Transition

• Manages emotional distress: Vulnerable children, especially those with a history of trauma or adverse childhood experiences(ACES), may find transitions overwhelming and be reminded of previous difficult endings. Supporting their transition can help ensure they have a positive experience. 
• Prevents negative impact on mental health: Supportive transitions are crucial for a child's long-term mental health. They can provide time to build on skills, provide a sense of control and preparation and can be achieved in small steps. 
• Develops resilience: Transitions offer an opportunity for children to build resilience, which is the ability to cope with difficulties and adversities, leading to positive health outcomes. By supporting those transitions with careful planning and preparation, we can ensure that children adopt healthy and impactful skills and strategies to support transitions now and in the future. 
• Supports academic success: By helping children settle in and manage new academic and social expectations, support can prevent a negative impact on their educational trajectory by encouraging joined up working between educational provisions and ironing out any issues before they might potentially become problematic.
• Provides a sense of belonging: Planned support helps children feel welcomed and secure, promoting a sense of belonging during periods of uncertainty. It is a great time to help enhance their self- esteem my making transitions feel positive and successful. 

• Graduated Approach: Nottingham schools use a Graduated Approach to support children with SEN, which involves a range of strategies tailored to individual needs – See further information on Routes to Inclusion.
• Transition plans – Our teams encourage a collaborative approach to creating detailed transition plans, involving parents, professionals, and the school's Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).
• EHC Plan transitions: For pupils with EHC plans, the council requires an annual review before the transition to ensure the plan can be reviewed and amended to name the new school before the necessary deadlines.
• Alternative education: In cases of delayed admission due to complex needs, the council can make arrangements for education through non-school-based providers. 

• The Include Service offers targeted transition support for vulnerable children and families. We can provide a variety of support involving : 
• Help to prioritise early pupils and families in need of additional support prior to transition
• Support school staff to identify risks around transition for identified children
• Identify pupils who would benefit from support from INclude, and / or other services
• Support to Increase parental involvement and understanding of how they can successfully support their child’s transition
• Help to improve information available to parents from school and have a contact (Communication between school and parent/pupil, identified transition leads)
• Involve pupils in supporting and planning for their own transition
• Develop clear processes within schools to support transition
• Support to develop primary /secondary working relationships in relation to transition 
• Enable partnership working at both strategic and pupil level
• Work collaboratively with other specialist support services

For further enquiries regarding transition support please email: include.referral@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Click links for further information on transition support provided by specific teams.

Autism Team

Early Years

Learning Support Team

Sensory Team

Special Educational Needs (SEN) team for specific support

Education Welfare Service for attendance-related issues.

Admissions

School Admissions team for changing schools or moving to the city

Mental Health Support Team

Provide transition support and training for school staff

Life Education East Midlands

Family Learning and Information for Families, Parents and Carers
What is Family Learning? The Nottinghamshire branch of Life Education East Midlands provides Family Learning courses, funded by Inspire Learning and Nottinghamshire City Council. Our courses are developed to help you help your children and can be delivered online via Zoom or at your school.

Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS)

Families can contact Ask Us Nottinghamshire (part of the IASS) for free, confidential, and impartial information and support on SEN and disability matters. This includes help with meetings and paperwork, and advice for both city and county residents.

The IASS can provide support during meetings with schools or the local authority.