Transition Policy
Early Years Transition
Class to Class Transition
Includes Appendices
1. Enhanced Transition Arrangements
2. Calendar of Early Years Transition Events
3. Transition File-Class to Class
4. Classroom Organisation
5. Recording and Tracking Achievement Grid
6. Transition Information Grids
7. Whole School- Key transition Diary
8. Evaluation of Transition
Rationale
The purpose of the transition programme is to improve continuity and
progression for all pupils as they move through Nursery, Primary and into
Secondary Education. By working together as a collegiate group, staff will
promote smooth transition through planned, purposeful activities as well as
sharing key information.
Aims
Duloch Primary School’s transition Policy will endeavour to:
 Promote continuity and Progression in Learning across the Curriculum
 To raise standards
 Increase pupils’ confidence and self esteem
 To ensure continuity of pastoral support for all children
 Encourage partnership with families during transition
 Enable teachers to work collaboratively to improve continuity
 Share critical assessment data
 Continually monitor and improve the programme
Transition into Nursery
“The key to smooth transitions for children is effective communication
between child, carer and staff and the creation of a positive and supportive
climate for both the carer and the child.” Child at the Centre
Nursery Enrolment
The following procedures are in line with Fife Council Policy.
This time scale will vary depending on the dates of school terms. The general
pattern is as follows and we are advised on an annual basis, of the exact dates
by which each step in the admissions process should be implemented.
December
parents.
Mid January
31st January
28th February
Mid-Late March
Advertising campaign adverts in press, mail shots to
Database will be launched
Applications for children due to commence nursery at any
time in the following academic year to be submitted to
nursery of first choice.
Database will be closed for school use. All applications
received must be added to the database before this date.
Admissions panel meetings take place to allocate nursery
places
Late April
May
June/December/
March
for entire academic year.
Letter to parents offering places sent by all Fife Council
establishments on the same day.
Parents indicate if they are accepting the place offered.
Enrolment and induction of children.
Nursery Induction
Letters will be sent out inviting children and parents to visit Nursery towards
the end of the term prior to their start date. The letter will also indicate
whether the place is morning or afternoon and which nursery room the child
has been allocated. Enrolment and other administrative forms will accompany
this letter, for return on the day of the visit.
Visits will be arranged during the Nursery session so that children have an
opportunity to see the Nursery at a busy time. The ‘Parent Information’
booklet and ‘All About My Nursery’ booklet are given to parents at this visit.
Where possible, Early Years Officers/Nursery Teacher will endeavour to visit
our partner providers to meet the children before the come to enrol in Duloch.
Priority will be given when an enhanced transition is necessary. (See Appendix
1)
On their first morning, parents/carers are asked to bring the children later, at
9.30am or 1.15pm, so that the entrance foyer and cloakroom corridor will be
less busy and the Early Years Officers are free to greet their new children.
The children will begin Nursery following a staggered Start Programme.
Children will not begin enrolment on a Friday as this would mean a 2 day break
following their first day in Nursery.
Welcome To Nursery Meeting
Shortly after the start of term, a welcome meeting is arranged for new parents
to meet with the DHT and Nursery Teacher.
Key Workers will meet with parents in their first term to discuss each child. If
necessary, staff or parents can request this earlier if necessary. This may
differ for children who require an enhanced Transition (See Appendix 1)
Transition into School
Choice of School
Parents have the right to make a placing request for the school they wish their
child to attend. This applies whether the child is about to start school or
whether he/she is already attending primary, secondary or additional support
needs school. Parents wishing to send their child to a school other than the
catchment school should apply to the school of their choice as soon as possible
and in any case, before 15 March. Parents should also enrol their child at their
catchment school to ensure a place is available if a placing request application
is refused.
Information for parents on how to make a placing request for the school of
their choice is available from the school office. In the case of children
starting school for the first time ‘Choosing A School – A guide for Parents’ is
available online at www.scotland.gov.uk . Individual school booklets will be
provided by Headteachers of individual schools and can also be accessed online
at www.fifedirect.org.uk.
Primary 1 Enrolment
Parents of nursery children are invited to enrol children for Primary 1 in
January each year. The enrolment forms are available from the School Office.
Notices of enrolment procedures are posted in the local Press advising parents
whose children do not attend Duloch Nursery, but who may wish a place in
Primary 1. Letters are sent to parents in this position who have previously
contacted the school. Parents who live outwith the catchment area but have
requested a place at Duloch Primary are sent a formal acknowledgement of
their request and will be informed of the outcome by the end of April.
Classes
Placement in Primary 1 classes is by age order, which is Fife Council policy,
unless there are exceptional circumstances.
There is usually a wide range of ability in any class and children are taught
according to their ability no matter what class they are in.
Parents are notified of class teachers for next session in June. It is not
desirable to give this information earlier as it can be subject to last minute
change and tends to divert children’s attention from normal working.
It is not possible to send out class lists to parents as that would be a breach of
confidentiality.
Transition Programme
We aim to be welcoming and informative during these first visits. Parents’
first contacts with us influence their view of the school and help us build solid
future home/school relations. In order to ensure a rigorous transition
programme for our Nursery children, a calendar of Early Years Transition
events that staff will follow highlights activities conducted throughout the
session to ensure good transition. (See Appendix 2)
Term 4 Transition
During this term, the new Primary 1 class teachers will be identified. At this
time, the class teachers will arrange to spend some time in Nursery observing
and getting to know the children. This is also a time for valuable discussions
with Nursery Staff.
Class teachers will meet with Nursery Staff on a more formal basis to share
important information including developmental information. The DHT will
ensure at this time that any necessary Care and Welfare information is shared.
Visits/Contact
Children will be very familiar with the school building as they will visit it
frequently during their time in Nursery. (In line with the Calendar of Events
Appendix 2) This will include using the gym hall and School Library, as well as
attending assemblies where appropriate.
Children will visit the Primary 1 classrooms in small groups (during breaks and
lunchtimes) with the support of Nursery staff.
Parents will have the opportunity to attend a ‘starting school’ meeting before
the summer break. This will give Parents/Carers the opportunity to meet the
Headteacher, Depute Headteacher, Early Years and Class Teachers. During this
meeting, the pre school children will be taken along to the Primary 1
classrooms for some activity time with Nursery Staff. The class Teachers/SMT
will then take groups of parents on a tour of the school before returning to the
Primary 1 classrooms where they can collect their child. Parents will be able
to ask any questions they may have at this time.
Children who attend Duloch Nursery but will not attend Duloch Primary School
will still be involved in appropriate transition activities within Duloch Primary.
Staff will also liaise with other schools to ensure smooth transition for these
children
Other Nurseries
Where children are transferring from another Nursery into Duloch Primary,
families will be invited to attend the welcome meetings and children will also
be offered some sessions in Duloch Nursery to get become familiar with their
peers. If appropriate, teaching staff may visit other nurseries
Buddies
During Term 4, children in Primary 5 will be identified as ‘buddies’ for the
Nursery children in the following session. At this point, the children in Nursery
will have the opportunity to meet their buddy.
During Term 4, curricular workshops will be held for Parents/Carers. The focus
will be on early literacy and numeracy and ways to support their child’s
learning at home.
Term 1 in Primary 1
Although the children will begin at 9am, there will be a flexible entry for the
first couple of days to allow the new children to settle in well.
Observations/assessments begin on entry into Primary 1, taking into account
information gathered in Nursery.
Children will attend school for half of the day for the first 2 weeks.
The Primary 6 Buddies will accompany the New Primary 1 Children at playtime
to help them settle in. In the two weeks, the children will have an earlier
playtime with the Primary 6 Buddies so that they can become familiar with the
playground environment when it is quieter.
Further Opportunities
Parents will be offered various opportunities to engage with their child and the
class teacher throughout the session. This will include Soft Start opportunities,
Open Evenings and Parent Interviews. On occasions, parents/carers may be
invited to attend class/school assemblies.
Evaluation
Evidence of good practice and evaluation will be gathered from
 Parents-Questionnaires, Parents Evenings, Soft Start
 Staff- Discussion, Audits, Evaluation of Transition (This will inform of policy
adaptations where appropriate)
 children-discussion
Children transferring from other schools or nurseries
Information on children is requested from their last school/nursery. Parents
are requested to send in any PLPs, jotters or workbooks which the children
may have brought with them. Sometimes an individual programme of work is
necessary to establish a child’s abilities and previous experience. Other
children in the class are encouraged to be welcoming and helpful to the new
child.
Transition from Class to Class within Duloch Primary School
…the expectations and best features of children’s learning experiences are
maintained and built upon as they progress onto the next stage of their
learning. Working with colleagues enables teachers to share and reflect on
these aspects, consolidate innovations and sustain improvement.”
Learning Together: Opening up Learning. HMIe 2009
In order for children to experience a smooth transition from class to class,
teachers and agency supporters must work collaboratively to share
information necessary for good continuity and progression in Learning and
Pastoral Care.
Please see Appendix 7 for a diary of key transition times within the year
Preparing to support Transition
In Term 4, once class composition and class teachers have been identified, the
following preparation will support transition.
Where children from more than one class will come together into class in the
new school session:
 current class teachers to should meet to assess where groups of children
are currently working in order to try to identify where groups can begin to
merge.
 Class teachers may look at appropriate opportunities for collaborative
working across the groups so that the children can become familiar with
their new peers. (e.g.) Outdoor Learning/Rich Task Opportunities. This
should be facilitated by the current class teachers.
Information Sharing
In order to support continuity in children’s learning, class teachers are
required to prepare a transition file for the new class teacher. Where a
composite arrangement/split class may occur, staff should create a file for
each new teacher. For details of what this file should include See Appendix 3.
In Term 4, once the transition file is prepared, class teachers should hold an
informal meeting to share necessary information. This may be done at a time
of their choosing. In this term, the School Leadership Team/Learning Support
staff will engage with teaching staff to share information regarding active
ISP/CSP/Care and Welfare Documents and additional assessment
arrangements.
‘Meet The Teacher’ session
In Term 4, the children will be informed of their new class teacher by letter.
The Children will also have the opportunity to meet their new teacher and
peers during a ‘Meet the Teacher’ session. At this time, the children will be in
their new classroom. Primary 7 children may access the Gym Hall/Outdoor
Space/ P1 Area at this time. They will be supervised by the New Primary 1
class teachers.
Enhanced Transition
We endeavour to meet the needs of all children in Duloch. Some children may
require additional support throughout the transition time.
For children who require enhanced transition arrangements, please see
Appendix 1.
Classroom Organisation
Guidance as to how each classroom should be left at the end of the session can
be found in Appendix 4.
Term 1 in the new session
At the start of the new session, staff should complete the Recording and
Tracking Achievement Log. This should be kept in the planning file and
updated on a termly basis. (See Appendix 5)
Staff should also complete the Evaluation of transition (See Appendix 8) This
will inform future adaptations to school policy.
New Staff
New staff are encouraged to seek advice from HT/DHT or other colleagues, on
any matter. Stage colleagues are asked to ‘buddy’ any new teachers. This
induction is a two way process as we value the different perspectives that new
members of staff can bring.
Working together
At all times parents are invited to share concerns about children. We welcome
any information which will help us meet children’s needs. Similarly, any
queries, suggestions or comments on the induction programme or any aspect
of nursery/school life are welcome. Parents’ views are valued and often lead
to improvements in practice.
This policy can be given to parents on request and will be available on the
School and Nursery websites and in the parents’ area of Nursery.
The policy will be reviewed as necessary.
Appendix 1-Enhanced Transition
Into Nursery

Additional Visits by Nursery Staff/PSA to the partner provider/home
environment where appropriate

Planning Meeting to be held involving any partner agencies

Additional Visits by the families to Nursery

Staggered Start Option Flexible

Child’s Plan discussed with all Nursery Staff where appropriate

Play Friend welcomed into Nursery from Partner Providers where
appropriate

Where concerns arise over transition, the Nursery Team or parents should
contact the School Leadership Team Immediately.
Into School

Additional Visits into specific school areas. This will include New
Classroom, Soft Room, Gym Hall, Dinner Hall where appropriate.

Planning Meeting to be held involving any partner agencies

Additional Visits by the families to School Environment

Staggered Start Option Flexible

ISP/CSP opened/updated where appropriate

‘School Passport’ booklet to be used with Photographs of school before and
during entry

PSA Transition will be supported when appropriate.

Where there is a shared placement, staff will liaise with support unit to
create Transition Action Plan for the Child and family.

Where concerns arise over transition, the class teacher or parents should
contact the School Leadership Team Immediately.
New Class Teacher to carry out observations/Spend time getting to know
the child

Class to Class

Early Visits to new classroom environment

Planning Meeting to be held involving any partner agencies, including new
class teacher

New Class Teacher to carry out observations/spend time getting to know
the child

Staggered Start Option Flexible

ISP/CSP updated where appropriate

‘New Classroom Passport’ booklet to be used with Photographs of
Classroom and surrounding areas before and during entry.

PSA Transition will be supported when appropriate.

Where there is a shared placement, staff will liaise with support unit to
create Transition Action Plan for the Child and family.

Where concerns arise over transition, the class teacher or parents should
contact the School Leadership Team Immediately.