Transition from Ks1 to Ks2
Name of School: Eldon Junior Contact person: Heather Lane
Eldon Infant/ Junior Transition 2008
Initiating The Project
Meeting between Julie Messer (Head Teacher) and Heather Lane (Year 3 Leader) re transition and transition bid
Heads of both schools agree to link
Leadership Team wrote bid
Initial Meeting between Heather and Sarah (Infant Assistant Head/SENCO) – overview of classes
23rd May Meeting with Carolyn Healey – Year 2 Leader re transition content and what should be passed on at end of the year.
Meeting between Heather and Frances Broadway (Junior Deputy Head) to allocate Year 2 classes to Year 3 teachers.
Meeting between Head Teachers.
Meeting between Julia Smart (Infant music Coordinator) and Heather to arrange music links.
Days to visit decided on between Year 3 teachers (next year needs more consultation with Infants re PPA time etc.)
Teachers made initial contact with Year 2 teachers.
Week of 2nd June day links started.
Informal meetings between Heather and Carolyn at different points.
Meeting between Heather and Janet Leckie (Infant ICT Coordinator) – re the level of the children in ICT and what has been covered.
Both Juniors and Infants were OFSTEDed on 1st and 2nd July and this caused some disruption to the project
Transition Activities undertaken by Junior Teachers (not all took place with all classes)
Each Year 3 teacher released for a day a week
Being an extra support in the classroom/working with groups/individuals
Going on trips as an extra adult
Taking a lesson in the Infant class
Making observations
Carrying out assessments
Discussing the children, parents, SEN issues, child protection issues, things to watch out for etc with Year 2 teachers
Bringing the Year 2 children to the Juniors – filling in booklets to keep during a tour of the school and classroom, and making notes of things they have seen – most classes with Year 3 buddy
A question and answer session about what it is like in the Juniors
Music links
Attending a Junior assembly
Taking part in Year 3 morning exercise
Meeting for new parents in Junior School – including an informal chat with parents
Year 3 making books for the Year 2 children about being in the Juniors
Initial Evaluation
Year 3 teachers were asked :
1/ What difference did transition make to your
preparation for your class?
2/ How do you think the children benefited?
3/ How did transition affect the start of the year?
4/ What did you gain from the experience?
Results from Feed Back
The children felt confident with their new teachers (e.g. an elective mute bonding and chatting straight away)
The children knew what the Juniors is like and some of the systems in advance
The parents were aware that the children already know their teachers – verbal feedback at Meeting For New Parents positive
The teachers got to know the children over a period of time in formal and informal situations.
Assessments were made to inform the planning for the start of the new year
Junior and Infant staff got to know each other
Junior teachers were more aware of the environment the children were used to.
Teachers were aware of possible behaviour issues and how they had been addressed.
Teachers were informed about social/emotional issues, areas of concern, potential difficulties with parents e.t.c.
Children’s Feed back
The children were asked:
Did it make a difference because you already knew your teacher?
Did visiting the Juniors help you?
How did you feel about coming to the Juniors?
What did you think about Music links?
Quotes From Children:
It’s easier knowing your teacher
It was very exciting coming to the Juniors
There was less to worry about
If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t know what to do
I knew that my teacher would be helpful after she came on the trip.
Visiting the Juniors and the booklet helped us to know where everything is.
The booklet helped so much. It helped me memorise all the teachers so I know which one is which.
Last Year’s Year 3 gave us useful information about the Juniors.
The music links helped me to work as a team and know the instruments.
I was excited about going to the music room.
The music links was fun and it helped me to be with other people.
Future Action
A meeting between Infant and Junior Staff for further evaluation.
Issues to be Considered
Year 3 behaviour slipping, even though they were involved in transition – consider half a day?
Better liaison with Infants to make sure transition days don’t clash with Infant PPA time
No Ofsted
Infants represented at initial meeting for new parents
Meetings between Year 3 teachers and new parents individually (from verbal feed back from parents)
Add information to the children’s booklet e.g. include the Science room (from children’s feedback)
Issues raised by Infant staff
Infant/Junior Evaluation Meeting 24/11/08
Infant teachers were positive about transition and felt it had been good to have teacher contact and getting to know each other
They felt it was good that the children were seen in a familiar context.
They felt comfortable with a Junior teacher in their room.
Agreement for Next Year
Half a day a week with some flexibility for trips e.t.c.
Year Leaders meeting to decide on appropriate teachers for classes – earlier than before.
Pair Year 2 with Year 5 for shared reading (will be their year 6 buddies)
Year 3 teachers to meet Year 2 parents individually
Year 2 to be represented at Year 3 meeting for new parents
We need to start meeting earlier to plan for transition
We need to liaise better to avoid as much PPA as possible
