September is a month of transition for many young people. After the summer break, children and young people return to education, often to new teachers, new routines, new expectations and, for some, an entirely new school. We tend to think of this simply as going back to school, but transitions can be much more significant than we realise. Starting nursery, starting school, moving to secondary school, leaving education, and moving into employment or adulthood are presented as the ordinary milestones on an individual's journey. Yet each one changes a young person’s relationships, expectations, routines and, importantly, where they find influence and belonging. These moments matter because change can create vulnerability. A child or young person can be perfectly capable of managing one stage of their life but then still struggle as the environment around them changes. That is why I think we need to look at readiness more broadly. I remember all too well the nerves of starting a new school and, more recently, being on tenterhooks as my youngest child went off to their first day at "big school". I see this in the work of
13 hours ago
by Nathan Singleton
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