Transition to secondary is difficult for all students and even more so for a students with additional needs. The current situation makes it a very anxious time. We understand that parents/carers and students will have a lot of concerns and worries about what is happening. We will use this page to keep updated with how we will supporting during the transition.
Usually transition would include:
Information collected from primary - Students needing extra transition identified
Visit to school/tour of school and meet key staff
Small group transition visits (group activity and session, meeting staff)
Transition day
At Outwood Academy Freeston we ensure that we gather lots of information about our year 6 students before they start at Freeston, we speak to primary schools in person to ensure we have all the relevant information, this information may include:
●If your child is on the SEN register or has a Special educational need
●If your child is anxious, struggles socially or will need support making friends
●Who the child lives with if the family needs or currently has support
●If there are any safeguarding concerns and who the key contact is
●What your child/children’s academic progress is and if they need support with their learning or catch up support
●If your student will need extra transition or support with adjusting to high school
●What works for them in primary so we can ensure we provide the best support
●If your child has English as an Additional Language
●If your child has a medical condition, or disability
This work has been going on over the last term so we can ensure we put the correct provision and support in place from day 1, it also enables us to set up a transition plan.
The school has worked hard to develop a transition website to provide students and their families' as much information as possible about Outwood Academy Freeston. We recommend that you look on this site regularly for updates, information about the school and opportunities to communicate with school. It also a way to get familiar with the school, the staff and what goes on on a day to day basis.
With the current circumstance it is very difficult to say what transition will look like next. We are currently planning lots of different scenarios to make sure that in all eventualities we offer as much support to students as possible in their transition to us. As and when we know what we can offer to students in terms of additional support in transition we will communicate to families and update this section for the our Learning support site.
We encourage anyone with any concerns or questions to contact school via the transition email
transition@freeston.outwood.com or learning-support@groups.freeston.outwood.com
Managing your child's anxiety
If you are concerned that your child may become particularly anxious about the change, make sure you give them the opportunity to ask questions about their concerns and explain why the change will benefit them.
Sit with your child and look at the school transition site together.
You could provide them with a worry toy, book or box where they can write or draw any concerns they have.
twinkl.co.uk have produced a useful booklet to look at some key concerns. This can be found on the resrouces page
During transition
Ensure they are prepared for school have all their equipment and uniform ready on a morning or the night before
Ensure they have a good bedtime routine, limit screen time before bed - a useful tip is to ensure your child leaves their phone downstairs when going to bed
Let us know if there any issues so we can address these quickly.