AUTHOR=Moir Taryn , Johnson Jayne 

TITLE=Ensuring Quality Transitions From Early Years’ Establishments Into Primary Schools: Putting Research Into Practice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.499917

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.499917

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Preschool to primary school transitions can be a time of anxiety for pupils, parents and practitioners. The purpose of this study was to investigate what should be in place to support transitions and develop a shared understanding of what constitutes as a nurturing transition for children. It is hoped that sharing this across service providers will increases consistency of practice. The design took a flexible qualitative approach to ensure the co-creation of shared meaning. Following an initial exploratory activity using a Person Centred Planning approach, four qualitative activities were identified. Early years staff, primary teachers, parents and pupils were recruited as participants from within a Scottish local authority to take part in these collaborative activities which enabled the co-construction of a transition timeline that articulates the core activities needed for optimal early years centres (EYC) to primary transitions. Furthermore, examples of excellence were identified. While this document illustrates examples of good practice, it is not meant to replace other existing positive transition work; rather it is a guide that can enhance existing procedures within any given context.