OVERVIEW
Few moments in a young child's life are as significant as starting school. Moving from home or an early-years setting into reception is one of the biggest changes a child will have experienced — a new building, a new key adult, new routines, larger groups, longer days and a host of unfamiliar expectations. Handled well, this transition lays the foundations for a child's wellbeing, confidence and learning for years to come; handled poorly, it can cause anxiety and set back their development at a crucial stage.
This course explains what transition means and how early-years practitioners, reception teachers, teaching assistants, childminders and SENCOs can work together to make the move to school as smooth and positive as possible. It explores school readiness as a whole-child idea — covering social and emotional development, communication and language, self-care and independence, physical development and early literacy and numeracy — and challenges the misconception that readiness is only about academic skills. It also makes the case that settings and schools must be 'ready for the child' just as much as the child is prepared for school, and covers information sharing with consent, visits and taster sessions, settling-in approaches, partnership with parents, enhanced transition for SEND and children with EAL, and recognising and supporting transition anxiety.
