Planning the move from primary to secondary school often works best when children have space to reflect, talk and write down what matters to them. This activity pack gives Year 6 pupils, parents, carers and school staff a simple way to explore the practical and emotional parts of starting a new school.
Children are supported to prepare for secondary school by recording key details, naming their worries and thinking about who can help them. The pack is especially suited to Year 6 pupils, children moving schools, transition groups, pastoral staff, family support workers and parents or carers helping a child get ready for Year 7.
Activities begin with basic transition information, including the child’s age, the name of their new secondary school, how they will travel there, what they will be studying, whether friends from their current primary school are also moving there, and whether an open day or induction day is available.
Reflection prompts encourage children to look back at what they have enjoyed during the year, the skills they have learnt, what they want to keep doing, and new things they would like to try. There is also space to write about skills they would like to build, worries they have, and what they feel excited about.
A support mapping page asks children to write or draw the people and places they can go to for advice, then note the kind of support each one can offer. It could be used in class, during transition sessions, in one-to-one pastoral work, or at home as a conversation starter before secondary school begins.
The language is reassuring and child-friendly, with reminders that children do not need to know every answer straight away. The pack was co-created with children on the Children’s Commissioner’s Children’s Advisory Board.
