Children will experience transitions between educational settings when they join or leave Pathways ARP. They will also experience transitions within Claremont and Childs Hill School when they change the key stage. We aim to make these transitions as smooth as possible to minimise any anxieties and disruption to our pupils' education.

Barnet Local Authority coordinates the consultations for placing children to the ARPs and all places are allocated by the SEN Panel. The child’s SEN case worker will inform the parents about their child’s placement allocation in the ARP.

RECEPTION TRANSITION

Transition to Reception starts in Summer term before the child joins Pathways ARP in September; the start of the new academic year. The parents will receive a ‘Welcome letter’ and a Transition booklet to read with their child prior to visiting Pathways. The Head of ARP will organise a visit to the child’s current Nursery setting. This is a great opportunity to ask questions from the staff who have been working with, and supporting the children joining us in September throughout the year. The SENCo in the current Nursery setting will typically organise a transition meeting to share information about the child’s education thus far. In June/beginning of July, all new starters will be invited for two ‘Stay and Play' sessions. They will meet their teachers, support staff and Pathways peers. During this time, the Head of ARP will organise a home visit to get an idea of the child’s strengths within safe environment of their home and to gain more understanding on how to better support the child when they join us in September.

By September, the parents will receive a Transition timetable for their child which takes into consideration the child's age and individual needs. This is a provisional timetable which may change, depending on the readiness the child shows within the first couple of days transitioning to Pathways. The full transition to Pathways typically takes up to a couple of weeks. We do recommend that the parents are available for their child throughout this time to make the transition to their new school an enjoyable experience.

IN-YEAR TRANSITION

Some children will join us in the middle of the academic year. This can be difficult for children for a number of reasons, therefore the in-year transitions require a very individualised process, which is sensitive to the child's previous experience. It is important that the children are feeling well supported, listened to and welcomed throughout this process. Where appropriate, the Head of ARP will contact parents to discuss the most suitable transition package for their child. This can consist of the child visiting Pathways and spending part of the school day with their new class or a visiting for shorter 'Stay and Explore' sessions, a welcome letter from their new peers or the Head of ARP, and the Head of ARP visiting the child's current setting and/or home. Once the start day is agreed, the child will attend Pathways full time.

Please find the Transition Book for Pathways here

YEAR 6 TRANSITION

It is a very exciting time for the children to move on to secondary school. By the time the children leave Pathways, they are so grown up and ready to move on. The transition to secondary school placements starts in Summer term. The new teacher is invited to 'Meet and Greet' the year 6 pupils in Pathways and spend some time with them. The secondary school setting typically organise a visit to the secondary school as well as the transition meeting, which is held together with the Head of ARP, parents and the secondary school transition lead. The secondary school setting typically contacts the parents individually to explain their admissions process and to provide more information about the school.