Young children given extra support to help them move from pre-school to primary school

A pilot, aiming to make the transition from pre-school learning to primary school as easy as possible for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), has been successful and will run for another year.

Devon County Council heard from parents about how challenging that transition period is, moving from pre-schools where they felt that staff understood their children’s needs and where their children felt included and supported, to primary schools that were unfamiliar and that sometimes, despite best intentions, had fewer resources to meet the needs of every child. 

Professionals who work with families say that transition times are particularly difficult for parents and children with complex needs. We asked them to identify 100 children who were due to move up to primary schools the following academic year who would most benefit from the pilot. They identified children in 39 schools who they felt would struggle the most with transition, some of whom were at risk of being excluded due to social and emotional needs. None of the children on the project had Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). 

Early Years Consultants conducting the pilot initially visited the pre-schools to gain a clear picture of each child involved with the pilot and the additional support and resources they needed. The schools were given additional support from the Early Years Consultants for a period of time following the child’s move. This included visits to schools, observations with the children, reviewing the learning environment and further planning. Additional support was provided by a small team of Educational Psychologists, and some schools were also given a small amount of funding to pay for additional support and resources needed to have maximum impact on the child’s inclusion and progress. 

Feedback from the children involved, their parents, pre-schools and primary school staff has been positive. While schools do their very best to accommodate new pupils, welcoming them, and spending time to provide the right level of support to encourage learning, the transition from pre-school to primary school for many children, particularly those with complex needs, can be emotionally and physically challenging.  But with the wrap-around and individual support over that period, the transitions were a less stressful, much more positive experience for pupils, parents and staff. We are pleased to be able to offer transition support again this September and will continue for the academic year.