UNIT 1 3

UNIT 1: Child and Young Person Development

UNIT CODE: H/601/3305

Learning outcome: Understand the potential effects of transitions on children and young people’s development.

3.1 Identify the transitions experienced by most children and young people.

A transition is the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another. Everyone will experience many transitions throughout their lives. For children and young people it is extremely important that these transitions to go smoothly. A transition can be sudden or gradual and last for different time periods, meaning that some transitions can be long term or short term. The experiences they go through in transitions will give them the skills they need to deal with the challenges of life ahead. Below are the most common transitions children and young people go through.

Foundation/ Nursery - A child’s first day at school can be a very daunting experience. Children will experience many emotions starting foundation. Entering a new environment filled with unfamiliar faces can cause both anxiety and anticipation. This is why schools have a gradual transition where children will visit with their parents many weeks before to become familiar with the new setting and also start to build up relationships with their teachers and other children.

Changing classes - The transition from foundation to keg stage 1 and from key stage 1 to key stage 2 can also be a very unsettling time for children. When they have built relationships with previous teachers and become familiar with that particular setting it can be an upsetting time to have to go through. At the school that I work in we organize for children to spend at least two days in their new classes the week before the summer term ends to lessen their anxiety.

06/10/2014 Zoe Wilson
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Secondary school - The transition into secondary school can be a very scary thought for most children. Leaving primary school where they feel safe and which is a place with people that have been part of their life for a long period of time can be an emotional time. This is a time when children feel like they have to become more independent and stand on their own two feet. Most secondary schools offer children transition two weeks before the summer term ends to become accustomed to their new surroundings. In a case of children with special educational needs, those children may spend the previous year visiting their secondary school.

Puberty - Puberty is a transition that all children experience but they will all experience this at different times, while some teenagers will start puberty at the age of 11 some children won’t start this process until around the age of 15, this is the case for boys and girls. Puberty can be a difficult and emotional time for a child as they experience the changes their bodies will be going through which may make them feel self conscious. Hormones will cause all different emotions in a child so it is very important for schools to be aware of this and encourage children to talk to their friends, parents, teachers or the pastoral team.

College - Starting College will be a very daunting experience in most young adults. Going to a new place and having to make new friends as a young adult can be unsettling. Not seeing their friends they have built relationships with everyday may cause frustration. Colleges also have a transition period in which they will visit a number of times beforehand and have team building exercises.

Starting Work - Having finished their education and going through job interviews is another transition that everyone has to go through in their lives. Colleges help young adults with this transition by setting up practise interviews.

Depending on the children or young people’s individual needs and circumstances they will need help and support from their peers and the adults in their lives to be successful in their future transitions.

06/10/2014 Zoe Wilson
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