Transition Support

ATS Support for Transition

The Advisory Teaching Service is committed to supporting children and young people at points of transition in their educational journey.

Supporting students with additional needs through key educational transitions is essential to promoting their wellbeing, confidence, and sustained engagement in learning. These moments of change can be particularly challenging, making it vital for schools to plan thoughtfully and provide consistent, personalised support. Central to this process is actively listening to the views of pupils and their parents or carers, ensuring their experiences, concerns, and aspirations meaningfully shape the transition planning. By valuing these perspectives alongside professional insight, educators can reduce anxiety, strengthen trust, and create a more seamless and positive move into each new stage of a student’s educational journey.

Pre-school transition:

Transitions in pre-school, including moving up to primary school are a critical aspect of early childhood development. They involve various changes that children experience as they move from preschool to primary school. These transitions can be challenging for children, especially those with additional needs or those who have experienced significant changes in their lives.

ATS accept requests for support for children with additional needs in their pre-school year (during term) which will involve a visit to the pre-school setting, and follow up visits in the Reception class. (Please look at our criteria for involvement)

All schools are offered a free on-line session to problem solve and to build capacity to meet the needs of their learners in their settings (Link to training information)

Click below to view documents:

Transition into reception Top Tips Transition Criteria

Moving up to secondary school:

Moving from primary to secondary school marks a major change in a child’s educational journey. It involves adapting to a new environment, larger school settings, different teachers, and increased academic expectations. Making the transition from primary school to secondary school is a significant step which can be exciting, yet challenging, especially for students with additional needs. Whilst these changes can trigger feelings of anxiety or nervousness, which are normal and should be acknowledged rather than ignored. Careful preparation, support and development of coping strategies can all help to make a more successful move, whilst reducing anxiety for the students and their parents and carers.

ATS offer transition support for all students in Y6 who are already known to ATS. Schools are also invited to request involvement for any other students with additional needs who will benefit from our support (deadline: 20th March, link to Criteria). This will involve a visit during the summer terms, attendance at review meetings and invitations for schools and parent/carers to attend transition meetings at their allocated secondary school.

During the transition meeting, individual plans will be agreed to support a smooth transition to their secondary school (Link to transition document).

Click below to view documents:

Transition Action Plan Transition Booklet Pupil Views