This week we did some training at the beautiful and very cool (fully air conditioned) Woodea’s (on the premises of Woodlea Junior School). The training was aimed at Y6 TAs where we identified and explored issues regarding Y6 transition to Y7. We also shared practical strategies to use with the Y6s in the summer term to help them with the move to high school.
It was lovely to see so many Y6 TAs, Learning Mentors and Family Support Workers from district 7 schools; everyone shared their experiences with both past and current students and how best they have supported Year 6 children transition to high school.
We discussed the positive and negative things that can happen around transition time and then as a whole group we looked at the negative aspects and what a solution could be. The ideas that everyone had were great and it was lovely to see schools sharing good practice and supporting one another.
Transition to High School is always an area of concern for some of the children that we support but it is interesting as sometimes the ones we worry about can really surprise us. I remember working with a girl a couple of years ago, she was going through a really challenging time in her life just as the transition to high school was starting. She was moving to a new family, a new area and did not know which high school she would be going to until the summer holidays. Imagine how overwhelming and daunting that was for her. She didn’t know anyone who would be at her new high school. I worked really closely with this young lady, and we supported her as she made the transition, don’t get me wrong at times there were challenges but with the transitional support and all of the efforts of the high school staff, she thrived. She went on to achieve her GCSEs and is now at college, she embraced high school and saw it as a new chapter for her. She makes me so proud.
I think what is important is knowing the child and knowing how to support them with that transition, explore what will be same/different. What are their hopes and fears? Give them social scenarios to explore how they could respond in different situations within high school and most importantly work with the high school: look at their website, develop links with key members of staff, look at the systems that they have in place, the equipment that they will need, the route they will be taking to school and look at the behaviour policy. Most importantly – make sure the children know who to go to if they need help or are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. Relationships, as always are key.
Reach Behaviour 