The importance of Transitions in Primary Settings

Learners in schools experience change every day. For the most part, small (micro) changes – the smaller changes that happen throughout the school day – are completed without a great deal of upset. But for some learners, any transition can present unique challenges that require tailored support and preparation to help avoid unexpected events.  

Understanding transitions and implementing effective strategies can make a significant difference in helping all learners feel secure and confident in their educational journey, but they are especially important for learners with special educational needs and / or disability (SEND).

Micro Transitions in Primary School

While micro transitions may seem minor to many learners, for others they can be sources of anxiety or distress. Examples of micro transitions include:

• Moving between activities within a lesson.
• Changing classrooms or moving to different areas of the school (e.g., assembly hall, playground, lunchroom).
• Shifts in teaching staff, such as a change in support staff or specialist teachers.
• Variations in routine due to special events, such as school assemblies or trips.

To support learners with SEND through micro transitions, staff can implement a range of strategies, including:

• Visual Schedules – Providing clear, visual timetables to help learners anticipate upcoming changes. Ensure that these timetables are actively referred to and activities that have passed are removed and put in a ‘finished’ box/folder.
• Consistent Routines – Establishing predictable daily structures to reduce anxiety.
• Countdown Timers and Warnings – Giving advance notice before transitions occur. Visual timers can help with processing this as well as verbal reminders of time.
• Social Stories and Role-Playing – Preparing learners for what to expect in different situations.
• Safe Spaces – Creating designated areas where learners can go if they feel overwhelmed during transitions, and have systems in place to allow them to communicate that they need to go the space but also be ready to support them to transition back into the main learning space.

Macro Transitions in Primary School

Macro transitions involve more significant changes that occur over longer periods. These include:

• Moving to a new year group with a different teacher and classroom.
• Changing schools, such as transitioning from early years to Key Stage 1 or from primary to secondary school.
• Adjusting to new support arrangements, such as a change in an Education, Health and Care Plan or a shift in the level of assistance provided.

To help learners with SEND navigate macro transitions successfully, schools can adopt the following approaches:

• Personalised Transition Plans – Developing individualised plans tailored to the specific needs of the learner.
• Gradual Introductions – Allowing learners to visit new classrooms, meet new teachers, and experience the new environment ahead of time.
• Buddy Systems – Pairing learners with a trusted peer to offer social and emotional support.
• Collaboration with Families – Engaging parents and caregivers in the transition process to provide consistency between home and school.
• Multi-Agency Support – Working with external professionals, such as speech and language therapists or occupational therapists, to ensure a holistic approach.

The hope is that by implementing targeted strategies, we can create an environment where learners with SEND feel supported and empowered to handle both micro and macro transitions with confidence.

Successful Transitions are the focus of one of our Online SEND CPD Units as well as the theme for this week’s Specialist Spotlight Session, both of which are free to access, thanks to funding from the Department for Education as part of the Universal SEND Services programme. Find out more:

Book your place for our Specialist Spotlight Session, 3.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday 12 March):  https://www.wholeschoolsend.org.uk/events/specialist-spotlight-transitions-primary

Start the Online SEND CPD unit today: https://www.wholeschoolsend.org.uk/page/online-cpd-unit