Navigating Successful School Transitions

1. Sharing Good Practice Around Transitions Jo Hughes

2. The Essential Elements for a Successful Transition • A positive attitude from receiving school. • A carefully prepared transition plan. • A timeous strategy for implementation.

3. “It would be fair to say we were a little apprehensive about him starting. We had never had a child with Ds in our school, we didn’t know what to expect and whether we had the skills to teach him…” “I wish teachers would be honest, I don’t mind that they aren’t sure, I just want them to be willing to try………”

4. So why is it so difficult to get it right………..

5. Pre School Choices At age 2 begin planning………. • Which school, what pre school provision do they have? • Where do siblings go? • What additional support is needed? • Get support in place early, build relationships, • Can the nursery and school staff work closely together for the future Age 3 – nursery/ how will they be ready for school /specialist input Age 4 – what about deferment???

6. Nursery to Primary School • What additional support is needed? • Get support in place early ideally begin the year before • Build relationships, can the nursery and school staff work closely together • Utilising other professionals • Staff training – understanding the child’s learning profile • Lot’s of visits – photographs, book for child to take home • Make the environment visual • Build in routine • Boundaries and relationships • Communication passport Don’t forget about those yearly transitions!!!!!!

7. Transition: “a change from one thing to another” such as: • School terms • School years • Teachers/support staff/ pupils/ people • Environment • Routines • Family These are all changes that can be difficult

9. Primary 6 Begin planning now by: • Visiting and choosing a secondary school • Involving secondary school: Additional Support for Learning Staff • Utilising other professionals • Thinking about further independence skills that can be developed whilst still at primary • Having a plan in place by the end of P6 • Beginning to think about support hours/support required • Communication passort

10. Primary 7 – A time of Transition The work begins: • Identify key staff – get support in place before August • Lot’s of visits: two way and remember non class time visits are just as important • Don’t miss out on P7 experiences it’s a rite of passage… • Buddies and Friends • Take a camera- Photographs, • Training for all staff at secondary including subject specialists • Timetable preparation – colour coded, pictures/symbols • Maps of the school – map reading skills • Differentiation – give yourselves a head start Involve the Young Person

11. Leaving School Must begin 18 months before school leaving age! • Accreditation for learning • Think about action steps to greater independence • Education is about all four capacities • Think about Person Centred Planning or similar approaches as a tool for involvement and planning • Involve all the important people; especially the young person and their family

12. Principles of Good Transitions 2 • All plans and assessments should be made in a person centred way • Support should be co-ordinated across all services • Planning should start early and continue up to age 25 • Young people should get the support they need • Young people, parents and carers must have access to the information they need • Families and carers need support • Legislation and policy should be co-ordinated and simplified

13. Leaving School cont. • Find out what’s out there – get help!! • Bring in adult services/transition teams they are the budget holders for future support. • Get a plan • Monitor it closely • Keep everyone on track

14. Useful Links • whataboutus.org.uk • scottishtransitions.org.uk • skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk • enquire.org.uk • gov.scot.\getting it right for every child • Cerebra.org.uk • communicationpassports.org.uk

15. Any questions? Jo Hughes | Senior Family Support Service Officer Mob: 07590 047 472 | 01563 533473 E: jo@dsscotland.org.uk Down’s Syndrome Scotland, Riverside House, 502 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh. EH11 3AF T: 0131 442 8840 | www.dsscotland.org.uk