Year 2 to Juniors Transition
The Big Step of Moving Up to the Juniors
The transition from Year 2 to Year 3 in the UK is a significant new school year milestone. We recognise that moving to Squirrels Heath Junior School is a big and exciting step for a lot of children and we aim to provide many opportunities for Year 2 children to experience life with us before moving over in September. During the Summer Term, Year 2 children in the Infant school are normally invited to the Juniors to explore the school and classrooms on a tour with a Year 3 buddy, as well as attend special assemblies to meet staff and other children. We also arrange reading sessions where the younger children learn how the older children of the Juniors help each other develop their reading skills and enjoyment.
Later in the Summer term, we will hold a transition meeting for parents to coincide with the children meeting their new teacher. Here new parents will learn about the key aspects of the school, the curriculum for the upcoming year and school routines. We will hold a morning and an evening meeting to accommodate as many parents as we can. Finally, we offer tours for parents on particular dates to visit the school, and we arrange additional visits for children with SEND ad/or their parents to familiarise themselves with the changes moving to a junior school brings.
We are looking forward to welcoming all our Year 2 students into Year 3 with us at Squirrels Heath Junior School! Below you will find information about how we transition the students and Key Stage 2 skills they should learn when they first start.
For any further information you may want, please contact us via phone or email using the contact information at the bottom of the page.
Transition Packs and Transition Meetings for Parents
Your Transition Packs will be available at the parents / carers meetings held in early July (exact dates are sent out closer to the time). This pack will include:
- the name of your child’s Class Teacher
- the name of your child’s Class
- the welcome letter,
- key dates for 2023/2024,
- school lunches information
- uniform information
- the school prospectus
- a special published book for the children about moving to the Juniors
We have also included a Transition Booklet that we would like your child to complete over the holidays to prepare for life in the Juniors.
All forms should be completed and returned as soon as possible, so that all information is on our systems before the holidays.
After the meetings have been held, the presentations will be put on the school website for parents / carers who may have been unable to attend, or for those who wish to go back over the key information.
Getting to Know our New Students
We work with Squirrels Heath Infant School, other feeder schools and a selection of agencies, and we spend time finding out about the new children joining us both educationally and socially.
We conduct transition meetings with Year 2 teachers to learn about each individual child. We learn about their academic achievements in their Infant school and any areas of the KS1 curriculum which may need to be revisited in Year 3. Most importantly, however, we aim to learn about each child and their needs on a personal level to ensure their transition to Squirrels is a positive and exciting journey.
KS2 New Key Skills
In addition to the physical move to a new school with new adults, there are a number of new skills that children need in KS2. They will not be expected to master all of them at once; their teacher will break them in gently over the first few weeks of term whilst engaging them in a wide variety of fun and exciting lessons. However, a helping hand at home can make the transition much easier for your child.
KS2 skill: going in through the gates independently
Children will be dropped off at the school gates from 8.30am, where they will be greeted a member of the Senior Leadership team or one of our support staff. They will be guided to their classroom to meet the teacher. Once they become familiar with the classrooms, they will enter the gates, and walk to their classrooms independently. If there are any issues that the teacher needs to be made aware of, then parents can send a message via the school office.
How you can help: If your child is anxious about being dropped off, encourage them to find a friend they can walk in with.
KS2 skill: working in a group
In KS2, children are expected to be more independent when working in groups. This involves a whole raft of new skills, such as listening to each other, explaining ideas clearly, taking turns, helping others, allowing everyone to contribute, and pulling the group’s ideas together into the end product.
How you can help: Look for opportunities to practise group work at home, such as baking a cake together, with one person reading the recipe and the other weighing out the ingredients, or collaborating with siblings or friends on making a LEGO model.
KS2 skill: home learning
In KS2, children will be expected to read at home out loud to an adult at least 3 times per week, more often if possible (daily is best). In addition to this, children will also have their own login for TT Rockstars (for help with times tables) and SPaG.com (to improve punctuation and grammar skills). Some children may be given access to Lexia or Learning Village to help with reading and/or language development. Children will have homework each week – Maths (1 piece), English (1 piece of grammar or comprehension) and 10 spellings to learn off by heart.
How you can help: Support your child by listening to them reading and encouraging them to have a regular allotted time to complete home learning. Be sure to create time to complete homework in a routine from the outset to allow children to embed it as part of a wider home routine.
KS2 skill: coping with play times
In KS2 play is generally more independent, they will have the opportunity to play and socialise with children in Year 3. There will be a range of activities led by sports coaches and play equipment for the children to play on. They will also have the opportunity to work outdoors. Generally, we do not have an afternoon break but teachers use the outdoor space as an extension to their classrooms.
How you can help: We have an area where children can go if they want someone to play with, so encourage your child to use these if they’re feeling anxious or lonely.
KS2 skill: organisation
Children in KS2 are expected to take more responsibility for organising themselves, for example by remembering to bring their reading books and diary every single day. Children will be expected to dress in line with the uniform policy, and wear appropriate PE kit, and tend to find it easier if the correct clothing is worn from the outset.
How you can help: Get your child into the habit of unpacking and repacking their school bag themselves the evening before. Go through the school dinner options the night before so that children know their choices before coming in and are able to choose the option they like.
Things to practise over the summer:
- Tying your shoelaces;
- Telling the time;
- Using a knife and fork;
- Packing their lunch box and their own bag;
- Changing their own reading book;
- Logging on to Online Learning- for example, TT Rock stars;
- Drawing straight lines with a ruler, particularly to make a margin.
- Forming all letters and numbers correctly
September Transition Meetings
After your child has been in school for two weeks, we will host parent / carer meetings in your child’s class. This allows us to get to know the children, and then inform you of the finer details of what your child will be learning in school and how you can help. It will also allow you to see the classroom that you have been hearing about.
Additional Support to Manage Transition
Please click the link below if you would like additional advice or support in Havering regarding your child’s transition to Junior school:
