Transition for a child with SEND

At Colburn, we understand that any transition point causes anxiety for some parents and children. This can be particularly concerning if your child has SEND. We aim to make all transitions as seamless as possible by ensuring that the receiving staff have as much knowledge and information as possible.

Moving into Colburn Community Primary School (Any age/year)

The staff at Colburn Community Primary place emphasis on getting to know all the children coming into school. As part of this process the teachers and the SENDCo liaise with the pre-school providers or school who already know the child/children well. They also offer home visits where they can talk to you in the comfort of the home.

They take these opportunities to meet the children and discuss any children with SEND, identifying any support that is already in place or may be needed in the future. Records are transferred up with the children and support continued where necessary.

During the child’s early days in school staff make observations and assessments, which act as a marker to measure progress against at a later date.

For EYFS:

• As soon as your child has turned 3, they can access our Nursery. 
• Our EYFS team complete may complete a nursery or home visits to all new starters
• Getting ready for school meeting at nursery and school (usually a 1 or 2 hour visit where you come into school with your child and spend time getting to know the staff and watching your child explore and play)
• We can offer trial school lunch 
• New starter open evenings for parents and children

Moving on to Secondary School

We believe it is very important to prepare all of our children for their transition to secondary school at the end of Year 6 (Usually June/July). Our Year 6 staff and SENDCo work with many secondary schools to provide a range of transition activities over the summer term, which all children take part in. We also have close links with our Secondary Schools throughout the year and provide all of our children, including our SEND children the opportunity to take part in events. We do offer this to our Year 5 children as well.

This is a challenging time for all children and their families, but we understand that it can be a particularly worrying time for children who need extra support or have additional needs and they may need a little extra transition support.

Moving from one year group to another 

• Whole school transition 2 days. Children with SEND can have additional time to meet the new class teacher/TA. Where possible we do try to keep one familiar adult with the class during a transition from year group to the next. 
• Transition meeting with parents of those with SEND.
• Transition planners for those pupils who struggle with change (includes extra visits, working in new classroom, passport, working with new TA. 

Top tips for parents during transition

Please read the attached document for more information of how to deal with change.