Transition — Year 6 to 7

Vulnerable students

For some students the transition from primary to secondary school can be a time of particular vulnerability, and where there may be additional risk of their disengagement from school. This may include young people who are in out of home care, students and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and Koorie students.

Identifying students who may require additional transition support

There are a range of factors that may contribute to a child or young person becoming disengaged, or at risk of disengaging from school. For more information on how to identify these factors, see the fact sheet on Identify Students at Risk of Disengaging. For information on student engagement more generally refer to: Student Engagement.

Additional transition support for vulnerable students

If your school has students in Year 6 that have already demonstrated significant disengagement from school and you consider at further risk of disengagement through the Year 6 to 7 transition process, they may be eligible for support through several Department programs:

• School Focused Youth Service — funds community organisations to work with schools to support young people aged 10 to 18 years who are attending school but are vulnerable to or showing signs of disengagement from school.
• Navigator program — provides wrap-around case management support in eight locations for young people aged 12 to 17 years who are disengaged from school.
• LOOKOUT Education Support Centres — designed to boost the capacity of schools, Child Protection Practitioners and out-of-home care services to improve educational outcomes for children and young people living in out-of-home care. If a school has students who are in out-of-home care, transitioning from Year 6 to 7, who may require additional supports, schools should contact their regional LOOKOUT Centre.
• Koorie education coordinators (KEC) can be contacted where Koorie students transitioning may require additional support, identified either by the school or the student’s parents/carers. The KEC may arrange for additional support to be provided by a Regional Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO).

Students with a disability

For information on supporting transition for students with a disability, refer to the transitioning to secondary school — students with disability section of this guidance.