Development and transitions
The progress that children make in their development as young people and learners is not always on a smooth upward trajectory.
They necessarily have to navigate difficulties and challenges as well as potential troublesome points of transition. Knowing and appreciating this can make it easier to target support.
The resources in this section have been designed and collated to support schools in their work with children and young people at specific stages of their development, and at key transition times in their school careers.
Classroom books
Edward’s First Day At School
Wells, Rosemary
Walker Books Ltd (1996)
Not everyone is ready for the same things at the same time. When Edward goes to playschool, he isn’t quite ready to join in with the other children.
Harry and The Bucketful of Dinosaurs
Whybrow, Ian
Puffin; Re-issue edition (2009)
Harry finds some dusty plastic dinosaurs in nan’s attic. He cleans them, finds out their names and takes them everywhere – until, one day, the dinosaurs get lost! The lost property man gets a surprise when Harry proves the dinosaurs are his by calling them over to him.
I Want My Mum (Little Princess series)
Ross, Tony
Harper Collins Children’s Books (2008)
When things don’t go well for the Little Princess, she knows there is only one person who can make them better, so she yells, “I WANT MY MUM!”
But when the Little Princess finally learns to cope on her own, how does the Queen feel?
Owl Babies
Waddell, Martin
Walker Books Ltd (1994)
Tells the story of three baby owls who wake up one night to find that their mother has gone. They sit outside on a branch waiting for her, worrying about what has happened to her, but much to their relief she does return.
What Will Emily Do?
Cross, Gillian
Mammoth (1995)
Matthew can’t wait to start school, and it isn’t until his first day that he begins to wonder what his little sister Emily will do while he’s away. At first he finds a way to keep her busy, but the first week holds surprises for both of them.
Videos
Recommended reading
A Good Childhood: Searching for Values in a Competitive Age by Layard, R. and Dunn, J., Penguin 2009
Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements by Rath, T., and Harter, J. Gallup Press, 2010
A research-based approach to developing wellbeing in everyday life.
Research
The Impact of School Transitions and Transfers on Pupil Progress and Attainment (pdf) by Maurice Galton, John Gray and Jean Ruddock, Homerton College, Cambridge DfEE-commissioned report.
Moving On: Transfer and transition to senior school: A guide to good practice drawing on recent ISI inspection reports of HMC schools, The Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference.
National Foundation for Educational Research: A Study of the Transition from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1: Dawn Sanders, Gabrielle White, Bethan Burge, et al
Ofsted: Transition from the Reception Year to Year 1
The Royal Society: debate about the neuroscience of emotion
University of Bath: research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council: Children’s transition to School: Learning and Health Outcomes
Inclusive Perspective on Transition to Primary School
European Educational Research Journal: Vol 2, no 2, 2003
Research paper by Christine Cope and Peter Cope, University of Stirling
Links
Association for Achievement through Assessment: selection of materials on transfer and transition
BBC audio resources for primary schools: PSHE clips for 9-11 year olds on transitions
Common core of skills and knowledge for the children’s workforce
Good practice in transition, East Sussex local authority
Peer mentoring in schools: evidence base
Range of resources on transitions