Tips for involving parents in class transition

Teacher-parent collaboration: The key to smooth class transitions.

As the summer term comes to an end, the class you’ve watched grow and succeed over the past year is getting ready to move on.

Whether to a new year group within the school, the next key stage or a new school, this time can be daunting and require additional planning for support.

For educators, ensuring a smooth transition is their top priority, but what happens in school can only go so far. 

This article explores the challenges and opportunities of transition time, considering the important role parents and families have to play in supporting their children with change. 

Parental engagement matters

A recent poll shows the majority of respondents believe it is important to involve families in transition time.

 A small percentage feel this is only necessary with younger pupils in KS1. 

However, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) confirms that parental engagement strategies are ‘typically more effective with parents of very young children’. 

Improved attainment and positive communication outcomes are important at every key stage. 

Questioning whether parents are an ‘under-used resource’ in education, research from ParentKind revealed the impact on attainment and pupil wellbeing when schools and parents listen to each other. 

Some respondents say family involvement should be decided on an individual basis, reflecting that pupils with specific needs may require different levels of support for a successful transition.

Working with families 

Understanding that transition times impact both a child’s home and school life, many teachers look for ways to involve parents and carers.

Children may be having different conversations at home to those at school, sharing different worries or hopes.

Consequently, carers may have questions about how to support their child or the expectations of the next year group.

Here are some ways teachers can involve parents in their child’s transition. 

 1. Summer parents’ evening

Scheduling time to speak to parents can be challenging for busy educators. 

For those working with older pupils, it may be a rarity that discussions with carers take place face-to-face. 

Some potential time is the summer parents’ evening – an opportunity to discuss the pupil’s progress, report and answer any questions. 

Use this time to ask parents how they feel about their child moving up to the next class, reassure them if needed and, for individuals who would benefit, provide additional resources such as home-school transition booklets. 

2. Open-door policy 

Having an open-door policy for parents to speak to you is a great way to ensure positive relationships and communication. 

If you are nervous about time constraints, consider a specific day when parents are aware they can come for a ‘quick chat’ or ask for you to give them a call.

Marking out half an hour a week to speak to parents could save you time in the long run by being aware of any issues or concerns at home that may cause behaviour challenges down the line.

3. Send a letter home 

Understandly, having time to speak to all parents individually may be unrealistic for some. 

Sending home a letter or posting on your teacher-parent online portal with information and advice may alleviate the need whilst still keeping parents in the know. 

For those with more individual concerns, the option to message or call back may still be needed, but for the vast majority, having this information will be enough to put their mind at ease and support their child at home with any questions. 

4. Early transition 

During the transition period, some schools choose for the children to move to their new class at the end of the summer term rather than starting in September. 

This can alleviate some anxiety after the summer so children (and their families) know what to expect. 

Something as small as not knowing which door to collect from or what time lunch is can throw them off, so finding out before the long break may reduce stress. 

However, if this is not the case in your school, having a transition day so children know what school life will be like in September will go a long way. 

5. Invite parents in 

Once transition has happened, whether in the summer or September, offer parents the opportunity to come in with their child for a family learning session or ‘meet the teacher’ talk. 

If children have had a few days to settle in, they will likely enjoy the chance to show their parents their new classroom. 

5. Set home learning tasks 

According to the GoStudent Future of Education Report 2024, ‘UK parents are among the most hands-on when it comes to their child’s education’.

Either during transition or over the summer teachers may choose to send an activity for children to do with their families.

This home learning could be a profile about themselves, their family or things they like and hope for their new class. 

What’s next?

Transitions can be daunting but, if done right, it can be extremely rewarding to teach children about the importance of moving forward and preparing for change. 

Look out for more transition advice from Digest in the coming weeks. 

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