Child Transitions

The theme that I am writing about on transitions is a young person with Additional Learning Needs, going from Comprehensive School to Further Education in college. This transition has a big impact on young people's lives as they are moving from a setting that they are used to and have been part of for several years and are now joining somewhere new and unfamiliar. For young people with Additional Needs this transition would be an even bigger change, as they may see people who are different from them and are unaware of their needs. There are many key issues during transitions that support and are important when dealing with children and young people going through transitions. I have decided that the two most important key issues around this

if they did not maintain a positive relationship with the young person this would result in the young person feeling isolated. Featherstone (2011) states that it is important for key workers to form positive relationships with the individual child's parent's and with young people to enable them to feel safe, cared for. Bowlby's theory of attachment stated that children needed to form a strong bond with their primary care giver in order for them to attach and form positive relationships later in life. This theory has influenced practice by the provision of the one-to-one key workers who form a positive relationship with the young person because it is important that she has a positive relationship with her main support worker as this will enable her to open up about her needs and have trust in them to be met. It is also important that the key worker plans activities that involve the interests of the young person and reflects their individual needs In order for them to stay occupied and interested in the activity. (Soni, Bristow 2012). It is crucial that the college promote inclusive practice and diversity by meeting the needs of the young person and facilitating them appropriately. This

Specifically to the young person the UNCRC article 23 supports their right to have special care and support for them to "lead full and independent life" (uncrcletsgetitright, 2015). This relates to the young person as due to their additional need they would have a one-to-one key worker for extra support and guidence in order to meet their needs. It is also important that the practitioners within the college respect the rights of the young person and information is shared between settings in order to meet all of their needs. The young person's previous setting must share information about their family background and culture to ensure that the college respects their beliefs and encourages diversity. It is crucial that the college maintains a person centered approach for the young person to feel included and empowered to make her own decisions and reach her full potential. The practitioner should make sure that during the transition they are liaising with the young person's parents and encouraging them that the transition will run smoothly because the young person will then feel comfortable and happy in their new setting. If the practitioner does not liaise and communicate with the young person's parents during the transition, they may feel unsettled and negative about the transition which the young person may witness and sense which would then result in them imitating their parents