Understanding School Transition

School transition is a life changing event for children - they are rarely faced with such a powerful set of personal and social changes. These underpin the immediate and longer term wellbeing of children, peer groups, teachers and schools. Understanding School Transition provides a most comprehensive, international review of this important area, complete with practical advice on what practitioners can do to support children’s wellbeing, motivation and achievement. Offering an accessible introduction to children’s psychology at transition, Understanding School Transition explores transition as a status passage, what we really mean by wellbeing, and the ways in which children adapt to new environments. Key chapters focus on:Understanding stress and anxietyChildren’s hopes, fears and myths at transitionParents’ and teachers’ influence and roleChildren’s relationships with peers as they change schoolsChildren’s personal and collective identitiesMotivation, engagement and achievementSupporting the most vulnerable children Crucially, it advises how you can help children through implementing transition interventions and evaluating their success in your own school. Illustrated by case studies of experiences in real schools, Understanding School Transition will be essential reading for all training and practising teachers, as well as transition and subject specialists, who want to better understand and influence what happens to children at this critical stage.

"Jennifer Symonds book offers something for everyone involved in the transition process; teachers, administrators, parents and hopefully politicians. It reminds us all of the important part that school transition plays in the wellbeing of future adults and, hopefully, will rekindle enthusiasm for and interest in the transfer problem." - Professor Maurice Galton, University of Cambirdge, UK"Understanding School Transition provides a most comprehensive, international review of this important area, complete with practical advice on what practitioners can do to support children’s wellbeing, motivation and achievement. […] Whatever your role in the transition process - teacher, parent, educator - you need to read this book to help students get the very best from their chances. It really gets to the heart of the matter and the in-depth discussion will help all concerned to really understand what goes on during this process." – Parents in Touch, UK

Jennifer Symonds is a freelance educational researcher and consultant, working in the United Kingdom and United States.