School transition days - cancelled

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

Have primary (reception or p1) transition sessions been cancelled where you live?

Our school says this has had to happen on guidance from the council. I just wondered if this is happening nationally or only in our area?

It's such a shame for the children, their needs are being placed at the lowest possible priority and it's just so unfair. Hospital admission rates are barely rising even with the recent rises in cases. It feels like every excuse is going to be made forever to prevent a return to normal for children.

@shouldistop

*I'm sure the kids can survive nicely without transition days. Not really essential, are they?*

I'm sure adults can survive without the football, not really essential is it?

I agree the footy is not essential. No crowds should be allowed attend the matches. In fact, they should have cancelled the tournament altogether. We're all going to be back in lockdown in the autumn if we don't start taking this virus seriously.

Yes the kids will survive without transition days but is that really what we want for our kids to just survive. How about wanting them to happy and secure and flourish?

Just to say I was in this situation last year, dc starting reception at a school that neither he or we had ever even stepped in. They had no settle sessions at the start of September either. Almost a school year on and there were never any issues. I've still never been in the school which makes me sad but he loves it. Kids are very adaptable try not to worry

Our school is holding moving up day (for the kids moving up to the next year within the school, not those who are going into Reception or into Y7) on the last day of term so they won't be going crossing bubbles by returning to their old classrooms afterwards. That means it will also takes place 2 days after restructions are (hopefully) relaxed on 19 July. School have said that they'll hold the sessions outside on the playing field if LA policy demands it (our LA is very cautious).

Reception teacher here. We have had 3 mornings transition so far at our school and they have now been cancelled (we were due 3 more).
YANBU. As a teacher I'd risk the chance of covid (same risk just with different children so means nothing extra to me) so that my class were settled come September. Then we can hit the ground running.

Ours are being allowed to a degree, but in a way I'd rather they didn't bother. One child going to high school and their transition day (in previous years has been two full days) has been cut down to and hour and a half, with their primary class. By the time they've sat their arse in a chair, it'll be time to go home.
Two weeks later during the holidays, however, they are all invited to 'summer school' of 5 full days, mixing with year 6 from multiple other schools. Makes zero sense.

My DS’s yr 7 transition has also been cancelled. Such a shame. He doesn’t have a clue where he’s going in September. Never even stepped foot across the door. I would argue that transition visits from primary to secondary are pretty important, certainly they are not a new thing, I had several transition days nearly 30 years ago when I started at secondary (not to mention I actually got to look around the school and meet the teachers etc before we filled out e application form). My son is a very shy, nervous child and we are trying to pretend to him that all is going to be just fine, effectively acting as cheerleaders for what in reality what is a bit of a shit show (the whole Covid situation, not the school, it’s not their fault). The last full school year this years yr 6 completed was yr4!

@Hellocatshome

Yes the kids will survive without transition days but is that really what we want for our kids to just survive. How about wanting them to happy and secure and flourish?

Absolutely, this 100%

@Hellocatshome

Yes the kids will survive without transition days but is that really what we want for our kids to just survive. How about wanting them to happy and secure and flourish?

This!!

No but sadly a covid case in current reception has meant the new reception kids missed their induction morning today.

Its the first Covid case in the school since this all started so everyone is a bit gutted tbh.

Hopefully they can rearrange.

My sons secondary transition days have been cancelled. I'm absolutely gutted as there is only 2 others from his primary going there.

The secondary are doing a week long summer school in the holiday for new year 7s but we are away on holiday so that's adding to my guilt and worry. Fortunately, my son isn't bothered in the slightest so I'm hiding how anxious I am.

@Hellocatshome

Yes the kids will survive without transition days but is that really what we want for our kids to just survive. How about wanting them to happy and secure and flourish?

Good point.

How about not on the bottom of the priority list too

We've just been notified ours are going ahead next week (primary) I believe those going to secondary have not had theirs though. The school has tightened up their covid rules this week as the junior site had quite a few cases 1 year is off and 2 other classes but they are doing a full day in the new class setting next week still.

@Hellocatshome

Yes the kids will survive without transition days but is that really what we want for our kids to just survive. How about wanting them to happy and secure and flourish?

This is a pandemic. Everyone is having to make sacrifices. All of us. No-one wants this.

But I would have thought missing a transition day is not the worst.

My year 6 child will be starting a high school she has never been to in September 😬

Yes my son moves up from his special needs primary school,to special needs high school,in September he was supposed to have five days in july in his new school ,all cancelled ,I do understand though ,there are some clinically extremely vulnerable children ,that attend ,it's part of the same academy trust however ,so things will hopefully go smoothly.

This is a pandemic
Strangely enough I was aware of that.

I don’t really get it tbh, I don’t think it’s too big a deal. Surely they could make the first day primary when they start a “ transition “ day.

It’s a shame but then on another thread somebody has put that their child tested positive after the transition day which led to school bubbles closing in multiple schools because of all the mixing. I don’t think any additional children should be going into schools at the moment, it’s too much of a risk to those already in the school. Most schools are doing transition either at the end of the holidays or the start of next term which seems a better idea

Oh the whole “ just survive “ comment is really melodramatic. Of course we want our kids happy the most important thing is that we don’t over push things and they all end up at home again for months or not be able to go places again. Missing one transition day in reception is not thankfully going to effect them long term. They won’t even remember it in 10 years time.

@Hellocatshome

This is a pandemic Strangely enough I was aware of that.

I would hope you are, at this stage.

We are all having to give stuff up, not see loved ones and do without.
Everyone is - except the very rich and very privileged.

Missing a transition day is not as bad as not being able to see your mum, even though her health is failing fast or watching your dad die on facetime because you're not allowed in the hospital.

Our primary is doing 2 1 your outside visits next week but are weather dependant and they can’t go inside.

It's not just about the transition day though, is it. It's about what the transition day represents. So many small things that make children's lives better cancelled without thought while thousands mingle for fecking football.

Missing a transition day is not as bad as not being able to see your mum, even though her health is failing fast or watching your dad die on facetime because you're not allowed in the hospital.

Of course it’s not, but it’s quite a dramatic comparison really.

We didn’t have any transition days last year when lockdown was still in force and as a teacher, I would say that I didn’t notice any difference in how easily/quickly the children settled in compared to in a normal year. We just did loads of settling in and getting to know you days at the start of term in September.

I do agree that the rules and guidance are really contradictory ie being allowed to go to a football match but not into a new a school for a day, but schools’ hands are tied by the guidance. Just trying to give some reassurance though that the majority of children will be absolutely fine.