Nursery World - EYFS best practice: All about… settling in to school

What are children’s real experiences of making the transition from early years setting to Reception? By the researchers behind the Children’s Thoughts about School Study Beth Barker, Mimi Tatlow-Golden, Ailbhe Booth and Christine O’Farrelly

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Starting school is one of the most significant milestones of childhood – a time that brings not only opportunities but also challenges. Children need to navigate new and larger surroundings, peer groups and behavioural, social and physical demands and expectations that are different from those at home and in their early years settings.

For all children, a new school environment is a big change, but there are some who face greater challenges than others. Research tells us that children whose self-regulation, social and academic skills need to ‘catch up’ during their transition to school are less likely to settle well, or to reach their full potential, when compared to their ‘ready’ classmates. As these gaps, if not attended to, tend to widen over time, even beyond the school years, it’s important that people and settings are set up to support children and families, to help to close these multiple gaps early on.
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