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We can all probably bring back memories of that first week, but how well were we prepared for that day beforehand? Helping children make that move from primary to secondary school is something that schools are getting better at, but they often welcome help from outside sources. This is a ministry that many churches have been able to offer their local primary school as part of their ongoing relationship.
Wayne Dixon and the churches in Slough have been running a transitional ministry in local primary schools for about 15 years, using It’s your move, a book produced by Scripture Union specifically for this purpose. Wayne is a great advocate of helping children in this way. He says: ‘I love it because it works! Last year, around 2,300 pupils in 45 local schools were reached with presentations and a copy of It’s your move. We have teams of young people (aged 16 to 18+) who do most of the presentation.’ There is a lasting legacy, both for the children (because they are supported through what could be a stressful time) and for Wayne, who says, ‘In secondary schools, through assemblies and year seven RE lessons, I am able to make connections with the book, the presentation and more.’
In Milton Keynes, Bridgebuilder Trust has been involved in this ministry for many years. Rachel Foster, primary schools worker with Bridgebuilder, says: ‘We know young people have a lot of fears when it comes to moving into the unknown. This is especially prevalent in the move from primary to secondary school. We want to encourage year six pupils to make good choices as they face new challenges, so we take a team of secondary school students from local churches into the schools to share their experiences and give positive advice. As well as giving good advice and dispelling myths, the team talk about their own experiences and share how their faith in God has helped them to deal with worries and issues in their own lives.’
Bridgebuilder also uses It’s your move as part of their sessions. Rachel says, ‘We get local churches on board by asking them to buy the It’s your move book for the pupils in their local schools.’
There are a couple of resources available to help with this work. It’s your move is a Scripture Union publication. Gemma Willis, Scripture Union’s publishing product director, says: ‘We wanted to help churches connect with children in their local schools at a key time of transition, so we created It’s your move in 2001. Since then over a million copies have been distributed to children throughout the UK. It’s a fabulous tool to help children process a major change and to remind them of God’s love for them as their lives move on.’
Young people have a lot of fears when it comes to moving into the unknown. This is especially prevalent in the move from primary to secondary school
Gemma shares this story of how the book has met a need: ‘11 year old Becki had been afraid of what secondary school might be like and reading the stories of others who had gone before her eased her worries a little. The book also helped her to reflect on all the good things she’d loved about primary school, and gave her the opportunity to identify who she could chat to if things got tough.’
YPs guide to starting secondary school is a set of Bible readings for children making the move, together with help and advice to help smooth the way. CWR’s Lynnette Brooks says, ‘Being aware of the challenges faced by the monumental transition from primary to secondary school, we wanted to provide a biblically-based ‘guide’ for all Christian children to help ease this transition – to leave primary school well, set up godly habits in this new phase of their lives and know that God goes with them and will be there for them every step of the way.’
Churches can provide a real service to both primary schools and year six children through transition work. This ministry can also continue to build relationships between you and the school staff, and then children themselves. You may then be able to provide support at other times of transition, such as when children start primary schools.
To get hold of It’s your move, go to scriptureunion.org.uk/itsyourmove, and for YPs Guide to Starting Secondary School, visit cwr.org.uk/store
