Get support for starting primary school (transition support)

Making sure your child is doing well in their school

In the autumn term, the school will review your child’s progress. To do this they may:  

  • arrange a meeting to review targets in school and at home
  • set new targets depending on how they’re doing 

Children who need more support 

Most children go to mainstream schools and do well. But some children who need more support may go to: 

  • Local Authority Resource Provisions (LARPs) in mainstream schools
  • specialist schools for children with very complex needs 

These placements are decided by the SEN Admissions Panel. You should let the SEND Assessment and Review Service know your preferences during the autumn term after your child’s annual review. 

Specialist schools and schools with a LARP may offer: 

  • supported transition visits
  • exchange visits between schools
  • transition books
  • transition passports or profiles to help your child adjust 

How your child’s needs are shared with their new school 

It’s important for schools to know a bit about your child when they join, especially if they have SEND. This can help the school support your child when they start and have discussions with the early years setting.  

Early years settings will complete an Early Years Transfer form and share this with the primary school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo). The form is a written record of the contact between the setting and schools.  

The setting will ask you for permission before sharing information. 

If our Early Years Inclusion Service has supported your child, we’ll create a one-page profile for them to give school staff an overview of your child’s needs. 

This is created with parents, the child and their early years setting. This may happen during the transition meeting.