Moving Up
"Because of our visits to our new class I feel happy about next year." Pupil
"It was nice for my mum to meet my new teacher before we started in their class." Pupil
The process of moving to another year group is a big step wherever it is in school. We always think incredibly hard about how to make the ‘in-house’ transition process better year on year for our children. The importance of ensuring the children are happy and have a confident start in their new year groups is crucial to us. In order for this to happen we recognise that the more time the children spend with their new teacher in their new classroom helps with this process. In July we have a period where the children spend a large chunk of the school day with their new class teacher in their new classroom. We also have transition staff meetings and parents have a chance to meet their child's new class teacher so everyone is fully aware of the expectations and routines for the next year group. They start by carry out lots of ‘getting to know you’ activities. We have lots of assemblies in our new Key Stages so that we get to know the routines and expectations. We have a bespoke transition package for those children who may need more or a different approach - this is carefully planned and considered on an individual basis.
Over the summer holidays the school set the children in their new class holiday homework. The homework is then shared and displayed at the start of the new academic year.
Each year we evaluate the transition week and we make appropriate changes for the following year so that the process becomes better and better.