Primary to Secondary

At Laurel Avenue Community Primary School we recognise how important a successful transition is to our pupils with additional needs.

We work in partnership with our feeder secondary schools; most of our children transfer to Belmont Community School. This enables us to provide an enhanced level of transition for those who we feel would benefit from this. This may take the form of additional visits for pupils, one to one/small group working with secondary school staff or pupil mentoring from secondary schools.

http://www.belmontschool.org.uk/

Laurel Avenue Community Primary School has a dedicated transition worker who is employed through our Community of Learning.  She spends time in the spring and summer term with the children in Year 6 who will be transitioning to Belmont Community School. Any children transitioning to a different school will receive support from a transition worker from that respective school.

Time is given over explicitly for the transition worker to spend time with the children and for information to be shared concerning their SEND.  Extra visits are arranged as well as meetings for parents to meet the new SENCo. Extra visits and meetings are also arranged for children who will be going to other schools.

The period of transition depends on the individual needs of the child. If it is felt appropriate secondary school colleagues will attend Annual Reviews to meet the current class teacher, parents/carers and most importantly the child. We have found this strategy particularly useful in easing any worries or concerns parents and children may have. We are particularly keen to involve parents/carers as much as possible in their child’s transition to secondary school. School staff will take opportunities to work alongside parents/carers to visit secondary schools in advance of secondary placement applications being submitted to the Local Authority, in the case of children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education Health Care Plan.

This ensures parents/carers can make the most informed placement decision for their child. When a secondary school has been allocated to the child, parents are fully involved and consulted at all stages of the transition process.

We work closely with our Parent Support Advisor, Lily Morris, who can accompany parents/carers to visit secondary schools and talk to key personnel there to ensure transition is successful.

SENDIASS, Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service, also support parents

tel: 0191 5873541              e mail: sendiass@durham.gov.uk

http://www.durhamsendiass.info/

Transition within School

Laurel Avenue Community Primary School is a small school and so all staff know all children very well. However, we ensure that children receive opportunities to meet their new teacher and spend time with their new class to become familiar with their new classroom environment and organisation. New classes meet in the summer term to plan their area of learning for September. Children with additional needs will have other opportunities to develop relationships with their new teacher built in during the year before including going on messages and e.g. shared maths project.

Information will be passed on to the new class teacher in advance and in most cases, a planning meeting will take place with the new teacher. All Support Plans will be shared with the new teacher.

Additional support to take account of children’s individual needs can be arranged, e.g. a child friendly book of photos and additional information to support the transition from one setting to another.

New starters for Reception children are provided with the following opportunities:  

• Parent and Child Meeting in school
• Children's visits to Reception class in the Summer Term
• Pupils and Parents invited for School Lunch; this is a particularly welcoming event, particularly for those with specific needs, as they feel much more settled in September.

New starters for Nursery children are provided with the following opportunities:  

• Parent and Child Meeting in school
• Children's visits to Nursery prior to their start date

If your child has already been identified as having special educational needs then the SENCO will coordinate extra visits to our school in the summer term where they will get to meet the teachers, other children that will be starting the school with them and the new school environment.

At Laurel Avenue Community Primary School we have a flexible approach and additional visit opportunities or multi-agency meetings can be organised if required.

If your child is moving to another school:

• We will contact the school SENCO and ensure he/she knows about any special arrangements or support that need to be made for your child.
• We will make sure that all records about your child are passed on as soon as possible.

At Laurel Avenue Community Primary School we understand the importance of preparing children for adulthood and have identified three main drivers for our curriculum; Ambition and Possibilities, Life-skills and Enterprise and Knowledge and Understanding of the World. These areas will underpin the whole curriculum which we have developed and, help to ensure that children leaving Laurel Avenue Community Primary School are well prepared for their continuing education and life as adults.

Our School Curriculum Drivers