Supporting Vulnerable Children Through One of Life's Biggest School Transitions
For many children, the move from primary to secondary school is an exciting milestone. For others, it can be one of the most challenging periods of their young lives.
New routines, unfamiliar surroundings, bigger schools and changing friendships can create anxiety for any child. For those already facing disadvantage, trauma or additional challenges, the transition can become a significant barrier to confidence, attendance and long-term wellbeing.
That's why we're proud to be supporting the Move On Up Transition Programme - an innovative pilot developed in partnership with Urban Pursuit and local schools to provide vulnerable pupils with the support, encouragement and trusted relationships they need before, during and after their move to secondary school.
A Different Kind of Transition
Rather than focusing on a single transition day, the programme surrounds children with consistent support over several weeks, helping them build confidence before they leave primary school and continuing that support once they arrive in Year 7.
The pilot has been designed around three connected stages:
Building Confidence in Primary School
Children begin with six weekly sessions while still in Year 6, where they take part in activities designed to strengthen confidence, resilience, teamwork and communication. Through positive challenge and supportive mentoring, they begin to develop the skills and self-belief needed to embrace change.
A Summer Adventure
During the summer holidays, the group comes together for a woodland adventure camp. Away from the classroom, children experience new challenges, build friendships and create positive memories before starting secondary school. The camp provides an important bridge between schools, helping to reduce uncertainty and strengthen the relationships they've already begun to build.
Continued Support in Secondary School
Once the children begin Year 7, the programme continues with six further weekly sessions. Maintaining familiar mentors and trusted relationships during those first crucial weeks helps pupils navigate the emotional, social and practical challenges that often accompany the transition into secondary education.
Measuring What Matters
This pilot isn't simply about delivering activities - it's about understanding what genuinely makes a difference.
Throughout the programme, we're working closely with participating schools to evaluate its impact on areas such as:
Confidence
Emotional wellbeing
Resilience
School engagement
Relationships with peers and trusted adults
The learning from this pilot will help determine how the programme can be refined, strengthened and, we hope, expanded to benefit many more vulnerable children in the future.
A Partnership Built Around Opportunity
This pilot is being jointly funded by the Alfie Nick Foundation, Urban Pursuit, and participating schools, demonstrating what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared commitment to changing children's lives.
Our role is to help remove barriers that prevent vulnerable children from accessing opportunities that many others take for granted. By investing in preventative, relationship-based support at key moments in a child's life, we hope to improve not only their transition into secondary school, but their confidence, wellbeing and aspirations for years to come.
Looking Ahead
Every child deserves the opportunity to begin the next chapter of their education with confidence and hope.
The Move On Up Transition Programme represents another step towards our vision of ensuring disadvantaged children have access to the support, experiences and opportunities they need to thrive.
We look forward to sharing the progress of the pilot over the coming months and, most importantly, the stories of the young people whose futures it will help shape.
Because sometimes, the right support at the right moment can change the course of a child's entire story.