Transition to school
Moving from nursery to school is a significant milestone for young children. Every child experiences this transition differently, so it’s important to observe and respond to their emotions, acknowledging their individual needs. Offering personalised support can help make the process smoother and more positive. Here are some helpful tips to guide the transition.
- Gather the website addresses of feeder schools and make them accessible to children, staff, and parents. This will help everyone learn about the school’s routines, expectations, and specific requirements, such as uniforms
- Build strong connections with feeder schools by sharing key information about each child. This ensures a smooth transition by providing details about their interests, achievements, and areas for development, helping to maintain a supportive and consistent approach
- Find out when familiarisation visits are scheduled and encourage parents to attend with their child
- Enable practitioners to accompany children to provide reassurance, continuity of care and to support with any specific interventions which will be beneficial to share with the new school
- Invite reception teachers to visit the nursery to discuss individual children’s needs, strategies for support, and any concerns. Sharing information about family contexts and friendships can also be beneficial
- For children with additional needs, coordinate meetings and visits with the current key person, parents and the new staff to ensure key information is shared effectively
- Create an environment that supports the development of personal, social, and emotional skills useful for school. Encourage independence in dressing and eating, cooperative play, sharing, turn-taking, conflict resolution, and self-regulation
- Use pictures or books to explain the transition process to children. Helping them understand what to expect can reduce anxieties and build excitement about starting school
- Create an engaging role-play area with items children will use at school. For example book bags, uniform, trays to carry lunch etc
- Create a social story using simple language and images to illustrate what school life will be like. This can be especially helpful for children with additional needs or those unfamiliar with their new peers. The story should introduce the idea of school, acknowledge emotions, and reassure children that feeling nervous or excited is normal. Cover key aspects like daily routines, lunchtime, using the toilet, and transitions. Read the story multiple times, encouraging questions and discussions to address any concerns.
NDNA products to support you
- Share the NDNA parent’s page: https://ndna.org.uk/parents-of-nursery-aged-children/
- Getting ready for school factsheets: https://ndna.org.uk/product/getting-ready-for-school-building-childrens-confidence/
https://ndna.org.uk/product/getting-ready-for-school-developing-literacy-at-home/
- MyNDNA
- Tips
