Supporting Emotional Wellbeing During Primary-Secondary School Transitions: Advice for Parents, Caregivers and Teachers

Primary-secondary school transitions mark a pivotal developmental milestone in children’s and their supporters’ lives. This accessible guide distils international research and practical insights into a reader-riendly resource focused on how parents, carers and teachers can support children’s emotional wellbeing during this significant period of change.

Focussing on supporting the supporters, Supporting Emotional Wellbeing During Primary-Secondary School Transitions addresses some of the most frequently asked questions about how we can best support our children during this key transitional phase, as well as how we can help them navigate amongst other social, academic, environmental and personal transitions. Following an effective Q&A structure and a ’dip in and out’ approach, chapters discuss topics such as puberty and related developmental aspects, support networks, the child’s voice, additional support needs and much more. This book includes illustrations and real-ife vignettes to help explain some complex concepts and scenarios.

Written by two transitions experts, this essential resource is for parents looking for straightforward guidance on questions related to their child’s primary-econdary school transitions. With tips for teachers as well as parents and children, this may also be of interest to educators and school support professionals such as family liaison officers, educational psychologists and teaching assistants.

Charlotte Louise Bagnall is a Lecturer at the University of Manchester, in Manchester’s Institute of Education. Her research is focused on supporting children’s emotional well-being and mental health within schools and is particularly passionate about school transition and how to improve children’s emotional well-being during this time. Charlotte sits on the BPS Developmental Section committee, the BPS ECR committee and TCELT-INTR committee.

Divya Jindal-Snape (FAcSS) is Personal Chair of Education, Inclusion and Life Transitions in the Division of Education and Society, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, at the University of Dundee. Her research expertise is in the field of inclusion, educational and life transitions, creativity, health education, voice and comics. Her research has led to creation of educational resources to enhance inclusion and facilitate transitions through drama, stories, games, comics and other creative art forms.