Moving from early years to primary school
Moving your child from an early years provider to a primary school is called transition.
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) often find change difficult. As part of transition, schools and families must work together to create a plan for your child. The plan should address your child's:
- specific needs
- strengths
- interests
- potential anxieties
- learning styles.
The move should be part of a process, not a one-time event. This will let your child feel confident and happy when the time comes.
Help from your child's early years provider
The phase transfer is important to your child's emotional wellbeing and achievements. The move can be full of excitement and anxiety for you and your child. You should keep an open conversation with your child which allows them to:
- become familiar with the idea of moving on to school
- have the time to talk about it the move with their family
- absorb new environments and information
- discuss their needs, wants, likes and dislikes.
Transition plans
Your child's key person will help you. They will help you make a plan for the move to your primary school. A meeting will take place to make sure that your child gets all the support they need. Remember, you know your child best. Make sure that you share your thoughts, wishes, aspirations and the support you need. Your key person knows that sharing the information may feel hard, but they are there to support you and your child.
Attending your meeting will be:
- your child's new teacher
- the school SENCO
- your child's key person.
Transition dates to be aware of
During April to May, meetings will take place with early years and school SEN support and inclusion teams, including:
- Portage management
- SEND Support and Inclusion County Co-ordinator
- SEN Inclusion Advisers
- Early Years Specialist Teachers
- Outreach Intervention Managers.
Between June and July, transition planning meetings are held with the school SENCOs to plan the help for those starting in September. Finally, in September there will be follow up meetings held to make sure successful ongoing transition into school.
Learn about the process of moving from early years to primary school:
Early Years SEND support and inclusion
From September 2026, there will be a new offer to help young children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) who are starting in Reception at a mainstream school.
Before your child starts school, there will be meetings with you, the school, and any other professionals who work with your child. This is to make sure everyone understands what your child needs.
We will support schools to use the Early Years Starting Strong document and the Mainstream Core Standards document. These guides help schools know how to support all children.
The Autism Education Trust will continue to give training to all mainstream schools on how to support children with Autism.
In Terms 5 and 6 of 2026, staff who work in Year R will get extra training on how to help children who are making slower progress.
Early Years Specialist Teachers will support Year R staff by showing strategies, giving advice, and working with them while your child is in Reception.
Advice for parents
The move from nursery to ‘big school’ can feel like a huge step, for you as well as your child. To help you, we hope these helpful tips will make the transition as seamless as possible.