitor or therapist (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language)
  • early years setting leader
  • special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo)
  • the Class teacher

For more information, please visit Support from Other Services

Year 9 Transition

Leaving school and moving on to adult life can be a worrying time for all young people and their families. This can be especially difficult for children and young people with SEND.

Year 9 transition refers to the support available to young people to help them with life after school and to prepare for adulthood.

It is important that transition goes as smoothly as possible for young people who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

The following should be considered for young people as part of transition planning:

  • what are their hopes and aspirations for adult life?
    • how can these be met?
    • how can they be encouraged to be involved in their plan?
    • what is working well and what is not working well for them?
    • what are the parent’s hopes and aspirations for their child’s adult life?
    • how can parents continue to contribute to the development of their child’s skills?