Skip to main content

Support for transition to Primary school

Applying for a Primary school

The Royal Borough of Greenwich provides information for parents applying for a Primary School place for their child. 

There are TWO separate systems for applying to Primary school, dependent on whether your child has a statement of EHC Plan or if they are receiving interventions at the school based stage of SEND support.

Applying for a school if your child does NOT have an EHC Plan:

  • You need to complete the Common Application Form, stating your preference schools, from 1st September with a closing date of the 15th January. Details on how to apply are available on the Admissions page.
  • It is important that you consider each school’s admission arrangements and previous years’ application rates before deciding on your preference schools.
  • You will receive the outcome of your application on the 18th April.

 

Applying for a school if your child has an EHC Plan:

  • Parents will be supported to state their preference for a Primary School at the FS1 annual review of the EHC Plan in the Autumn term
  • In December the schools will respond to the consultation and you will be informed of the outcome, If necessary, further schools will be consulted
  • In January final decisions about school placement are made
  • By 15th February the final EHC Plan will be sent out

 

Transport to school

Detailed information is available in the Local Authority transport policy but, children of preschool age will not be transported by RBG other than in exceptional circumstances, for example, where they have special educational needs, either the parent/carer or child has a disability or there is intervention by RBG on the grounds of safeguarding or social care.

Events

Parents should ask the early years setting their child attends for the general transition arrangements they have for all children, in some areas of the Local Authority early years settings have arrangements in place where they come together to share information on the children moving from their setting into Primary school.

These events are held on an annual basis to support vulnerable students to make a successful transition to their chosen Primary school placement. The events are organised to enable the transfer of child based information between the early years setting and primary school to support transitions to be as successful as possible.

Early years SENCO’s/ practitioners and Primary SENCO’s/ class teachers come together on an annual basis in the summer term, once their school placement has been decided. The focus of these events is on the transfer of children without an EHC plan, as this group of children will not have an annual review/transition meeting to plan for their transition.

These events for “vulnerable” children transferring to Primary school, include:

  • Children with SEND with a focus on those at SEND support
  • Looked after children (LAC)
  • Children who have had behaviour support while in the early years setting
  • Children with English as an additional language

Transition planning for children who have an EHCP or complex needs

  • Discussion with parents and Early Years setting re transition planning
  • Establishment of key worker for the transition, identified at a Team around the Child meeting
  • Key worker to set date for transition meeting and co-ordinate attendance.

 

The term before the child moves into Primary school

  • Transition planning meeting to take place, usually in the FIRST half of the term, involving all professionals, parents and all settings involved in the transition
  • Transition meeting to consider all key issues including level of support/involvement of key professionals/support for independence skill/targets for successful transition.
  • Agreement to be reached re which professionals will provide support materials.
  • Follow up meeting if necessary in the SECOND half of term.
  • Reciprocal meetings between settings to take place to get to know child.
  • Agree professionals to complete a “Profile” to support the child and new staff in
  • understanding their needs
  • If appropriate make photo books of the new setting to act as an adapted Social Story for the child.
  • Handover to take place for services that will no longer input such as Early Years Inclusion Team.

 

The term the child starts at Primary school

  • Transition review meeting with all involved professionals and parents after approx 6 weeks review how the child has settled into the school. Meeting to review transition targets in school and in the home setting.
  • PLP targets to be set for next term with all involved.

 

Transfer process into specialist provisions/schools

  • All schools have information in their Local Offer/SEND information report which outlines the specific processes for transition in and out of their schools, Special schools and DSP’s have specific processes, typically including:
  • Supported transition visits
  • Exchange visits between schools
  • Transition books to support individual students as needed
  • Transition passports/profiles

Advice on support available for children attending Private, Voluntary or Independent (PVI) settings transitioning to school

Support for transition to Primary School