Transitions
As part of Education Service planning we are working hard to ensure the best possible transition opportunities for all children starting early learning and childcare settings, P1, S1 and leaving school. The newly formed strategic group will be providing further information on transitions moving forward.
As we are sure you will be aware, usual arrangements are not currently possible during this challenging time. We have provided the following update for your information.
Home to an Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) setting
Parents and carers who are getting ready to transition their child from home to one of our early learning and childcare settings should be reassured that this will remain a carefully planned transition putting the child and family’s needs first. All our early years’ transitions are planned in consultation with the family.
When our current situation allows, where and if possible, home visits and planned settling in visits will take place as normal. If the current situation continues, we are looking at different ways of supporting transitions until such times as normal transition can be resumed.
Due to Covid19 the statutory duty to provide 1140 hours from August has been revoked and a decision made to re-phase the expansion programme. There is a commitment from the government that expansion will still be delivered in full, just to a different timetable than originally envisaged. This will mean we need to revisit our availability of places in each locality for August.
We are currently working on availability and letters will be sent out at the beginning of May to ask about preferences for settings and hours. Information will be coordinated centrally and then when places are allocated the ELC settings will send out further information at the beginning of June.
Should you have any specific concerns please contact us using the mailbox: childcare@midlothian.gov.uk and include home to ELC transition in the subject box.
Early Learning and Childcare to P1
Starting school is an exciting time. Although there may be uncertainty around what moving to P1 will look like we want to reassure you that staff are working hard behind the scenes to think about and plan this important time for children.
As soon as plans are finalised your child’s ELC setting and school will be working together with you to put these plans into action.
Our staff teams across ELC and Primary 1 are working together to make sure that P1 is ready to meet the needs of all children given these highly unusual circumstances.
Should you have any specific concerns please contact us using the education.services@midlothian.gov.uk mailbox and include ELC to P1 transition in the subject box.
Placing Requests
If you have any questions about placing requests you should contact Pupil Placement mailbox – pupil.placement@midlothian.gov.uk
P7 to S1
Our secondary and primary schools have been working on primary to secondary transition work over an extended period of time. However, with the ongoing situation we will adapt our plans to best meet our families’ needs. Each secondary will communicate these plans with their cluster primary schools and families.
Throughout these challenging times we continue to develop opportunities which will support P7 learners’ transition to Secondary School, these may include ‘virtual tours’, question and answer sessions, and regular updates.
Secondary schools will also have many support policies in place to ensure P7s are welcomed. This may include ‘buddying’ systems, key support staff on hand to offer support and guidance and regular communication with families.
School Leavers
In Midlothian we pride ourselves on the high level of support we offer our school leavers. This support continues throughout this challenging time to ensure our learners reach a positive destination.
The Secondary Pupil Support teams are continuing to work with a range of partners including Skills Development Scotland, Community Learning and Development and further/higher educational establishments to ensure our young people are not disadvantaged throughout this time.
If any parent or family have any questions related to this, we encourage you to contact your link secondary school Pupil Support Team.
Alternatively please contact us using education.services@midlothian.gov mailbox and include P7-S1 transition or Secondary Leaver in the subject box.
Saltersgate and Complex Needs
Saltersgate School and the individual complex needs provisions will be in contact with all new families over the summer term to look at transitions arrangements.
The transition work will be a combination of approaches like virtual tours/ walk throughs to help support the needs of all children and young people with ASN. These may not be face to face for some pupils, however the specialist staff will ensure that specific parental requests like social stories are considered as part of this process if appropriate.
If you have any questions related to this please contact education.services@midlothian.gov.uk