How SENCOs Can Support Autistic Students Moving from Year 6 to Year 7

How well an autistic student’s move from primary to secondary goes depends more on the adults around them than on the child. This session is for SENCOs in both primary and secondary settings, and it starts from strengths: what these students are good at, what helps them feel safe, and what needs to travel with them. We look at why the move is so hard, how to make an unfamiliar school feel known before September, the unwritten rules that catch students out, and the named, trusted adult who matters more than any plan. It is practical and research-informed throughout, with space to think about the students moving to and from your own setting.

Learning outcomes:

• Lead with a student’s strengths in every handover, profile and conversation
• Make an unfamiliar secondary school feel familiar before the first day
• Teach the unwritten social and organisational rules students are expected to absorb but rarely will
• Put a named, trusted adult in place before a worried student arrives
• Spot the quiet signs of overload early, and build belonging before pushing for friendship