1 Overview
Effective transitions are important for children’s emotional well-being and achievement, and planning for these transitions is fundamental to effective early years practice.
To ensure continuity of experience for children, transition should be seen as a process rather than a one-off event. Discussions involving the child, parents and others throughout the planning process will support successful transitions.
Early years transition events are held annually across the county. They are a key part of this process and provide a forum for early years providers and schools to come together and share vital information for children starting school.
The information gathered allows you to begin planning other support needed, including setting, school or home visits and supported transitions.
Transition event record templates that you will need prior to an event are on our additional information page.
2 Benefits for schools
Attendance at these events will enable school staff to:
- make the very best use of their time by meeting with multiple feeder settings at one event
- gain key transition information in a consistent format and identify those in need of further transition support
- gather the information needed to inform class groupings and plan staffing and support based on the needs of the children
- receive vital safeguarding information and plan other transition support activities
- provide a smoother and more positive transition into school for children and their families.
3 Benefits for settings
Attendance at these events will enable settings staff to:
- make the very best use of their time by meeting with multiple receiving schools in one venue
- ensure that all staff have the opportunity to contribute to the transition information shared at an early point in the transition process
- share the huge wealth of information gathered during the time children have spent in a setting
- flag up children that will require additional transition support and plan for this process with the new school
- work with schools to begin the transition support process which will enable a smoother and more positive transition experience for children and their families as they move from you to their new school.
4 2024 transition events
Events regarding children starting school in September 2024 will take place between Wednesday 1 May and Friday 13 May 2024.
Refer to the document below for a schedule of confirmed events for 2024.
Transition event dates, times and venues (PDF, 81KB)Booking information for schools
Please book the transition event closest to your school. Schools can book their places at the events on the Training and events - West Sussex services for schools.
Booking information for Early Years and childcare settings
Please book the same event(s) as your feeder school(s). Information about the schools and settings that have booked onto the events is available below.
Please note that schools will continue to book onto the events and the list will be updated regularly.
5 Additional information
The event record template below should be used by all settings to share key transition information in a consistent format. Using this format will allow for key information to be shared by all settings and support an effective professional discussion between schools and settings.
Additional information can be shared between schools and settings at other points, including supported transition meetings.
More detailed information about children’s individual progress will be shared nearer the transition point to ensure that information passed from setting to school is as up-to-date as possible.
An example of a completed event record and information about how to complete it, can be found in the Early years universal transition guidance.
Event documentation is reviewed annually. Please ensure you are using the most up-to-date version. Updated versions of all documentation will be available on the website in the spring term.