Transitions

During their school career children experience a number of transition or transfer points. Fabian and Dunlop (2002: 3) define transition as: ‘the process of change that is experienced when children (and their families) move from one setting to another’. All transition points mark a progression, a ‘moving on’ not just in education but through life and it is entirely appropriate that within the new setting there are differences and new experiences and challenges. The challenge for educators is to manage the process of change for the child in such a way that provides support at both a pastoral, social and emotional level and at the level of continuity of the curriculum and progression in learning. At all transition points extra consideration needs to be given to children identified as having additional educational needs as they are likely to require higher levels of planning and support.