Getting transition right is critical to wellbeing. My experience is shaped by working in areas with high transition. We regularly induct new children mid way through the year as well has having a heavy turn over at the end of terms and academic years. If you see anything I have missed feel free to add a comment. Here are my top ten tips of things to consider:
1. Set Clear Expectations Early
- Create honest materials that accurately represent what new arrivals can expect from the school and community. Include potential challenges and their mitigations.
- Use parental feedback to ensure accuracy and relevance.
2. Enhance Familiarity Before Arrival
- Offer virtual tours of the local area and the school to help families become acquainted with their new environment before they arrive.
- Assign a ‘transition champion’ to every incoming child to guide them through the process and to potentially reach out before arrival (as an additional to the normal paperwork gathering).
3. Personalize the Welcome Experience
- Collect personal information and a photo of the incoming child to create a personalized welcome. Display this on a “new friend board” in class and in a central location. This will help staff and children tune into the new arrival and start to already feel like they are part of the team.
- Provide teachers with a head start on getting to know incoming children by sharing this information and any specific needs or challenges the child might have.
4. Facilitate Early Connections
- Organize virtual meetings between the new child, their parents, and their future teacher. In some cases we have had class Zoom meetings as well – if you do this coach the parent to encourage the child to look for smiling faces as this can improve the perception of how welcome they are.
- Share current pictures, first names, and key interests of classmates with the new child to foster initial connections.
- If you can (parental permission is likely to be forthcoming from most in our experience) share a basic first name, picture, and likes/hobbies for some of the children in the class. This will mean that the new faces will actually start to look familiar and be less daunting on arrival.
5. Support Emotional Well-being
- Offer coaching meetings for the child before and after the transfer to help them navigate the emotional aspects of transitioning.
- Share resources with parents on managing tough times, emphasizing the benefits of physical contact and open communication.
6. Ensure Smooth Information Transfer
- Work diligently to obtain high-quality information from the child’s previous school and, in turn, provide comprehensive information to support their onward education.
- Consider creating a standardised form for this purpose to streamline the process.
7. Maintain Ongoing Support
- Continue to drip-feed information and resources to the family in the weeks following their arrival to help them settle in. We like to send leaflets about our provision and local guides when they are moving area.
- Schedule follow-up meetings to check in on the child’s adjustment and address any emerging issues.
8. Welcome Meeting and Continuous Communication
- Host a welcome meeting for parents to discuss the school’s approach, address any concerns, and ensure clear lines of communication are established. Ensuring that parents, as well as children, transition well is half the battle. We have found that making sure the parents understand how your school does things is critical in situations where they have moved midway through a stage.
- Use this opportunity to align expectations regarding homework, school events, and key policies.
9. Leverage Technology and Resources
- Utilize forms, videos, and online meetings to facilitate the transition process efficiently.
10. Involve and Train Support Staff
- Engage learning support assistants (LSAs) and other staff in supporting the transition process. Provide them with the necessary training and resources.
- Consider creating a mentorship system where older or more experienced students can help new arrivals adjust.
These tips are designed to create a welcoming, supportive, and smooth transition for children and their families into a new school and community. By focusing on clear communication, personalised support, and proactive planning, schools can significantly ease the transition process and help students thrive in their new environment.
I hope you found that useful. I plan to share some of our resources – let me know if there is anything in particular you would find helpful.
Getting transition right is critical to wellbeing. My experience is shaped by working in areas with high transition. We regularly induct new children mid way through the year as well has having a heavy turn over at the end of terms and academic years. If you see anything I have missed feel free to add…
