The Space Between

Facilitating successful transitions requires that attention be paid to students’ preparedness for this change and the kinds of support children and families need before, during, and after the this moments. We also know that it has been well-established in countless studies that parents who are warm, responsive to children’s questions and emotions, provide structure, set limits and make demands for competence, have children who are more likely to succeed. In Agrupamento de Escolas de Cister, our priority is to develop specific activities involving our children’s families, during the years of transition, after and before this change (from the kindergarten to the primary school, from the primary school to the 5^th grade, and from the 9^th grade to the secondary level).

We hold regular parental training sessions on topics such as: the development of conscious and positive parenting strategies, the promotion of autonomy and the creation of positive expectations about each student’s future or even the promotion of new habits and methods of study (adapted to the new level of development). This is also an opportunity to encourage family involvement in students' school life, and families are invited to participate in school activities - there are some projects in which the cooperation is constant (autonomy and curriculum flexibility). The previous visit to the ‘future new school’ is also an important activity integrated in this parental training program during the transitions.