I think people (politicians and others) saying 'transition' being the reason y6 should return first haven't thought this through!

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

For so very many reasons.

I posted similar on a recent thread, but in a nutshell..

Most of the 'rights of passage' stuff just can't happen if you have not got your full class/cohort in and have to have any kind of social distancing. Show - no time. Residential - can't travel. SATS - cancelled so no wind down after. Leavers' service - can't get people together in large numbers to can't have all parents in anyway.

Seeing friends they are in primary together is a flawed argument if you have to start talking about rotas of kids on days or sessions, or splitting the classes into smaller groups that stay more isolated. And then they can see their friends but not actually go near them....and that's IF you can get all their friends in one group, which you probably couldn't because their friendship groups change like the wind sometimes.

Actual transition activities - a chat by the main high school's teachers to the children going there could potentially happen. But the main visit days won't happen if the high schools aren't open yet. And won't be really meaningful if they are only open to very few kids as they will still miss out on seeing their new classes in their entirety to meet new friends and they won't see what the busy high school actually looks and feels like.

So why keep touting 'transition' as a reason?

I was saying the same thing earlier! Although you have said it much better than me!
I'm interested to read the other side of the debate!

Absolutely-they can’t go and visit their new schools, the secondary teachers can’t come and visit the primaries and everything else will be cancelled.

Shirt signing
Leavers assembly
Leavers disco
Leavers picnic/BBQ/fun day
Sports day
Residential
Fun ‘post-SATs’ foundation subject projects and group work.

None of it will be happening!

What are they going to be doing-sitting in single rows at their desk all day, doing written work?

Bit like SATs practice really...

I think it might, partly, be based on a slightly rosy parental view of what the last year is supposed to be about. A lot of parents get very emotional about the last year of primary, and whilst it's lovely for the kids, as you say much of what is lovely about it won't be possible anyway. So the parents are thinking, oh its so nice, they need to have that last hurrah, it's so emotional...but it means much more to them in the long run than the kids, who are off to secondary often without many of their friends anyway. (speaking from the perspective of a parent who now has 2 in secondary, and a Primary school Governor!) So the kids will be fine, it's the parents who are most upset!

Some sort of transition with the secondaries would be really good I think though.

I agree that there should be some sort of transition into the high schools if possible. I just don't think opening up year 6 fully first is the way to do it.

Ok, as a Y6 parent. Transition would be moving smoothly from one school to another. Not an abrupt cliff-edge finish of one thing with no closure then a huge gap, then an immensely stressful new beginning due to not only starting a new school, but also having to finish a lockdown to do so.

I am seriously worried about the long-term mental health of my DS if he doesn’t get any sort of closure to primary school (his school shut before the official close was announced so no leavers assembly or any goodbyes).

In addition I am extremely worried about how stressful it would be to take his first steps back into public life into a situation which will already be hugely stressful as he knows zero people in the school he is headed to.

So what I would like is some closure on primary school - this could be socially distanced ‘lessons’ in the hall with all his classmates (single form entry) that are PSHE work on addressing any worries that they have about secondary school, the current situation, and stuff about coping with moving on.

I would also like some form of induction to his new secondary school. The school might be empty but they could still meet teachers, new form members and get to know the school layout.

It feels like it needs careful planning to not end up confusing or distressing. I think the secondary schools need to lead how it would work.

They need their primary teachers to lead on ‘coming out of lockdown and back into a routine’. It’s their primary teachers that know them individually.

So what I would like is some closure on primary school - this could be socially distanced ‘lessons’ in the hall with all his classmates (single form entry) that are PSHE work on addressing any worries that they have about secondary school, the current situation, and stuff about coping with moving on

I agree that’s what’s needed from a ‘well-being’ point of view. I suspect it would end in lots of heightened emotion and tears, with staff not being able to properly comfort them-I can see that being really hard all round.

The most useful thing for our transition is the Y7 HoYs coming out from each school to take small groups to tell them about the school and to answer any specific questions. The kids tend to go completely silent when they go up for the transition days to the secondary school itself but are much more comfortable in their own environment and ask some really good things. I wonder if things like that would be able to take place?!

I agree with you, OP. Year 6 DD seems cool and calm but underneath the uncertainty must be getting to her. She's also going to a big grammar where she knows none of the girls. I agree that the senior school should throw us a life line. The reality is that she will see few of her current school friends again, as they are in a different village to us. So the 'end of school stuff' is nice to have but to do it half-baked (because of social distancing etc.,) would actually be strange?

The imagined ideal is often not what you get.

Children are frightened right now because we are. We’ve told them to wash their hands, not touch anything, not see their friends and stay at a social distance from all they meet.

And now some parents want to throw them back into the classroom to patch on a ‘smooth transition’.

It is a nice idea but will probably be more distressing and disruptive that anything else.

The children still won’t be able to touch each other and would have to have temperature checks. They would have to keep a social distance. There would be classmates missing and they wouldn’t know if it was because the person was shielding or grieving.

A better solution is for the secondaries you do a day induction for just Yr7s in September. Perhaps with the support of primary teachers. When we know what the new normal looks like.

It won't be anywhere near as good a transition as normal.

But that doesn't mean that the limited amount that can be done isn't hugely better than nothing.

Also, what about all of the areas that have a middle school system? Year 6 is just a nothing year for them, it would have to be Years 4 and 8.

I agree some transition should occur. But a smooth transition cannot happen.

Our HT is considering spreading our 2 classes out between more classrooms and teachers.

At least I'll be teaching my own class (or some of them) if that happens. And some of my class will have their teacher.

I can see it not being popular with some parents if their child saw out the last bit of year 6 with their old year 5 teacher and with only some of their friends in class with them.
Nor will it be popular with the teacher who is teaching 'my' class during the day while still needing to set online work for their own class.
Nor with the parents who know their child's teacher is teaching, but not their child if they aren't a y6.

Transition is a real struggle for us at the moment. Parents aren’t returning forms to secondary schools, secondary schools are (totally reasonably) focused on awarding grades to yr11 and 13 and educating yr10 and 12. I seem to have spent several hours almost every day for the last 2 weeks trying to co-ordinate transition.
In addition, around 45% of my class are missing out the bits of work they don’t fancy (they play the online games, anything written is ignored). Return to school will involve a lot of sorting out family issues, doing the work that wasn’t done earlier and in many cases re-adjusting to actually working.
Sadly, my lovely trips, rewards, rounders matches and plays would all break any social distancing rules. Horrid end to the year. I’m not sure that it’s going to help the children much.

And now some parents want to throw them back into the classroom to patch on a ‘smooth transition’.

I resent the implication that parents are some sort of idiots who think that if Y6 go back it’ll be to a happy normality.

They are going to be ‘thrown back into the classroom’ at some point, aren’t they? As far as I can see it, it would be preferable to ‘throw’ them into a place that they know, with people who they have been with for the last 7 years who know their family situation, their SEN needs (not having simply read about them) and have some hope of calming their fears before the big move.

Imagine you’ve got a new job in a new school. Massively stressful first few days. Now imagine that you’re starting there in the middle of a global pandemic and there’s lots of stress about actually being around groups of people people that you have to overcome at the same time. Oh, and you haven’t actually been around the school or had any contact with your new colleagues and you don’t know a soul.

It’s not fair to put both on children at the same time and it’s not idiotic to think that things can be put in place to help.

I was wondering about that.

I think year 6 aged children might be the best placed to cope with the weirdness of how school is going to be. It might be 8 kids per classroom, not with their normal teacher and so on, having to eat in the classroom, no playtime or lunchtime break as normal.

I'd hope they give it an additional 3 weeks, then return them for the last month of school in some way. So it gives time for numbers to keep falling to a safer level again and to still give a good few weeks of them having some form of schooling (reschooling?) before the end of the year.

I've always maintained on here that mid June is more likely as that's when the shielding 12 weeks is up. That leaves about 4 weeks until our term breaks up for the summer.

Totally agree with you OP. Educationally, Year 6 probably have least to gain from going back. There's a lot of talk about 'transition', but in my experience, most of Year 6 post SATS is about trying to keep the kids distracted with plays, projects etc so that they don't get too bored and bolshy. Our local secondaries have already let us know that they won't be visiting children in primary and they won't be inviting Year 6 children in to them - instead they're looking at Zooming kids at home or similar. Given all that, I think Y6 are possibly the lowest priority year group to get back into school.

I think the schools should return in their current years for a week in September, then have a transition week, then just start the new term 2 weeks late. Could even have the yr11 and 13s back if they didn't get a send off afternoon.

Reception starting 2 weeks late isn't so awful either

Good idea, i think returning for a week in September (or even 2) could work.
There would be minor logistical problems, but it could work if all pupils went back to their current classes, and would give the leavers a chance to say goodbye properly, do transition, and tie up loose ends generally.

The problem with September is that their old teachers may not be there any more and everything would be set up for new classes and new staff.

Not perfect solution, but safer and I think would resolve some potential trauma better

More likely to be ‘safer’ in July with only Y6s in than it would be in September with everybody in.

It’s about ‘endings.’ A calm, positive end to primary school with time for proper goodbyes is very important.