Moving On: A Framework for Transitions - Staffordshire Learning Net ...

2. Stage 2 – Identifying a receiving school
2.1 The TC calls a Preliminary Transition Meeting. The purpose is to agree the direction of
transition (to a mainstream setting or to an alternative special school) and the options to be
explored. Parents/carers should be invited along with any key support staff who may be
able to give an informed input to the discussion. Use Preliminary Transition Meeting –
Initial Outcomes (Form 2) to record agreed options and the reasons for their inclusion.
Identify probable sources of support for the transition, and record these in the ‘Suggested
Team around the Child’ table.
2.2 Consideration should be given on how best to involve the pupil in this part of the process.
2.3 The TC should copy and circulate Form 2. This is intended to be for information only, but
will hopefully act as a trigger for sharing any other relevant information. (For example, an
assessment officer may be aware of school factors that might be barriers to successful
inclusion, and such information could be helpful.)
2.4 The TC awaits and considers initial feedback.
2.5 The TC may request support for approaching those schools where other people, perhaps
in the support agencies, might have established working relationships.
2.6 The TC approaches possible schools and establishes their willingness to support a
transition into their setting.
2.7 Once an identified school has agreed to a placement in principle, the TC completes
Preliminary Transition Meeting – Follow-up Outcomes (Form 3) and distributes this.
2.8 At this stage there is likely to be an initial provision of pupil-focused information in order for
the identified school to be able to make a firm commitment to receiving the pupil. This
might include some elements listed on the Data Checklist (Form 4). The TC should
identify the information that will be helpful to the receiving school, bearing in mind that they
need sufficient information to make a decision but not so much as to be overloaded.
2.9 If the receiving school formally agrees to placement, the TC proceeds with setting up a
Transition Meeting involving the ‘Team around the Child’.
2.10 Should the identified school decide that it is unable to proceed at this point, return to 2.1
or 2.6, as appropriate, and repeat the process.
3. Stage 3 – Detailed transition planning
3.1 The TC sets up a Transition Meeting. The Transition Meeting Agenda gives guidance on
the context for the meeting and how to set it up. It also provides detailed guidance on the
agenda itself and how to use the Data Checklist (Form 4) to decide on information to be
shared and with whom.
3.2 Consideration should be given on how best to involve the pupil in this part of the process.
3.3 Proceedings and outcomes of the Transition Meeting should be recorded on Transition
Meeting – Record of Outcomes (Form 5).
3.4 Agreed arrangements should be initiated.
Alison Lee and Lesley Schofield (Staffordshire EPS) and staff at Cicely Haughton School
August 2009
8