Helping Children with Transition

As it starts to get closer to the time for your child to be moving off to Secondary School, the staff at St Mary's work with the children and colleagues at Secondary Schoools to make the move as smooth as possible.

In Year 5 during Term 5, the children have a transition day at St Anselm's in Canterbury.  On this day they get to sample some lessons and experience the school canteen.  This starts to give the children an idea of what it is like to move on to a much bigger Secondary School.  

In Terms 5 and 6, staff provide information to colleagues at Secondary School about the children and the teachers come into St Mary's and visit the children in groups to discuss what they can expect when they arrive and to tell them about what their first few days will look like. 

In class the children will talk about the difference that there will be between Primary and Secondary School and they get the opportunity to discuss what they might be excited about and what might be more challenging.  We also teach the children strategies for coping with the changes.

In Term 6, your child will spend a day or more at their new school getting to know thei way around and having some taster lessons.