Transition

We understand that transitions especially at Pre-School, P1 and S1 stages can be anxious times for parents and pupils. At Alehousewells School we have arrangements in place to support transitions and these are outlined below.
Transfer to Ante-Pre School and Pre-School Nursery
In order to support and ease transition into Ante-Pre School/Pre-School Nursery, we arrange a series of induction events/meetings/Come and Play sessions for you and your child. These events are planned to allow you and your child to become familiar with the Nursery setting, to meet staff, to meet with the other children and to find out about life in Nursery and what you can do to support your child’s transition into Ante-Pre/Pre School. A major part of this process involves parents sharing information
about their children’s needs and you will be asked to complete a number of forms regarding e.g. your child’s specific needs. Any other Ante-Pre School setting your child is joining us from may also provide transition information regarding your child.
Delayed entry to P1
Where parents have concerns regarding their child’s entry to P1, they should discuss this with the nursery team in the first instance who will be able to offer support and guidance.
Transfer to Primary 1
In order to support and ease transition into P1, we arrange a series of induction events/meetings for you and your child. These events are planned to allow you and your child to become familiar with the school building, to meet staff, to meet with the other children including your child’s buddy and to find out about life in school and what you can do to support your child’s transition into P1. The induction process starts in your child’s pre-school year, with P1 staff arranging to visit your child in their preschool
setting wherever possible in order to begin to get to know your child.
Induction meetings are arranged for parents around May/June in order to share information about starting school and how you can help your child at home. This is also an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s teacher and to ask any questions or share any information.
At these induction meetings, parents are issued with a range of materials designed to support children’s learning at home and parents are asked to complete a range of forms to gather information about e.g. your child’s medical needs, contact addresses, special needs etc.
Our prospective P1s also have the opportunity to come into class for a series of induction sessions around May/June. This allows the children to begin to get to know their classmates and their teacher as well as familiarising themselves with the school buildings and classroom routines.
During June parents are also invited to join their P1 children for a school lunch.
Information communicating details of P1 induction arrangements along with dates will
be communicated directly to Prospective P1 parents around April.

Transfer to Secondary Education
Most children from Alehousewells School attend Kemnay Academy in Kemnay.
(Telephone Number 01467 533660).
Alehousewells School is part of the Kemnay Community Schools Network.
An induction programme for P7 is in place to help ease the transition into S1. P7 pupils spend 3 days at Kemnay Academy towards the end of the summer term. Further information is communicated to parents about the induction calendar for secondary school around February each year. Parents also have the opportunity to visit Kemnay Academy where information will be shared and questions can be asked.
Liaison between Alehousewells School and Kemnay Academy is very good. During P5, 6 and 7 year, pupils have a number of opportunities to join with pupils from the other Kemnay Community Schools Network. Transition projects, sports festivals, trips, invites to the academy and other ad hoc activities are arranged for P7 pupils to get together.
Information about our P7 pupils is shared with guidance staff at the academy to help support appropriate continuity of education. Parents are welcome to attend these information sharing meetings, especially when additional support has been provided previously.
Kemnay Academy staff also visit our pupils in Alehousewells School where information is shared and questions can be asked.
Where parents opt to send their child to any other secondary school, (following placing requests) Alehousewells School supports any alternative transition arrangements wherever possible. Placing request forms are available from the school.

Transitions Between Stages
For some children, the thought of moving onto their next class/teacher can also be an anxious time. Again, we have structures in place to support these transitions. Teachers share planning and work together on school improvement projects helping to ensure a commonality of expectations and approaches. Time is arranged for teachers to hand over information regarding the learning needs of the pupils transferring from class to
class. Around June of each year “step up” time is also arranged where pupils can meet their next teacher and their classmates. Opportunities arise throughout the year for children to work on joint projects, e.g. enterprise challenges help to ensure that the children have opportunities to work with other staff and pupils. If you have any particular concerns regarding transitions, please make an appointment to see the head teacher.