[senco-forum] Yr 6/7 transition

Very similar to Janice but don't do the letter - good idea though!

We have extra visits from about 50 pupils (ones with SEN or very nervous)  who come from feeder schools in groups of 5-10.  They are shown round on their first visit by a TA and a pupil(s) who attended their primary school (usually a pupil with SEN).  Teachers are used to us going in to lessons and on the way we usually find stray pupils who will demonstrate how the credit card machine works for "dinner money" .
They return to the Learning Support base and ask question and we get any pupil around to come and join us. 

They come for a second visit arriving 10 minutes before break and go to the dining hall armed with £1 to buy a drink and ? (used to be an iced bun but of course with healthy eating they are no more!)  They get to see how the canteen works and sit in the dining hall through break when the hordes arrive.  In fact by this time Year 11 have gone so it is not quite as scary, but because we are a school of 1800+ there are still a lot of bodies to contend with.

We give each school samples of our Contact Book so they can practice filling in details as well as sample timetable, school maps and lunch menus and prices. Some schools even have tie tying practice.

If the pupils have a Statement (18 coming this year) I get their link TA to meet them for their visits and then they arrange to met them at a fixed point for the Year 6 day when that TA stays with them all day even break and lunch time.

We also now have transition mentors who work between both phases and they know the pupils well too.

Barbara
-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk [mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of WrayJanice Wray
Sent: 21 May 2007 17:45
To: senco forum
Subject: [senco-forum] Yr 6/7 transition - ideas to make it easier

I wondered if we could exchange ideas to make this transition easier - it is a big focus at present.(Has it become a big issue in some places then ? - I guess so).

Here are some I picked up from a TA of mine when she went visiting.
1) the pupils in Yr 6 all write a letter to their new form tutor at secondary telling them about themselves. These letters are pinned up in the new form room and at the start of term or the new intake day the pupils choose a letter to read out - either introduce themselves to the rest of the class or introduce someone else.
2) secondary school organises a treasure hunt around the school for the Yr 6 classes coming up
3) I always have 1 or 2 pupils in to spend a morning with me - ones who are really worried - and then I take photos of them in various parts of the school with head of house or form tutor if I know who they are - then write a letter inserting the photos so they can show their parents etc.
Any more I'll pass on to you all.
Anyone else got good ideas ?
JaniceJanice Wray Secondary SENCO, Herts
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