One Year to the Next

By Aimee Hart @hart_at_home

When we think about school transition we generally either think of children who are starting primary school or children who are moving from primary to secondary. But what about the transitions that happen in between? Primary school life takes children from just having learnt how to talk, listen, sit, share, build relationships and figure out their likes and dislikes… all the way to figuring out who they are as a person, learning about their mind and bodies, building independence and a maturity for the future. The primary school years are some of the most important years of a child’s life – and not just for the acad@hartemics. Each year they transition to a newer version of themselves and take on new challenges that will continue to prepare them for their life ahead. Seeing this transition is a privilege. The current Year 6 children at my own school were my class back when they were in Year 2! How they have grown and changed and blossomed, by taking on board the lessons each different year group offers them, responding to different adults around them and learning how to effectively communicate with them. My own daughter will be going into Year 4 and I look back on her previous year photos and see totally different versions of her. Year-on-year transition is just as important to ensure that children get the most from their time to grow. This time of year is key for children to prepare for their next year and feel excited and ready for the new challenge. As parents we tend to count down the days until the summer holidays, then count down the days to school starting again!

Here are some things to ponder as you begin to think about their next transition.

• Children need to feel successful at the end of each year so they can move forward feeling ready.

• Each year comes with an end point. Usually a parent’s evening or report that reflects each child in a variety of ways. There will be positives and there will be next steps. Celebrating the positives from across the year is vital to show them that it has changed them in some way and they have grown.

• Children need to have some element of excitement for their upcoming year.

This doesn’t mean they won’t be nervous (nerves can be a good thing).

• September is always a strange time. Freshness in lots of ways but changes can cause upset and anxiety. Schools will prepare children for transition between year groups by meeting their new teaching team, seeing their new classroom and getting a flavour for their new curriculum.

• Children need to see their journey as their own.

• The older children get, the more they compare themselves to their peers. Am I capable enough? Am I smart enough? Am I liked by others? With each year that passes children will realise that school is a bit like a pick and mix. Different things will stick with different children and their character changes. Celebrate this fact and remind them their journey is unique.

• Children may possibly change friendship groups as they move through primary school.

When children first start school – at the age of four – they are still learning about themselves and the prerequisite for friendship is someone who will share the glue stick and glitter or save them a turn on the trike. But as children learn about their own individual personalities they will gravitate to those who are like-minded. Don’t worry if this happens, it’s a natural part of the growing up process.

In summary, each year of a child’s life is important. Each year they have a journey that will lead them more and more to the person they are meant to be. Primary school is a place where children are given the opportunity to explore this in great detail and as the building blocks of academia happen around them they are learning to adapt and feel comfortable in their own skin. Ask your child what they’ve learnt from their current year, ask them what they have learnt about themselves and mirror that back to them, with comments like: “I’ve learnt that your creative writing is amazing and listening to what you read makes me happy.” Give them that inner voice because sometimes they can find it hard to compliment themselves. Enjoy the summer drawing a line under their current year and get excited about what’s still to come.