Policy into practice: Take the pain out of the schools transition

The moves from early years settings into primary school and from primary to secondary school can be particularly challenging transfer points at which children can be vulnerable to experiencing a dip in achievement.

A Department for Children, Schools and Families study suggested as many as 16 per cent of Year 6 children do not feel prepared for the move to secondary school. Ensuring these transitions run smoothly is important, and forms a major part of Sir Jim Rose's forthcoming Review of the Primary Curriculum.

Some areas are putting in place strategies to ease the move to primary school. For example, North Ayrshire Council has developed the Primary 1 Play Initiative, which seeks to build on nursery practice and continue active learning in the first year of primary school. The move from child-centred learning practices to more formal teaching styles can be a disjointed shift for young children, so continuing aspects of early years practice has been identified as important. The strategy involves staff development, tutor support and additional resources for learning through play, with the aim to raise staff awareness and embed good practice. It has led to marked increases in average attainment in the first two years of primary school.