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Original poster

School not having induction days at secondary?!

102 replies

WaitroseAldi · 20/06/2021 07:45

Apparently the head teachers of a few of the local primary are saying they are not comfortable with sending year 6 upto secondary for two induction days. Is this what it has became?! The poor kids will have absolutely no idea what to expect come September, most of them haven’t even stepped foot into the school to look around.

It’s so sad and my Ds (autism) has not stopped worrying about it since his teacher told his class last week!

OP posts:

Meredusoleil · 20/06/2021 07:47

Same as last year!

superram · 20/06/2021 07:47

Year 7 seem to have coped….. as a secondary teacher we had planned some lovely stuff for them but mixing bubbles indoors isn’t really ok currently.

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 20/06/2021 07:47

It’s the same for my DD, no inductions days this year due to covid. The secondary are sending a staff member to the primary school though to talk them through what to expect on the first few days, maybe you could suggest similar to your school?

Neolara · 20/06/2021 07:49

Most schools I know of have different transition arrangements for children with special needs and will allow visits for them.

Barbie222 · 20/06/2021 07:49

This is where we are almost everywhere with risk assessments, PHE and potential litigation I'm afraid, yes. It's normally decided by area depending on rates on advice from PHE, so it's not "a few" heads "apparently", deciding, although it seems to suit everyone's bitter narrative to say so. Heads who went against the advice would probably be disciplined, and the secondaries are the same.

AChickenCalledDaal · 20/06/2021 07:51

Does the school get the year 7s in early in September? At ours, they are in for at least a full day on their own before the rest of the students return. It's probably more useful than the year 6 inductions.

Induction days not going ahead at our secondary either. The secondary teachers are going to visit the primary schools and there is going to be a Zoom session for parents. I'm sure they'll also be very aware come September that the normal induction hasn't happened and do when they can to help the new year 7s settle in. The same happened last year after all.

WhenSheWasBad · 20/06/2021 07:51

Really sorry your son is (understandably) worried about starting school.

The schools are following Department for Education guidelines. There really isn’t a way to hold an induction without ignoring the Covid guidelines.

There will be some heads who ignore the guidance but not many.

At our school we have cancelled Year 6 induction days but we still have individual kids coming round for a tour.
If I were you I would phone the secondary school. Explain your son has autism and is nervous and ask if a tour could be arranged just for him. They might say no but it’s worth a go.

Look a the schools website. They will
At least have a map and some have virtual tours to help kids understand zones and bubbles.

Best of luck

Clickbait · 20/06/2021 07:56

My year 6 DS had his induction day online last week. They had a virtual tour of the school and a talk from the head and deputies, then split off into their classes. The teachers were really good at getting the kids to engage online. He now feels happier as he has met his form teacher and the other boys and girls in his class (albeit online). Maybe your DS's school will be doing similar?

There have been some positive cases at local schools recently, so it does seem a bit silly to mix kids from lots of different schools together for a day (this secondary takes kids from lots of primary schools, not just a couple of feeder schools).

DanglingMod · 20/06/2021 07:58

Yeah, we're not allowed to do induction days as it mixes (many, many) different primary school children together.

We are definitely offering individual tours for children with SEND, though, so I would contact the secondary and ask them.

blissfulllife · 20/06/2021 08:13

Same last year and my ASD daughter didn't get the proper transition up to her mainstream high school. This resulted in her not being able to cope with just turning up to a school she didn't know, with staff who didn't understand her needs. Their senco was useless and just said they'd work it out in the September. This all culminated in my daughter having a serious mental health crisis and a stay in a mental health facility.

My children who had no additional needs would of struggled without induction days or visits to the secondary school etc. It's a massive upheaval! I think it's awful

blissfulllife · 20/06/2021 08:15

Sorry posted too early. Get hold of the secondary schools senco and express your concerns see if they can get him in for a few short visits just to get a feel of the school and meet staff x

Pinchoftums · 20/06/2021 08:18

My dd is transitioning this year. No visits but her friend who has ASD and a small group are doing different things. Ask the high school.

motherrunner · 20/06/2021 09:16

We are holding a virtual induction day. There is very little protective measures in school so we have to do what we can to keep our pupils and staff safe and that means not allowing hundreds of new pupils into the school for a day.

DumplingsAndStew · 20/06/2021 09:19

Same as last year.

My DC2 who has autism and anxiety has really struggled as a result, and her attendance is woeful.

RoundersGarden · 20/06/2021 09:20

It's incredibly irresponsible to cancel transition day.

Barbie222 · 20/06/2021 09:21

@RoundersGarden

It's incredibly irresponsible to cancel transition day.

There isn't any choice without ignoring PHE advice and losing your job.

Howshouldibehave · 20/06/2021 09:22

Apparently the head teachers of a few of the local primary are saying they are not comfortable with…

That is suggesting a few primary heads have got together and felt they didn’t like the sound of doing it which isn’t fair at all. They are following dfe guidance!

motherrunner · 20/06/2021 09:23

@RoundersGarden

It's incredibly irresponsible to cancel transition day.

I would say it is incredibly responsible as we are following our risk assessments in order to keep our students and staff safe. It is unfortunate but not irresponsible.

DanglingMod · 20/06/2021 09:24

It's DfE guidance. There's no choice involved.

WhenSheWasBad · 20/06/2021 09:25

@RoundersGarden

It's incredibly irresponsible to cancel transition day.

Holding a transition day goes against DfE guidance.

It means mixing a load of unvaccinated kids together, probably from different schools. I know it sucks but the headteachers can’t do it and stay within DfE guidance.

MarshaBradyo · 20/06/2021 09:25

Ds is going but they’re complying with rules

DanglingMod · 20/06/2021 09:26

How so? 20-40 different feeder primaries at your average secondary. Not allowed to mix with each other or the secondary students...
Send all the secondary school kids home and have a day per primary school?

Wellbythebloodyhell · 20/06/2021 09:27

My DS is in y6, up to now his transition days are still going ahead 🤞

Randommother · 20/06/2021 09:27

How long ago was it cancelled? My eldest is due to have his transition day next week, and we are in a delta varient area. As far as I know it's going ahead.

Scarby9 · 20/06/2021 09:29

It just can't be done while keeping the Y6s in their bubbles.
Our school takes in from 27 primaries. Some of those have a couple of Y6 bubbles.
The guidance is clear so we are staying virtual.
However, individual kids who have been identified as potentially needing greater support for transition will visit individually, as they did last year.

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