Transitioning from nursery to primary school is an important life event for children, parents/carers and professionals but how can you help your parents/carers navigate this transition and how does the EYFS framework help? Here is some useful information and tips to pass on.
The EYFS And Transitions
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers children from birth to age 5, including the reception year. After reception, children move to key stage 1 (KS1), so there will be several transitions around this age:
- Nursery to reception
- Reception to Year 1
When Do Children Have To Go To School?
Most children start school in reception class, joining full-time in the September after their fourth birthday. For example, a child who turns 4 in June, will usually start school in September that same year. However, some parents delay their start date, especially if they have summer babies. An August baby for example, will only have just turned 4 by September, so some parents may start their child part-time or even part-way through the academic year (e.g. in January).
Children can miss the whole of reception year and start school for the first time after their 5th birthday, but in these cases, they will go automatically into year 1. Parents who delay starting school still need to apply for a place at the usual time, (when the child is 3 or just turned 4) but they can ask for a later start. See https://www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/how-to-apply for information on applying for school places. Parents can choose to home educate or apply for a place at an independent school too. All children must be in full-time education the term after turn 5, when they reach what is known as ‘compulsory school age’. For more information on this, see the government website at https://www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/school-starting-age.
The EYFS And Starting School
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework emphasises that transitions from nursery to school or reception to year 1 should be well-planned and as smooth as possible. Transitions should also be seen as a process and not a finite event that occurs on the first day of school.
In the document, “Birth to 5 Matters”, early years professionals acknowledge that:
- Children can feel vulnerable during transitions
- High-quality transitions understand the importance of children feeling “known” and value continuity
- Transitions give all parties the opportunity for dialogue (parents/carers, school, nurseries)
- The key person in nursery plays an essential role in making the process run well and making connections with the school
EYFS Assessment
As part of the EYFS, all children will undergo ongoing assessments at various stages including:
- Progress check age 2
- Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) – a short assessment undertaken in the first 6 weeks after children start reception
- Early Years Profile Assessment – this will be completed for each child in the final term of the year in which the child reaches age 5 (no later than 30th June). It is usually completed by the reception teacher, or nursery provider if the child has not yet started reception. It gives parents/carers, practitioners and teachers a well- rounded picture of a child’s knowledge, understanding and abilities, their attainment against expected levels, and their readiness for year 1. These are assessed by the professional judgement of the practitioners against the early learning goals in the EYFS
More detailed information about both all these assessments can be found in the EYFS and schools can provide information about their own practices too.
Move-Up Days
Many local authorities organise a move-up day that is co-ordinated across the whole local authority, with all children attending their new school on the same day. This allows children to meet their new teachers, make new friends and generally experience what a day in the new venue will be like. It usually takes place in June or July.
How Parents Can Help With The Transition To School
Talk About The Process And Feelings
Families should talk about the transition process and be as open and honest with children as possible. Schools and nurseries will also be involved in this so that children know and understand what will happen. Parents/carers should talk to their key person who will be able to help. Allow children to express their own feelings, whether they are excited or anxious and talk in age-appropriate ways with language they can understand. Pictures/videos can help remind children of their new school and talking to other parents/carers and children who’ve gone through transitions can help too.
Remind Children About Successes With Past Changes (EYFS: Understanding The World)
Life is constantly changing, and these transitions are one of many transitions that the children will have done, even in their short life. It can be helpful to remind children how well they did moving from home to nursery, or when they changed nursery rooms or key person along the way. This helps children understand they have already successfully faced several changes and that they can do so again.
Practice Key Skills And Journeys (EYFS: Physical Development)
Try to practice the journey a few times before the move-up day to eliminate worries. Other skills to practice include:
- Encouraging the child to carry a lunchbox or bag
- Taking a coat off or putting it on independently
- Putting on shoes
- Walking or scooting carefully
- Sitting still and focussing attention
Try to keep things such as bedtime or mealtimes as consistent as possible during this time to aid continuity.
Stay Calm
Teach calming exercises to the children such as taking slow, deep breaths, or the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to distract them if they are feeling anxious (list 5 things you see, 4 you hear, 3 you can feel, 2 you smell, 1 you taste). The BBC has lots of advice for parents/carers about transitions at https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkqnxbk.
Look At Things From The Child’s Perspective
Adults learn to manage their emotions through experience, but young children are still developing these skills. They have a different view of the world that can seem trivial to an adult, but can be all encompassing as a child, so try to see these situations through their eyes.
Encourage And Praise Effort
Children will not get everything right first time, so praise their effort above their achievement. This helps them to learn resilience and the important life lessons that can be learned through trial and error.
Be Kind To Yourself
Remember that the transition will affect parents as well as children, so parents should look after their own emotions and feelings too. Children can pick up on the stresses of adults so remaining calm is helpful.
