Implementing a transition program

How you implement your transition program will be greatly influenced by your local situation and the activities in your transition program. Here are examples of issues that may need to be considered.

• Will a transition coordinator be appointed or is this another role for the incoming Year 7 student adviser?
• How can an incoming Year 7 adviser manage the Year 5 and early Year 6 activities? When should you appoint this person?
• What executive support is required by the transition coordinator or incoming Year 7 adviser?
• Who are the most appropriate people to run activities? Have they been consulted or involved in planning? What support will they need?
• How will the transition program be managed? What measures are in place to ensure that interrelated activities in different schools will occur as planned and on time?
• When will evaluation of activities and the transition program as a whole occur? When will the findings and recommendations be reported to participants within the school (or schools) and to the community?
  

• How will activities in the program be publicised or promoted in local schools and in the community? Will different approaches be used for different activities?
• What information about the transition program will be placed in each school's prospectus? On school web sites? In school newsletters? Who will keep this information up-to-date?
• Will the transition program be used as a promotional tool for the school within the local community?
• How will staff be informed of transition activities? How will they be encouraged and supported to participate?
• How will students be encouraged to participate in activities and to take responsibility for their own learning?
  

• What measures should be put in place to ensure that the school is welcoming and supportive of prospective or new students and their caregivers?
• Are special steps needed during implementation to ensure that activities can be continued in the future?
• Are there accessibility issues such as parking for parents or access to buildings for students and parents with disabilities?
• Are there OH&S or safety issues related to any activities that require action?

Having implemented your transition program over a period of time, eventually you will need to evaluate your program.