A Guide for Parents
from the Communication Group
This page is designed to help those parents who are kept largely in the dark by their offspring. It lets you know the things that happen, throughout P7, to help your child get used to the idea of going to High School.
As the catchment High School for Riverside is Wallace High, the transition programme is concerned with that school. There is however a section at the end about going to other schools.
General Information
It is very important that parents decide as early as possible which High School they wish their
child to attend so that they won’t miss out on the transition process.
Please ensure you have returned the form indicating your choice of secondary school to Riverside.
Primary schools are not responsible for transition except to their feeder secondary school. It is important that you contact your chosen school to find out the transition arrangements. For example St Modan's has a two year transition programme.
Share your decision with your child. Often children are asked what High School they are going to in class and may feel awkward if they don’t know.
Transition from Home to Nursery
Arrangements for transition are made on an individual basis. All children are offered the chance to visit the Nursery prior to their start date. Riverside staff make home visits if appropriate and can visit children in playgroups. We liaise with other nurseries if your child is to share their nursery experience between 2 establishments.
Transition from Nursery to Primary One
Transition for this group of children is currently being reviewed. There is presently consultation with P1 parents to take transition forward in a new and exciting way. Anyone with ideas on this subject should contact the school. The new programme in its entirety will be available March/April.
There are, however, many aspects of the existing programme which will remain:-
· Nursery children will visit the existing P1 classes in small groups. This happens in the summer term and helps children gain direct experience of what it is like to be in a classroom situation.
· Existing Primary 1 Teachers visit the nursery to meet with the children to help them become familiar with the staff of the school.
· There is a parent and child lunch to help introduce children to the dining hall experience.
· An information evening is held in June, for parents, at which they receive a Primary One handbook and School Brochure.
· A buddy system will be in place. Each child starting school will have a friendly primary 7 face to answer any questions and help familiarise them with school life in the first few weeks.
· A ‘The Summer I Started School’ workshop - Children are given a bag which they decorate in nursery, then take home. During the summer they collect things to put in their bag. In the first term of school, a workshop takes place, where the parent scribes for the child and they create a story of a favourite memory of the summer. The items collected can then be used to decorate the border of the story.
· School Open Night in October or November.
· We offer a transition programme to children who do not attend our Nursery. A member of our staff will visit each child in their nursery and offer the chance to visit our school. Children in other Nurseries are given the opportunity to participate in organized events i.e. the lunch and information evening.
Transition to from Riverside Primary to Wallace High School
We are always looking for opportunities to make links with Wallace High School throughout the year. The specific inputs can vary from year to year.
Throughout the year Special Projects run by staff and pupils from Wallace High. This years projects:-
Art - members of the art department have been working with the P7. Children have been creating self- portraits which will become CD covers.
Design - A Fairtrade fashion design competition for all the feeder schools with the winning designs celebrated at a fashion show.
Sport - P7 children go to Wallace High each week, for a block of 6-8 weeks, where they are given a choice of sports to learn. This years’ choices were swimming, dance, rugby and mini-tennis. The children are taught by sixth year pupils.
December and June P7 are invited to the dress rehearsals of the Wallace High school
shows
January - May A member of the Wallace High Guidance Staff spends an hour a week with each of the P7 classes. The content of these sessions prepares the children for the changes between Primary and Secondary schools.
February New this year! Some pupils and staff from Wallace High were on hand at parents evening at Riverside for your information and to answer questions
March Wallace High Roadshows. An evening session for P6, P7 and their parents which is a great way to learn about Wallace High and ask questions. One evening to be hosted at Riverside and the other at Wallace High.
May/June Two days experiencing different subjects at Wallace High. All the feeder primary schools go on these days, giving the children a chance to meet the other pupils who will be in their year.
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There are different levels of transition packages available which are flexible and tailored to the
needs of each child.
An additional trip up to High Schools can be organised for anyone who feels they need extra time for transition, for whatever reason. Children can be identified for this extra trip by either parents or staff. The children are always consulted on this, to see if they feel they would benefit and want to go. All children within the ELS and LCF facilities receive an enhanced and individualised transition programme.
Placing requests
If you do not live within the Wallace High School catchment area you will need to fill in a placing request, which you can obtain by contacting Stirling Council Children’s Services.
If you wish your child to attend St Modan’s, contact the school if your child is baptised in the Catholic faith. If your child is not baptised you can make a placing request to attend.
Other High Schools
What to do:-
· Fill in a placing request if you do not live in the catchment area.
· Contact the school to find out the transition programme.
· Tell Riverside where you are sending your child.
· Share this information with your child.
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Contact with Riverside after your child leaves
· Staff attend the Awards Ceremonies at Wallace High every year and are always immensely proud of the achievements of former pupils.
· Your child may be asked to be part of the roadshow going back to Riverside to tell new P7s about their time at Wallace High.
· Those children on staged intervention may have a member of staff from Riverside at their review meeting in October.
Some quotes for you
The transition from Primary to Secondary was seamless because of Wallace High School staff getting to know the children before they went up.
Great to see Riverside staff at Wallace High School awards ceremony.
The induction days for High Schools are a great idea. There was nothing like that in my day. My daughter was confident starting High School from day one.
The buddy system was brilliant, my son talked about his buddy a lot especially in the first few weeks.
Having the lunch and class visit really made my son comfortable with coming to school.
Huge effort made by the school to ensure my daughters needs were met even though she wasn’t at Riverside Nursery – thank you!
Whole family had great fun participating in “The Summer Before I Started School” project.
Good Luck with your transition
www.wallacehigh.org.uk