Transition
Pre-school to Primary 1 transition
Assessment is now accepted as an integral and essential aspect of effective practice. As outlined in the glossary section, under 'assessment', the purpose for carrying out any assessment determines the type of assessment employed.
Many early years professionals have expressed concern over 'labelling' children at a young age, whilst welcoming a procedure that valued formative assessment and professional judgement.
The SEED-published Pre-School-Primary 1 Transition Record that was prepared following pilot and consultation exercises highlights the intended purpose: a vehicle for productive communication between pre-school/nursery staff and Primary 1 staff. The intention was to promote continuity, coherence and progression in learning and teaching, between the two sectors. This has not always been as straightforward as it seems as some primary schools may be drawing from a range of pre-school settings.
Three key issues have arisen:
- sufficient time for all staff from each sector to meet for worthwhile discussion
- belief, among some practitioners, that there is a lack of uniformity in assessment judgement and procedures
- discontinuity in curriculum and staffing levels.
Implementation of the national Pre-School-Primary 1 Transition Record is not statutory. Some local councils and authorities have adopted it or adapted it, whilst others have selected their own transition procedures.
Local authority procedures
Here are examples of some local authority procedures in respect of pre-school/primary transfer records.
Evaluation of Profiles
Stirling Council's short summary evaluation looks at the benefits that are apparent from the use of pupil profiles when accompanied by a structured transition process. This evaluation is based on Stirling's early intervention project, but also makes recommendations about 'future progress' in early intervention within the authority.
Performance Indicators in Primary Schools (PIPS)
Shetland Islands Council's leaflet for parents. PIPS is a popular
assessment procedure, used widely in Scotland, to determine the starting points and progress of the children.
The City of Edinburgh
Extracts from City of Edinburgh Council's booklet 'Achievement in Numeracy and Literacy'. City of Edinburgh Council has evolved its own means of conducting early years assessment.
Renfrewshire: Pupil Booklet
Renfrewshire adopts its own transition system. Here is an extract from their booklet that is used for each pupil for assessment in literacy.
Renfrewshire: Introduction and Sample Test Items
Extract from teacher's guidance material on the use of this transition procedure, along with some sample test activities.
Renfrewshire: Record Sheet
Example of a numeracy record sheet used to record the results of part of this transition procedure.
Midlothian
Schools and nursery classes in the Midlothian Council area use an early years pupil profile to ease transition into Primary 1 and to track progress through the early concepts. This PDF shows the format used and gives an explanation of some of the terms used.