Transition at William Austin Infants

Pre-school to Year R

Starting school is a big milestone in a child’s life and the transition between pre-school and school is very important. To help this be as smooth as possible we try to put as much into place to ensure the children are happy starting in a new setting. Here is a list of events that happen to ensure a smooth transition:

All Children

• Year leader visits most pre-schools to meet the children and gather information on new starters. If this is not possible then she ensures she speaks to the pre-school to find out any information on the child/children.
• Intake evening for parents to see classrooms and meet staff.
• Home visits for all children.
• Story time and time in the classroom before starting to enable children to see their classroom.

SEN Children

• Transition meetings with parents and outside agencies if needed.
• Visits to pre-schools to meet the children on a 1:1 basis.
• If the child will be receiving 1:1 support that member of staff will try and visit to meet the child.
• Visits to the school and class to enable them to become familiar with the new setting if possible.
• Transition booklet given to pre-school with photos for pre-school to go through it with the child before starting.

Children from Greenside

• Year leader and Year R teachers visit Greenside to read a story to the children.
• Year R teachers go over and visit the children starting school.

In-School Transition

Moving between year groups is just as important and at William Austin Infants we do try to make the transition between year groups as smooth as possible. At the end of the academic year each year group will try to work in a similar way as the year group they will be moving into. Here is a list of events that happen to ensure a smooth transition:

Year R into Year 1

• Year 1 teachers come to meet the children in their Year R classes.
• Year R and Year 1 children meet in Year 1 classrooms for buddy chats to discuss the year group they will be going to and to look at Year 1 work.
• Children in Year R do their first piece of work in their new Year 1 book to take to their new class.
• Children spend 2 sessions in their new Year 1 classroom with their Year 1 teacher.
• Parents are invited in to hear a story in their child’s new Year 1 class and have the opportunity to meet their child’s Year 1 teacher.
• Year R and Year 1 teachers meet to discuss each child’s needs, strengths and areas of development.
• First 2 weeks in Year 1 is a Year R based curriculum (topic based)

Year 1 into Year 2

• Year 2 teachers come to meet the children in their Year 1 classes.
• Year 1 and Year 2 children meet in Year 2 classrooms for buddy chats to discuss the year group they will be going to and to look at Year 2 work.
• Children in Year 1 do their first piece of work in their new Year 2 book to take to their new class.
• Children spend 2 sessions in their new Year 2  classroom with their Year 2 teacher.
• Parents are invited in to hear a story in their child’s new Year 2 class and have the opportunity to meet their child’s Year 2 teacher.
• Year 1 and Year 2 teachers meet to discuss each child’s needs, strengths and areas of development.

Infant School to Junior School

• Year 3 teachers come to meet the Infant School children in their Year 2 classes.
• Children visit their new Year 3 classes on the ‘Luton Transition Day’ and spend the whole morning with their future Year 3 teacher in the Junior School.
• Year 2 and Year 3 teachers meet to discuss each child’s needs, strengths and areas of development.
• Year 2 and Year 3 team leaders meet up to discuss the needs of the children, information to be shared and children’s work to be transferred.
• Year 2 children visit the ICT suite at the Juniors to take part in a computing lesson.
• Year 2 go to the concert in the Junior school.
• Inclusion managers of both the schools meet up to discuss the needs of SEN children.
• Year 3 Inclusion team teaching assistants visit Year 2 classes to observe the special needs children that they will be supporting.