Navigating 'Transition Points in Education'

Transition points are a necessary and inevitable part of education. If our children do not encounter them, they are not growing and learning. Whether our children are leaving home for the first time to attend a nursery school, advancing from Early Years to Primary, transferring from a public school to a private international school or graduating and entering the workforce, each instance comes with its own unique set of challenges. But with some preparation, our children can develop strategies that will help them adapt, overcome and grow as a result. Here, we share insights from four EdFest 2022 speakers who are experts in the transition points our children face throughout their academic careers.  

"There are several ways parents can support their children with transition into school. First, they can encourage socialisation with their child's peers in an age-appropriate setting. These social situations can support your child to feel more confident to communicate their needs and prepare them for some of the interactions they will face at the Nursery. Encouraging independence is also important. Depending on their age, this can be toileting, putting on their shoes or coat, washing and drying their hands or even getting dressed by themselves. Our children take their cues from their trusted adults, so positive talk about Nursery is also key. Children may indeed be anxious about starting Nursery, but more often than not, it is our parents who are more anxious! As parents, we all worry about our children settling well and making friends, so it helps to connect with other parents joining the school and make a play date before they arrive.

It is important to remember that separation anxiety is entirely normal. But there are ways to ease the transition for your child. First, reassure your child that they will have a great time and remind them that they will see you at the end of the school day. Then, for children who suffer from prolonged separation anxiety, talk about their time at the Nursery while at home. You can even have pictures of the classroom, their teachers and their favourite activity. Please encourage them to talk about what they enjoy about Nursery and share what they see in the pictures. It may take some time, but they will gradually become less anxious. And, of course, be patient. These strategies may take time to be successful, but things will get better, and before you know it, your child will be happily running through the gates to Nursery."

"At Hiba, we view our first year in Primary School as a continuation or extension of our Early Years framework. So supporting transitions is a shared responsibility by everyone involved in our pupils' journey. This means families, teachers, and the school must collaborate to support this transition.

High levels of wellbeing are needed to ensure a seamless transition. Therefore, it is essential to plan for opportunities through the individual child's passions and interests and allow them to set their challenge, apply their initiative, collaborate with others, and develop independence during this significant time."

"It is typical for students transferring from state schools to international schools to face several challenges. Teachers should therefore plan for possible difficulties to alleviate their mental burdens. For instance, we can tell them stories about seniors who integrated well into a new class and succeeded academically. We can help them define their goals and provide feedback on their progress. We should also create opportunities for them to improve themselves and provide guidance on study and life.

Before transferring, we recommend that students study new textbooks as soon as possible. They should also be mentally prepared for the challenges they will face. They can reduce anxiety by pre-setting an expectation and prioritising their own progress instead of comparing themselves with classmates. In addition, they may try listening to online courses taught in English to get familiar with the terms of the various subjects.

After transferring to an international school, study habits are even more important. Therefore, they should prepare for and review lessons following the teaching schedule, learn and consolidate specialised terms, and continue to broaden their horizons."

"Things are really complicated in the job market right now. After two years of the pandemic, companies are far more cautious about recruitment, and many are running far leaner operations. So we are hearing the number one word from job seekers right now: 'stability'. But, conversely, many companies do not want employees who are after a comfortable life; they are demanding hard work and motivation.

The key skill here for a graduate, then, is empathy. Would you hire you if you were an employer? How about if the choice were between you and 20 other people? If the answer is 'no' to either of these questions, the challenges you see are likely the areas you might need to work on.

Successful transition to the workforce is about schools, teachers and families. If you do everything for a child, what independence or self-efficacy will they develop? Children need to try things, take ownership, eat failure and taste success. Parents should give their children choices and, as they get older, make them more accountable for them. For example, if you can call and book a restaurant for a family meal, you can easily organise a meeting for the leadership team in your first job."

'Transition Points in Education' is just one of the five strands we will be exploring with these speakers and more at the 2022 Festival of Education. We invite you to 'Join the Conversation' with our upcoming series of talks, panel discussions and workshops covering all things education.