Moving from one school to another is traumatic for any child but for those with special educational needs it can be a major upheaval. In primary school they have been used to having the same teacher for most of the day. They may have had the comforting presence of a classroom assistant who is no longer going to be there. It is likely they will be in classes without most of their friends. What can be done to ease the difficulties?

Often the receiving school will visit the primary in the term before the child leaves. It is important that pupils with special educational needs are identified to the visiting teacher who is likely to be the one with special responsibility for new pupils. Sometimes arrangements can be made for parents and pupils with special educational needs to have separate visits to the new school, but the child's wishes should be respected in this as they may not want to be seen as 'different'. Remember though that you might have some children transferring during the summer so there needs to be provision for them after the summer term, perhaps on the first morning back when many schools keep pupils in their form classes.

Children should be encouraged to make use of any open days arranged at the new school. If possible, each child should be teamed with a 'buddy' who will be in the same class so that at least they know someone at the start of the new school year.

A map is an essential item for most children but particularly for those who find it difficult to remember things or are disorganised or who have difficulties in asking others, whether it be language or social difficulties. Important rooms such as form room, toilets, library, assembly hall and canteen can be colour coded. These are the rooms which a pupil may need to go to on their own. The other rooms are likely to be ones which the whole class go to and so the pupil can follow others discretely.

Colour coding of timetables is another useful thing to do.

For those who might have emotional and behavioural problems in an unfamiliar environment, it might be an idea to take photographs on their visit around the school. They can then have them at home for a time and become familiar with the places before having to go there by themselves.