Transition



Year 6 to 7

Practical ideas
Resources
Case studies
Research

How can we ensure that children don’t lose interest in reading when they go on to secondary school? Even though transition is a complex process, it is undoubtedly most effective when primary and secondary schools work closely together to understand each other’s worlds.

How does reader development fit into it all? A secondary and feeder primary school with reading for pleasure positioned right at the heart of their School Improvement Plans will be in a good position to encourage effective transition in this area. If this is not the case, it becomes even more important to make sure that reading for pleasure projects are integrated into existing transition units.

Joint staff initiatives
- Joint Inset is the best way forward. Make sure there is a slot which addresses how reading is developed and promoted in all the schools.
- Work shadowing is a good opportunity for school librarians/literacy coordinators/teachers to understand how reading is developed and promoted in each other’s schools.

Joint pupil initiatives
Joint pupil initiatives are equally as important as those for the staff, as the child should be at the centre of the transition process. Maximising communication between Year 6 and Year 7/8 readers is really important. A possible scheme could involve setting up a buddy reading scheme between Year 6 and Year 7 students.

Information sharing
An effective exchange of information between you and your feeder primary schools is key. As well as sharing information about reading and writing levels, it is a good idea to ask primary schools for a ‘reading for enjoyment profile’ to come up with Year 6 pupils to secondary school. If this is difficult, Year 7 pupils could create their own reading profiles in the first term of secondary school.

Family involvement
Where good family involvement in supporting reading has been achieved at primary school, this information needs to be passed on as part of the transition process. Induction day provides the best opportunity for secondary schools to promote reading to new families.