Transition from Infants

Transition from Merry Hill Infants School to Ashfield Junior School

Moving up to junior school from infants can be a daunting prospect. However, here at Ashfield we do all we can to ensure that the transition is as smooth and worry-free as possible.  I am very pleased to work closely with the Ms Adams, the Headteacher at Merry Hill Infant School.  Together we recognise the importance of a successful transition and working in partnership to serve our school community.   As a result, a number of transitional activities and events between the two schools are timetabled throughout the academic year and between different year groups.   These transitional events support children with the next step of their learning journey.   In addition, Ashfield Juniors and Merry Hill Infants hold a few joint whole school events that serve the whole school community including the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, STEM celebration day (British Science Week) and forthcoming King’s Coronation Day celebrations.

Further visits between the two schools are arranged in the summer term and a ‘buddy system’ is set up so that the children have some familiarity with Ashfield staff and children before the ‘big day’ arrives in September!  In addition, our Year 6 children are trained to become play leaders by the Assistant Headteacher at Merry Hill Infant School.  At lunchtime, our Year 6 play leaders visit Merry Hill Infants to support children with a range of activities.

Year 2 parents and carers are warmly invited to visit Ashfield Junior School on one of our ‘open morning’ visits in November which will give you a chance to meet the Headteacher, staff and children.  A transitional meeting is given to all parents and carers who accept a place at Ashfield Junior School in the summer term before their child starts in September.

Year 2 / Year 3 Transition Timetable

Autumn Term	Ashfield Junior admissions: Prospective parents are given the opportunity to be shown around the school by the Headteacher (or member of the Senior Leadership Team) Year 2 visit Ashfield to see the Year 3 Christmas Show Year 3 visit Merry Hill to see the Nursery and Reception Christmas Show
Spring Term	Joint activities between the two schools Year 3 visit Merry Hill to see the Year 1 show
June	Ashfield notify all Year 2 parents and carers of transition arrangements by letter and invite them to an individual meeting to discuss their child All Year 2 parents and carers are invited to Ashfield‛s Open Evening in July Joint activities between the two schools Ashfield Year 3 teachers meet with Merry Hill Year 2 teachers to discuss children and to re-sort classes Year 3 and Year 2 teachers to moderate children’s work in Maths and English The Ashfield Inclusion Co-ordinator (INCo) and the Merry Hill INCo meet to discuss the needs of the Year 2 children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
July	Year 2 visit Ashfield to meet their Year 3 Buddy Ashfield Open Evening – Year 2 Merry Hill parents, carers and children are invited from 5:30pm for a welcome talk from the Headteacher and to meet their new teachers and to visit their new classrooms Year 3 visit Merry Hill to watch the Year 2 Leaver‛s Show
End of Summer Term	Merry Hill Infants send through the Common Transfer Files (CTF) and the Year 2 children are entered on to the Ashfield Database The Year 2 Literacy and Numeracy books are sent to Ashfield from Merry Hill
September	The Merry Hill Headteacher provides Ashfield with the children’s Personal Development files Parents and carers are invited to Ashfield’s ‘Curriculum Evening’ giving you the chance to meet your child’s teacher, visit the classroom, learn about the routines and Year 3 curriculum

Further information regarding transition can be found on our Transition Policy (see Admissions tab).