The annual transitional meeting for early years providers and reception teachers, to assist with children’s crossover to school, took place on Monday.
Each year, early years providers; nursery schools and SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators, and qualified teachers) meet with reception teachers from across Blackburn with Darwen, to discuss the children leaving pre-school and starting Reception.
Everyone comes together to discuss the personal details for the children, including their likes, dislikes and valuable information that the reception teachers will need to prepare for September, as well as discussing judgements for Early Learning Goals.
The event, which was hosted by Blackburn Rovers, is particularly helpful for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and ensures there’s strategies and information in place for a smooth transition to school.
This event aligns with Blackburn with Darwen Family Hubs, which aim to provide extensive support for families, particularly in early childhood development. The borough’s Family Hubs have played a crucial role in early language development and home learning by offering resources and guidance to parents and carers.
A marketplace during the event featured Family Hubs and other services. Bringing together professionals from different sectors ensures that families – especially those with SEND or vulnerable children – receive support for the transition to school, as well as in early language skills and home learning.
Maria Nugent, Blackburn with Darwen’s early years’ service lead said:
"This is what we have strived to do within early years for many years. This is our second year doing the event at Blackburn Rovers and we had 120 people attend last year. The Family Hub grant that we received in 2022 has enabled us to elevate our partnership with Blackburn with Darwen settings and child minders, with a focus on early language. The funding from the Family Hub grant for 2025/2026 will be focused on home learning and supporting our parents to extend their child’s language."
The next round of Family Hub funding is set to be focused on home learning and training parents, as they are a child’s first educator. Focus will be placed on children entering nursery settings with lower speech and language levels, and parents will be taught early language strategies to work on at home.
Natalie Jones, an early year’s teacher said:
"The event helps schools to prepare for the new children starting with them in September. Having those early discussions about the individual children allows for smoother transitions that help the children to settle when starting in Reception class."
The events have been taking place for about 4 years, and began in smaller venues in cluster areas, such as in Darwen, north, east and west Blackburn. However, because children in the borough often attend schools outside their early years provider’s area, the decision was made to expand the event to a borough-wide scale.
The event was a great success with around 200 people participating throughout the day and is testament to the boroughs commitment to early years and improving outcomes for children.