Supporting Successful Transition from Primary to Secondary School: A Programme For Teachers

The transition from primary to secondary school is extremely important in the lives of children and young people but it is also a time of significant stress for many.

This unique programme is designed to support children during this process, helping to build the confidence, skills and the resources that they will need in order to ensure a smooth and successful transition. This accessible text provides teachers, parents and professionals working with young people with a comprehensive range of resources to effectively support this process, and also:

• promotes the development of resilient children and young people who can cope effectively with the process of change
• encourage pupil participation and ensure that well-being is further fostered and maintained both for young people and staff within the learning context
• includes specific strategies, techniques and ideas regarding the transition process including systems and individualised approaches
• helps young people to visualise success, manage strong and complex emotions, cope with stress and anxiety, problem solve difficult situations, recognise their own signature strengths and build upon these through a series of activities and problem based learning opportunities.

The programme itself also makes use of solution-focused approaches, motivational interviewing techniques, cognitive behaviour therapy strategies and a range of ideas and techniques taken from positive psychology and resilience theory. The wealth of resources offered here make this programme unique and engaging, and will be particularly useful to those who support children with SEN and higher levels of vulnerability.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Powerpoint training session for staff and parents
3. Resources for staff - systems and procedures
4. Potential difficulties surrounding transition to secondary school for students with SEN and complex needs
5. Joint working
6. Parents checklist for identifying inclusive schools
7. Getting ready for secondary school
8. Making it visual - boolets and DVD tours
9. Considerations for the penultimate primary year
10. Possible objectives for secondary schools during additional transition visits
11. Pre-unduction day consideration for secondary schools
12. Strategies to support SEN pupils in secondary schools
13. Recommendations for induction to secondary
14. Writing a pupil passport
15. Example passport format 1
16. Example information cards
17. The programme for students
18. Session 1 - a new school
19. Session 2 - coping with change
20. Session 3 - getting organised
21. Session 4 - focus on feelings
22. Session 5 - Thought control
23. Session 6 - developing character strengths and resilience
24. Session 7 - managing friendships and conflicts
25. Session 8 - Coping with stress
26. Session 9 - teaching and learning styles
27. Session 10 - positive self and positive goals
28. Additional resources for use with children and young people on transition to high school