Moving from primary to secondary school can be an anxious time. However, with some careful planning and good lines of communication, things should go well.
Choosing a school
Which school will your child attend? As parents, you should be actively involved in this decision.
It's a good idea to talk to your specialist teaching service about the options. You could consider the distance from your home, size of school, existing teaching support and experience of supporting blind and partially sighted children.
See school options for the different types of school available.
When to start planning ahead
The transition from primary to secondary school needs careful planning. The specialist teacher (QTVI) should be at the centre of this.
Teachers, parents, school staff and other professionals all have a role to play in planning ahead and preparation for this move may well begin in the September of Year 6.
As soon as the decision about which secondary school your child will be going to has been made, representatives from both primary and secondary should meet to ensure that resources are in place for when your child begins at their new school the following year. This should include input from a mobility officer to plan a programme of familiarisation for your child in his or her new school.
It's important to use the support that's available to help your child get the best possible access to the curriculum and get the best from school life in general.