Transition to secondary school

Moving to secondary school can be a big step for some children. It is an exciting transition but they may also be feeling a bit anxious about it.

What is an ‘All about me’ sheet?

When a child is moving to secondary school, it can be helpful for their new teachers and SENCO to learn more about them.

This information will help them best support the child in school and put extra help in place where needed.

How do I use an ‘All about me’ sheet?

Use the ‘All about me’ resource below to fill in with your child.

Include all the important information that your child would like to share with their teacher, to help them to know them better.

There are pictures and visual prompt sheets to help them think about some of the more tricky ideas together, for example, what words describe them and what helps them to learn.

Once this is complete, contact school or post the form to them, asking it to be shared with relevant staff.

Other professionals may be involved with supporting your child e.g. speech and language therapists. It might be helpful for you to include any reports, resources, or advice from other professionals that you have available.

Download here: All about me

School transition timeline

Children with communication difficulties can find it difficult to understand the concept of time and benefit from predictability to help plan and manage transitions.

Therefore it is helpful to create a time line to show the key events that are happening in the lead up to when they finish primary school and start at secondary school. This will help them know when events are happening, what is happening, manage expectations and support their development of time concepts.

How do we use a transition timeline?

1. Choose a time when your child is calm and engaged to introduce and create their timeline.
2. It is up to you when you want to start your timetable. You could start it from the start of Y6 in September, January of Y6, April or May of Y6, last half-term on Y6 (this would be the latest recommended start time).
3. Write down a list of key events that are happening between the time you are starting the timeline to when they will start at secondary school.
4. Draw out a time line with the months on.
5. Stick the key events in order on the timeline.
6. Stick a copy of the timeline at home and at school somewhere that the child can see (at their eye level).
7. Keep referring to this timeline in the lead up to events, moving an arrow along so that your child knows where to look for the current time.

September to September timeline example