Does anyone know how the transition to school will be this year?

[mumof32015]

With everything going on with Covid-19, I have been wondering about school. I have 1 child going to high school in September and my youngest is starting primary school. The usual routine for our primary school, is to go for a meeting in May meet the teacher and order uniform etc. Then the children would go in to play a few afternoons in July. My daughter who is going to high school was meant to be having a transition day in July. But with the fact that schools may not open until September, I was wondering if anyone has any idea how things will go?
I know probably in due time we will get told from both schools, but at the moment we just don't know.

Anyway I hope anyone reading this is keeping well and so are your families. To anyone who is a key worker thank you so much for everything you are doing we appreciate you a lot.

It'll vary by school/council area. Schools will have a plan B for if we go back before the summer holiday, a plan C if not, etc etc. They'll likely look different across the country. The thing is all the kids will be in the same position and teachers will be conscious of this come the start of the new year, especially for your little one starting school for the first time.

My Dt are going to secondary in September they've had two letters since school closures one saying transition as expected has been cancelled and asked them to do a few exercises to send to new form tutors (like get to know you). The other was a transition booklet explaining key teachers, uniform, rules, etc. Parents have had questionnaire type thing to help know about any issues with the child. We've been told they hope to get a physical transition day but have not rescheduled it. Our y6 teacher says she has a phone conference booked in for next month to discuss individual children.

Due to DHs job, we moved the September DD1 started school, and the August as DD2 started school. They had no formal transition days. And it was fine. Sometimes as adults we worry about these things more than the children. With DD2 I even had to drop her at the school gate on the first day as no parents were allowed on school grounds normally (after that they caught the school bus like everyone else).

I am in a very similar situation OP. I have two children starting at new schools in September. The one starting secondary has additional needs that mean that transition is especially important.

So far I have just tried not to worry too much. The schools are doing their best. There is nothing they can do. I am crossing my fingers that the schools go back for a couple of weeks before the summer to allow some transition work.If the situation eases over the summer I am wondering if I could email the secondary school and ask for their advice in preparing DS1. I do not want to bother them while they are so busy, staff are isolating and they are worrying about much more important things.

I have a little boy starting primary school in September and I hope at least that he gets to meet his teacher before September. We live quite close to the school so we have passed it on our walks and we stop and look in and have a chat about "there's the door you will be using" and "that's the yard you will play in" type of thing . He is loving being at home and isn't missing pre school at all so I dread trying to settle him in school

I’m in the same situation as you sparkyblue. I dread the settling in for my little boy too. I know all the kids will be anxious especially after most of them being at home with parents/carers for so long. Even when he does put a brave face on as soon as he hears another child get upset it sets him off. His school is literally top of our road I will hear him from the house 🤣. I’m sure if any parents had concerns email the school I’m sure they would be happy to help. School websites are great most have pictures and names of teachers that teach at the school. I’m sure over the next few weeks a transition day of some sort will be scheduled (fingers crossed)

Thank you so much for your replies. I have thought about emailing the high school my daughter is going to but I felt that in the circumstances I didn't want to add to their load. So I have left it. I keep reminding myself that every child in reception and year 7 are in the same boat. I think with my daughter I am more worried than she is. But my little boy who will start primary school is a worry as he is very shy. We had just made so much progress at play group, it really brought him out of his shell. I am concerned that having such a long period at home and then going to a new school will be difficult for him.

I am more worried they will open for the last half term adn do transition etc. I'm high risk so cant work out how I'd send my daughter. But she's so anxious I couldn't let her miss out if they do do it early.

No, nobody knows. I wouldn't mind betting that in the case of early years, transition will have to wait until September but I know no better than anyone else.

Back in the day, our first day at secondary school we went on our own, or knocked round for our friends and went with them, and our parents certainly didn’t tag along with us on the first day. It didn’t traumatise us.

My son is the only one is his entire Year 6 (bar 3 girls) to be allocated this secondary school. Everyone else in the Year were allocated the other school. (I think it’s a proximity thing, we lived half a mile further than everyone else probably).

So his entire friendship groups are going elsewhere. He’s devastated, but we’re making an appeal (he is one of 30 appeals for the school I’ve just been informed by email).

Oversubscribed school, he won’t win the appeal.

A lot of kids starting primary and secondary this year are in the same boat. But it didn’t do us any harm, remember? (If you’re over 40 anyway!)

@NeneValley yes you do make a very good point. I am in my early 30's but when I went to high school there wasn't any transition days. We just turned up on the first day.
My daughter is the only one from her class who is going to her chosen school. Because she was the only one, she was going to be invited to a tea party at the school to meet other girls, who are the only ones coming from their primary school.
It was just one of the things she was looking forward too but I would much rather them be safe and well, than doing these things.
I am just one of those people that likes to know what is going to happen.

@Missmel83 is this your first child starting primary school? I already have a seven year old so he is familiar with the school and I hope he gets the teacher my daughter had as she was fabulous and knows already how hyper my little boy is. There will be three classes starting junior infants (I'm in Ireland) so it could be any of the three teachers. Normally in June they go in for an hour to see their classroom and meet their teacher. I'm not worried about him crying but worried about him refusing to co operate. He likes to do his own thing. We had an assessment to see if there was asd but apparently not. So I am trying to be super positive and enthusiastic about it. It's a brand new building and the junior classes have a fab little play area with lots of climbing frames and play equipment that they get to use at least once a day. It's separate from the main playground so the teacher brings the class out so I'm showing that to him when we pass .

Hi @SparkyBlue My daughter is 15 so it really feels like first time again for me. I had an email from the head of department which was really nice. I asked her a few questions which she could answer and she said hopefully they will do a open day. I’d definitely recommend anyone to reach out to the school if they had any questions. That’s great that he already had a sibling attending it’s the little extra safety blanket. Little boys definitely are strong willed I’m sure that his willingness to to do his own thing will be used to his best advantage in later life. Teachers skill of patience is a true gift. The climbing frame will definitely be a big hit too.