Supporting Students with School Transitions

Whether it’s moving onto the next year group, or moving from primary to secondary school, all students will invariably experience a number of transitions during their educational life.

While some children and young people find school transitions easy to navigate, others may need additional support to ensure they feel settled and secure, before, during and after any period of upheaval.

So, which school transitions present the biggest challenges and how can we best support students during these times?

1: Moving on from Early Years

One major transition happens when children leave early years settings. At this time, children move from an environment of predominantly continuous provision and play-based learning to more structured, formal teaching – although naturally, this varies from school to school.

Many children can struggle with this transition, especially since Covid, and may not be cognitively, physically, or emotionally ready to meet the new expectations. While this is often well-understood and anticipated by staff within the relevant year groups, the experience can sometimes be somewhat fragmented and inconsistent, as children are at such different stages developmentally.

2: Moving on to a new year group

In all settings, students generally move up to the next year group. More often than not, this involves a change of classroom and a change of teacher or teachers. In secondary schools, students may also be taught by a raft of new and unfamiliar staff across a wide range of subjects.

Change on this scale can be difficult for some children and young people to navigate. Different staff members can have widely diverse approaches and perspectives, and it can often take students some time to acclimatise to new expectations. They may have developed very strong bonds with their previous teacher or teachers and might be apprehensive about forming new relationships.

3: Moving from primary to secondary school

At the end of their primary school years, students move on to their secondary setting – something that, for some, can feel incredibly overwhelming. For many children and young people, their primary school is a place of safety and security; they are often taught by just one teacher, and the environment feels both manageable and familiar.

A secondary school setting can feel daunting for some children. They are surrounded by much older students; they may have to navigate busy corridors and shared spaces throughout the day; and peer groups and friendships can begin to fluctuate. This combination of factors, along with the emotional and physical changes associated with adolescence, can exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety.

How school transitions can affect behaviour

Although school transitions are an inevitable part of life for every child and young person, that doesn’t mean they are always easy. Many students can experience high levels of anxiety and distress, which, in turn, can affect their behaviour.