Introduction

Children go through many changes in their lives, both big and small. These changes might include:

• Going from playtime to mealtime.
• Leaving nursery and starting school.
• Moving home or starting at a new early years setting.

Any change can be stressful for your child, so it's important to help by comforting them, sticking to routines, and giving them time to adjust.

Transition support video

This video from the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years:

• Explains what transitions are.
• Provides tips on how you can help your child through their life changes.

Help your child prepare

Here are some good practice guidelines to prepare your child for the transition:

• Visit the school or setting

  Take a trip to the new early years setting or school to ease any worries. Check their website beforehand for their prospectus, daily routines, and possibly a virtual tour or photo books to share with your child in the security of your own home.

• Meet the key person

  Your child will be introduced to a key person who has a particular role to play in making sure your child is supported and prepared for the transition. It's normal for children to feel sad or resist leaving their current setting, especially if they’ve been there a long time.

• Share stories

  Use stories to explore the new situations that your child will face when they move. Open-ended stories can help them think through and solve problems independently.

• Share key information

  Let the school know about your child’s likes, dislikes, and any additional needs, such as physical, sensory or dietary. This encourages positive relationships with adults and children.

• Allow time to settle

  Expect your child to need time to adjust. They might watch before joining in or seem to regress a little – this is normal.

• Set up meetings between the current and new setting

  Regular transition meetings between their early years setting and new setting or school will help them to share important information and agree on the transition arrangements.

• Plan extra visits if needed

  Some children, who find changes to their usual routines challenging, may need extra visits to their new setting or school. This can be part of the transition plan.

• Coordinate

  If your child attends more than one setting or school, it’s important for all staff to share information. The EYFS transition record should be filled out at the setting where your child spends most of their time, with input from the other setting.

Early years transition guide

The early years transition guide is for parents, carers, and settings. It provides advice on how to help children with special educational needs or disabilities move smoothly into and between early years settings.