Starting school: Supporting children's transitions to reception and key stage 1

Transitions are significant milestones in a child's early learning journey, deeply shaping their sense of security, confidence, and readiness to engage with new experiences. Transitions to an early years setting from home and to starting school can be particularly significant periods of time for young children. In this article and podcast episode school improvement officer and director of early years, Delyth Linacre, talks to us about vital considerations for transitions to and within school, including tips for both educators and families.

Read Delyth's article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/starting-school-supporting-transitions-to-reception-and-key-stage-1/

Download the free transition support PDF's here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/starting-school-supporting-transitions-to-reception-and-key-stage-1/

This episode is sponsored by Funding Loop

Funding Loop automates the process for nurseries of collecting funding forms from parents and typing that information into council portals. Funding Loop is used by over 2000 nurseries including over 80% of the top 25 nursery chains in the UK including Busy Bees.

To find out more visit: https://www.fundingloop.co.uk/home

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https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2026/

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Episode break down:

00:00 – Welcome!
02:00 – What are transitions
03:00 – What do transitions look like in your setting?
04:00 – Transition as a process, not an event
05:00 – A gradual and child-centred approach
06:00 – Involving all stakeholders
07:00 – The importance of effective communication
08:00 – Capturing parent and child voice
09:00 – Considering barriers to effective transitions
10:30 – Knowing each individual child
13:40 – Transition plans and building on what the child knows
14:30 – Identifying what is and needs to be the same
15:40 – Peer buddies as transition support
16:30 – Identifying early interventions
18:00 – Transitions from reception to year 1
21:30 – A transition plan spanning the whole reception year
22:00 – Focus on the similarities rather than differences
28:00 – Collaborating across settings and understanding each other's practice
30:45 – How can parents support transitions?
37:00 – Starting reception free support document
37:45 – Books to support transitions
38:20 – Free PDF transition guidance document

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com