Supporting Successful Transition from Primary to Secondary School

A programme for teachers

Tina Rae

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN:
  9781317688389
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Early Childhood Education

The transition from primary to secondary school is extremely important in the lives of children and young people but it is also a time of significant stress for many.

This unique programme is designed to support children during this process, helping to build the confidence, skills and the resources that they will need in order to ensure a smooth and successful transition. This accessible text provides teachers, parents and professionals working with young people with a comprehensive range of resources to effectively support this process, and also:

• promotes the development of resilient children and young people who can cope effectively with the process of change
• encourage pupil participation and ensure that well-being is further fostered and maintained both for young people and staff within the learning context
• includes specific strategies, techniques and ideas regarding the transition process including systems and individualised approaches
• helps young people to visualise success, manage strong and complex emotions, cope with stress and anxiety, problem solve difficult situations, recognise their own signature strengths and build upon these through a series of activities and problem based learning opportunities.

The programme itself also makes use of solution-focused approaches, motivational interviewing techniques, cognitive behaviour therapy strategies and a range of ideas and techniques taken from positive psychology and resilience theory. The wealth of resources offered here make this programme unique and engaging, and will be particularly useful to those who support children with SEN and higher levels of vulnerability.

Resources for staff and parents Systems and procedures

The following resources can be used by school based staff at an individual and whole school systems level to promote the inclusion of children and young people at transition. Each resource is brief y described in turn.

Potential difficulties surrounding transition to secondary school for students with SEN and complex needs

This handout reinforces the nature and complexity of some of the difficulties faced by children with special educational needs and complex difficulties. These include social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, communication difficulties, flexibility problems, sensory integration difficulties, problems with executive functioning and learning needs. It is also to prompt school based staff to consider the many and varied responses and difficulties experienced by such children and to consider how the level of challenge and stress is much greater for such children during the transfer process. The idea here is to also prompt staff to consider what they might be able to do in terms of accommodating such needs – both in terms of physical and curriculum differentiation.

Joint working

Successful transitions for vulnerable students are dependent on each party involved understanding their role and the significance of it. An example of progression and task allocation is summarised in the diagram provided on this handout. This can be used as a prompt for primary and secondary key staff and parents/carers and ensure that all involved are fully aware of key tasks and responsibilities.

Parents' checklist for identifying inclusive schools

Visiting secondary schools in readiness for a child’s transition can be a daunting task for some parents. They may be uncertain about what questions to ask and what to look for and yet professionals are expecting them to make a decision about what is best for their child. It is important to reinforce the fact that the parent knows their child better than anyone and it is likely that they can trust their instincts. Nevertheless, they may wish to use this checklist in order to support the initial information gathering process. This highlights and focuses upon key aspects of the school which reveal the extent to which all young people can be and are safely included. These include the school environment, staffing, peers, the ethos, timetabling, the curriculum, social activities available, parental involvement and the organisation of the environment.

Getting ready for secondary school

This quick quiz for Year 6 students aims to highlight any key concerns or worries that they may have prior to and about the transition. These may include the following typical ones identified by the students themselves:

• getting lost;
• being bullied;
• making friends;
• getting detentions or consequences;
• having lots of different teachers;
• finding class work too difficult;
• homework;
• doing PE;
• changing and showering;
• being late for school;
• being late for lessons;
• having your money stolen;
• having other property stolen;
• break time/lunchtime;
• doing tests and exams;
• forgetting books or equipment;
• getting ill.

The students rate the level of their concerns against each item and this allows for secondary staff to focus upon these, dispelling any myths and identifying appropriate systems of support within the new context should any of these concerns actually materialise.

Making it visual – booklets and DVD tours

As pupils with additional learning needs and vulnerabilities can present as visual learners and may have high anxiety around ‘everyday’ issues, providing them with a lasting visual reference about the unknown can be very helpful. Secondary schools should consider the value of producing a visual reference for these pupils....

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Resources for staff and parents – systems and procedures
• The student programme
• Session 1 A new school
• Session 2 Coping with change
• Session 3 Getting organised
• Session 4 Focus on feelings
• Session 5 Thought control
• Session 6 Developing character strengths and resilience
• Session 7 Managing friendships and conflicts
• Session 8 Coping with stress
• Session 9 Teaching and learning styles
• Session 10 Positive self and positive goals
• Additional resources for use with children and young people on transition to secondary school
• Bibliography
• Index