Transition
We invest a significant amount of time in ensuring that each child has a smooth transition to secondary school. Once they have been allocated a place with us, we work on the principle of finding out as much about a pupil as possible before they start with us so that when they do start we know them well. This includes the provision of an ‘about me’ booklet, which pupils complete along with their parents and Year 6 teacher.
We have a well-established programme designed to support the transition from primary school into secondary school. We work closely with our ‘feeder’ primary schools to ensure that their Year 6 pupils are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities presented by secondary education, so that they can make a confident beginning at the academy.
Pupil Induction – it was all a little different this year!
During normal times, all Year 6 pupils who are allocated a place at the Academy would attend an ‘Induction Day’ in the summer term. This day usually gives the pupils an opportunity to spend time with their new tutor group, meet new friends and, most importantly, start to meet some of the staff with whom they will be spending the next 5 years.
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, things were a little different in 2021. We were not be able to welcome our new pupils into school to have a look around and to meet their new teachers and friends. However, we really wanted to make sure that all of our new Year 6 pupils felt as comfortable as possible about starting with us in September 2021.
To make things a little bit easier and to reassure our them, we put together a few things to help with the transition:
• We produced a Virtual Tour video, so that they could have a look around the academy.
• We put together a series of student videos in which some of our current Year 7 students explained what life at Laisterdyke is like.
• We also produced a Welcome to Laisterdyke presentation for Year 6 pupils and their families, which hopefully helped to answer all of their questions before they joined us in September.
We hope to get ‘back to normal’ this year but please be assured that if required by circumstance, we will do everything we can, working closely with our primary school partners, to make transition as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Parent Information
There is a Parent Induction evening for all Year 6 parents in the summer term to give them key information about the academy. The induction gives parents the opportunity to learn more about the academy’s ethos, routines and expectations and meet the Principal and senior leadership team. Parents of current Year 6 children will receive information explaining in more detail how to attend the event nearer the time.
If you haven’t done so already please can you:
• Ensure that any outstanding formal acceptance letter / slip is returned to LLA Reception or posted back to us.
• Ensure that LLA’s Data Collection form is completed and returned please.
If you require any replacement forms, then please give us a call.
Summer school
Our summer school gives pupils an exciting opportunity to help smooth the path of transition from primary to secondary school. The programme focuses on improving literacy and numeracy through a planned curriculum and enrichment activities to boost creativity, physical and mental wellbeing. Summer school pupils are able to meet new friends and teachers, navigate the academy building and try lots of new and fun activities.
The Summer school takes place in the last two weeks of August each year.
Exact arrangements will be communicated to parents nearer the time
If you have any information about your child that you would like to discuss with us on an individual basis, then please do contact us to arrange a telephone call or a meeting.
We look forward to seeing your child at Laisterdyke in September, and we look forward to meeting with all parents in due course.