Early Years transition

Guidance on transition for early years providers and schools and details of transition events to share initial transition information for children starting school.

Transition guidance

In their early years, children go through many transitions - moving on to a new activity, setting or school, moving between classrooms or starting at a setting for the first time.

The guidance will enable preschool providers and schools to plan positive transitions for the children they are supporting, and reflect on the support they give to early years children through points of transition.

Transition timeline

The timeline outlines the activity that should take place to support children to make a positive transition to school. Although this focusses on starting school, providers may find reflecting on the activity outlined to support other transition points.

Transition summary template

The transition summary template should be used when a child moves from your setting to a new setting and can be used to support the transition process in your own provision.

An example of a completed summary is also included.

Additional planning

For some children, additional planning will be needed to ensure they have a positive transition.

If you are working with a child with identified SEND, emerging needs, multi-agency involvement or any other vulnerability, the school's universal transition offer may not meet their needs. To ensure the appropriate level of information is shared and planning put in place for a smooth transition, see the information and planning guidance for a supported transition.

For children and families with social care involvement who have support from Early Help, or for whom you have safeguarding concerns, visit our safeguarding pages.

The guidance within this section will ensure that you are sharing and receiving appropriate levels of information in the right way, at the right time, to fulfil statutory safeguarding responsibilities.

Information to share with parents and carers of children starting school

The following information may be useful to share with parents and carers of children starting school:

Transition events

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.

Benefits of transition events

  • 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

  • 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

2025 transition events

Events regarding children starting school in September 2025 will take place between Tuesday 6 May and Friday 16 May 2025.

Schools are requested to book the event closest to their school site. By booking during the autumn term, schools support preschool settings to attend the appropriate events, which makes the events more effective.

We ask that schools book one staff member for each class they have in their school intake. This could be class teachers, the school SENCo, or teaching assistants. Dates for transition events 2025 are available below.

Events record

The event record template 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.

Event documentation is reviewed annually. Updated versions of all documentation will be available on the website in the spring term.