Making a transition book

Going to a new class or new school is a big change for any child, and can be especially challenging for children who have a learning disability, such as Down’s syndrome, as there is so much new information to take in.

Careful planning of the transition and gradual preparation can help make sure that a child is well prepared and that they feel familiar with their new environment, even before they start there.

Transition books can be a good way to help prepare children and young people for a change in education setting.

Two examples are provided below.

As you will see, the transition book can be produced by a school (like Tanzie’s book) or it can be produced by the parents (like Zoe’s book).

You can include a number of topics and photos:

• Key staff
• Photos of the classroom, hall, toilets, and any other important spaces
• Information about the school uniform
• Tips to help a child prepare for their day
• A timetable

The book should be written in a way that either a child can read, or that it can be read to them. Visual supports are especially useful for children who have Down’s syndrome to retain important information.

There is no one way to make these books. Think about the information that will be helpful to a child and make it fun and interesting so that the child will want to have a look at it.