Transition to Secondary School

Transition to secondary school can be an anxious time for our pupils and their families.

We work closely with all secondary schools which have been named as possible placements for our pupils to ensure the transition is as smooth and comprehensive as possible.

The transition process includes discussions with families during Year 5 reviews in regards to suitable secondary placements and advice to visit and find out what provision is available through research and visits.

As your child has an EHCP - an SEN officer in the Local Authority where you live is responsible for updating your child's EHCP and approaching appropriate schools to determine if your preferred setting can be named in their EHCP.

You may wish to consider any of the Special schools within Tameside:

• Samuel Laycock School is based in Ashton - Under -Lyne for children with significant moderate learning difficulties and autism.

Address and contact number: Ashton Campus, Broadoak Road, Ashton OL6 8RF Phone: 0161 344 1992

• Cromwell School is based in Dukinfield for children with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and autism (ASC) with Learning difficulties.

Address and contact number: Yew Tree Lane, Dukinfield SK16 5BJ Phone: 0161 338 9730

• Thomas Ashton School is based in Hyde for children with social, emotional and mental health needs. (SEMH)

Address and contact number: Bennett Street, Hyde SK14 4SS Phone: 0161 368 6208

Parents may also wish to consider mainstream schools, other SEN schools within the

New Bridge Trust or specialist ASC provision out of borough.

Open day information

Samuel Laycock are advising to ring office and SLT are offering information on tours
Cromwell 1^st October @ 4 pm
New Bridge: Families need to ring and book onto a tour - 16^th Oct @ 4.30pm,5.30pm and 6.30pm pm and 30^th October @ 9.30am, 12.00pm and 2.00pm

Transition to secondary school information for Year 6 parents/ carers

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Click on each term name below to expand the information.

Autumn Term

In September when a child is in Year 6, parents will receive email information from Tameside
informing them of the formal admission process to secondary schools.

The link below contains all relevant information.

Moving On

Moving onto secondary school 2025

Parents are advised to visit prospective schools during the day and formal Open Evenings so both parents and child know what the school is able to offer.

The SEN Team is available to provide special educational needs advice. Please call them on 0161 342 4433.
Tameside Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Information Advice and Support (IAS) Service (SENDIASS) provides confidential, impartial information, advice and support on education matters and health and social care issues in relation to education: Telephone: 0161 359 8005 or visit their website: Together Trust

Parents / carers of children with an EHCP are not formally required to complete an application but it is advised that they indicate their preferences for special and / or mainstream schools.

You can communicate your preference directly with the SEN team by emailing senteam@tameside.gov.uk or calling them on 0161 342 4433.

The council considers:

- the review documents from Year 5.
- parental preference indicated on the EHCP review or the one you share with your caseworker if you were still undecided at the time of the review.
- any discussions with parents
- consultation feedback from potential secondary schools
- the requirements of the SEN Code of Practice

Spring Term

Some EHCP's will still be in the process of being updated as detailed above early in the spring term. National Offer Day for School Place confirmation is 3rd March 2025, however children with EHCP's should have a formal offer by 15th February 2025. Any appeals should be discussed with the case officer.

An updated EHCP will be sent to parents before 15th February 2025 and this will ‘name’ the Year 7 placement.

Summer Term

If you wish to apply for transport - applications need to be made as early as possible in the Summer term.
Parents will work with school to prepare for transition to secondary school
Class staff support children in the classroom in regards to ‘changes’ as part of our work on Social and Emotional aspects of learning
Planned visits to school by secondary staff to introduce themselves and get to know the pupils.
There will be an opportunity for school staff to discuss pupils in detail with secondary staff.
A programme of planned visits for pupils to their secondary school to coincide where possible with the local authority transition days. Pupils are accompanied to and from their new school by class staff where possible
Additional visits planned where necessary to meet the needs of individual pupils.
A detailed pen portrait of each pupil including individual behaviour plans/social stories/ signs and symbols/health care plans and appropriate medication will be handed to the secondary school on arrival for visits