Supporting Children with SEN During School Transitions

Understanding the Transition from Primary to Secondary School

The move from primary to middle or secondary school is a significant milestone in every child’s educational journey. For children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), or Additional Learning Needs (ALN), this period can bring both challenges and opportunities that require thoughtful preparation and tailored support.

Why Transition Can Be Difficult for Children with SEN/SEND/ALN

Children with additional needs often rely heavily on structure, routine, and familiar environments to feel safe and confident. Moving to a new setting means navigating a completely different environment—often much larger and busier—with new people, expectations, and demands. Common challenges can include:

  • Changes in routine: The predictability of the primary school schedule is replaced with multiple teachers, classrooms, and new routines.
  • Increased sensory demands: Bigger classrooms, louder corridors, and crowded lunch halls can be overwhelming.
  • Communication difficulties: Some children may struggle to communicate their worries or adapt to new social expectations.
  • Anxiety and emotional regulation: The fear of the unknown, changes in peer groups, and academic pressures can cause significant stress.

Key Areas of Support

To help make the transition smoother, support should be multi-faceted and begin well before the move happens. Here are some of the most effective ways to provide support:

1. Preparation and Planning

  • Begin transition planning at least a term in advance.
  • Arrange additional visits to the new school to allow the child to get familiar with the layout, key staff, and routines.
  • Use visual timetables or social stories to explain what to expect.

2. Sensory Support

  • Identify potential sensory triggers in the new environment and provide tools such as ear defenders, fidget toys, or calming zones.
  • Offer alternatives to assemblies, busy lunchtimes or crowded corridors where possible.

3. Emotional Support

  • Talk through feelings and worries with the child using simple, open-ended questions.
  • Create a safe space where they can go if they feel overwhelmed.
  • Use calming tools such as weighted lap pads or sensory lights to help regulate emotions.

4. Communication Tools

  • Ensure access to visual communication tools or apps where needed.
  • Introduce key support staff in advance and create a pupil passport that highlights the child’s strengths and needs.

5. Consistency Between Home and School

  • Keep open communication with families and include them in transition planning.
  • Share resources and strategies that work at home, and vice versa.

How Fledglings Can Help

At Fledglings, we understand the unique hurdles many children face when transitioning to a new educational setting. Our range of products can support both schools and families to ease this process, including:

All our items are carefully selected to be age-appropriate and suitable for older primary-age children preparing for the move.

You’re Not Alone

Whether you're a parent, carer or education professional, supporting a child through school transition is a journey shared. The team at Contact is here to help. If you need product recommendations, ideas for shared spaces, or resources to support your pupils or child, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.