Change and transition in our lives is inevitable. It comes as part of the package, a non-negotiable, something we all have to go through at different stages along our life course journey.
As young people complete their educational journeys in our post-primary system, they are forced to make that leap onward in their lives, whether it is to study in further/higher education, travel the world, or enter the workplace. Often, they combine all three as their lives undergo a significant expansion into the reality of the world within which we live.
Families play an integral role in supporting children/young people navigate these transitions and overcome the associated overwhelm and overload. Indeed, the ripple impact of educational transitions on wider familial dynamics can also be overlooked, particularly as children and young people strive for greater independence and expand their social worlds beyond their immediate family.
It is critical this transition to acceptance is a positive and supported experience to ensuring our children/young people feel they belong in education. This is especially true for children and young people with additional learning needs.And though the physical holding of a hand becomes outgrown, the constant presence of parental/guardian support remains a critical factor in attaining the best outcomes for the child/young person as they traverse the highs, lows and in-betweens of the journey.
It is important to consider the role educational transitions play in equipping children and young people to deal with change throughout their lives. While some children and young people appear to take educational transitions in their stride, others can struggle with the complexity of changes over which they have little control.