AIBU to ask about your Y6 children and transition to secondary schools?

[Arrivederla]

Hi - just wanted to get some ideas on what parents would like to see happening around transition to secondary at this difficult time.

I work in a secondary school and have been asked to prepare some activities for Y6 children to come in on a transition day to get some idea of the school, staff, tutors etc. The school are hoping to get face to face activities going rather than just online stuff, but it's looking quite complicated as activities will have to take place outside with social distancing.

What would you like your children to be doing/would consider worthwhile? Would you be happy to send them in at all? The usual activities are mostly impossible to roll out as they involve being inside/using equipment/students being too close together.

To add to the complications other staff are doing sports and problem solving activities and I am supposed to be looking more at pastoral stuff, possibly roleplaying friendships, miming emotions etc.

Any thoughts or suggestions of what would be useful for your children very gratefully received!

Oh but since you asked, DS is moving up next year and I emailed a request to have a look around the school before other children were around. He’s ASD and would be overwhelmed by the numbers even in non-Covid times. We visited last week and had a tour with their Senco and it was very helpful.

The suggestions about scavenger/treasure hunts helping the students to find their way round the school are excellent and would be my preferred option, but unfortunately we have to be outside not in the school buildings.

How about a get to know you bingo - a sheet with squares on and in each square something random you have to find someone that fits it. Like can speak another language, plays an instrument, has been to France - random but likely to have happened. I am sure you can do this with them keeping distance just needs pens and paper.

Also getting into date of birth order without speaking

Alphabetical order without speaking - helps learn some names

Do you have a map of the school they can look at and you take some pictures of key places like the different toilets, canteen etc Label map with letters and they have to select the correct letter for the picture a virtual treasure hunt that might eleviate some of the worries.

A blind post box with questions about what they are worried about.

Could you do a video tour of the school our Asst Head has just done one, and they watch it before?

I think the writing questions of what they are worried or unsure of would be great. My daughter would never stand up and ask about anything she was worried about but would write it down anonymously.

Good idea about writing down questions of what they are unsure about. Thanks Lalas.

Could you use some of the usual worries about starting secondary school and talk through those.