Planning for change

If your child needs extra support with their transition, a number of best practice steps will be taken to make the process smoother. We understand that planning for a change in your child's life can be stressful, so it’s important that you are fully involved and able to share your thoughts.

This process will also include:

• your child
• their current setting
• the new school
• any other services supporting your child.

By working together through these steps, we can make sure your child gets the help they need during this transition.

1

Regular meetings and reviews

In pre-school, the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) and your child’s key person will have regular meetings with you.

These meetings will focus on your child’s needs and progress, and help coordinate support from other health and education services.

2

Preparing for transition to school

Before your child moves from early years to school, a joint transition meeting will be held. This is usually in the spring term before your child starts school. If your child has an education, health and care plan (EHCP), the meeting will be part of their yearly review and held before the November autumn term.

The aim is to:

• discuss your child's strengths
• talk about areas where they need support
• review care plans, support plans, and any necessary adjustments.

This meeting will include:

• you, and any other parents and/or carers
• staff from the early years setting
• the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
• any other services supporting your child.

3

Sharing information

Before the transition, we encourage the following documents to be shared (with your consent):

• early years foundation stage transition record
• termly support plan
• developmental overviews
• reports from other services.

These documents will be passed to the next setting or school when your child leaves.

4

Extra visits

Your child may benefit from extra visits to their new setting. If they are starting school, these visits should happen in the term before they begin. School staff may also visit your child at their current setting or at home.