At Le Cateau, we understand that moving schools is a significant moment in a child's life. Whether your family is arriving in Catterick Garrison, relocating from elsewhere in the UK, returning from overseas, or preparing for a future posting, we know that change can bring a mixture of excitement, uncertainty and lots of questions.
As a school with a large Armed Forces community, supporting children through transitions is something we do every day. Many of our pupils, families and staff have experienced school moves themselves, so we understand the challenges that can come with settling into a new school, making new friends and adapting to a new environment or preparing to leave.
Our aim is simple: to make every child and family feel welcomed, supported and part of the Le Cateau family from the very beginning.
What Do We Mean by Mobility?
Mobility refers to children joining or leaving a school during the academic year.
For some families, this may be due to a military posting, while others may move because of housing, employment or changing family circumstances. Whatever the reason, research indicates that moving schools does have an impact on children's learning, wellbeing, friendships and confidence.
At Le Cateau, we see mobility not as a challenge to overcome, but as an opportunity to provide exceptional support, helping children settle quickly, feel secure and continue to thrive both academically and personally.
A School That Understands Service Life
We are proud to serve a large number of Armed Forces families and understand the unique experiences that Service children may encounter. These can include:
- Frequent school moves.
- Changes in friendship groups.
- Deployment or separation from parents.
- Moving between different local authorities and education systems.
- Settling into new communities and environments.
Our staff understand these experiences and work closely with children and families to ensure every pupil feels a strong sense of belonging.
We want children to know that while they may be new to Le Cateau, they are never alone.
Dedicated Admissions and Transition Support
To help every child and family feel confident when joining our school, we have a dedicated Admissions Coordinator, Mrs Pascoe, who supports families moving both into and out of Le Cateau. Mrs Pascoe can help with:
- Admissions enquiries and applications.
- Arranging visits and tours.
- Supporting families before a child joins the school.
- Liaising with previous and receiving schools.
- Coordinating the transfer of records and information.
- Supporting families with SEND and additional needs.
- Answering any questions about school life and routines.
Where appropriate, we may use a Transition Passport to gather important information about your child before they arrive. This helps us understand their interests, strengths, needs and any support that may help them settle quickly.
We know that every family is different, which is why we take a personal approach to every transition.
What Happens When Your Child Joins Le Cateau?
Starting a new school can feel like a big step. We have carefully developed a transition process that helps children feel comfortable, confident and excited about becoming part of our school community.
An Initial Welcome Meeting
Before your child starts, we will arrange a meeting with either the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher or Assistant Headteacher.
This is an opportunity for us to get to know your child and for you to get to know us. At this meeting, we will discuss:
- Your child's strengths and interests.
- Previous schooling experiences.
- Any SEND, medical or wellbeing needs.
- Family circumstances that may affect the transition.
- Any worries or questions you or your child may have.
A Tour of the School
We want children to feel familiar with their new surroundings before their first day. Families are invited to:
- Tour the school.
- Visit classrooms and learning spaces.
- Meet key members of staff.
- Explore playgrounds and social areas.
- Learn about daily routines and expectations.
Additional visits can be arranged if a child would benefit from extra time becoming familiar with the school environment.
Meeting Their New Teacher and Class
Where possible, children will have the opportunity to:
- Meet their new class teacher.
- Spend time in their classroom.
- Meet classmates before they start.
- Learn about classroom routines and expectations.
We know that making friends is often one of the biggest concerns when moving school. Taking these steps beforehand helps children feel more confident on their first day.
Our Buddy System
Every new pupil is paired with a friendly Class Buddy who helps them settle into school life. Buddies support new arrivals by:
- Welcoming them on their first day.
- Introducing them to new friends.
- Showing them around the school.
- Helping them understand school routines.
- Being a friendly face during their first few weeks.
Many of our pupils have experienced moving schools themselves and are often excellent role models and ambassadors for new arrivals.
Understanding Your Child's Learning
When children join Le Cateau, we complete age-appropriate baseline assessments to help us understand where they are in their learning journey. These assessments help us:
- Celebrate strengths and achievements.
- Identify any gaps in learning.
- Plan appropriate support and challenge.
- Ensure children continue to make strong progress.
This is particularly important for children who may have experienced interruptions to learning due to mobility or moving between different school systems in different countries.
Looking After Wellbeing
We know that a successful transition is about much more than academic progress. Our pastoral and inclusion teams work closely with pupils and families to ensure children feel happy, secure and settled. Support may include:
- Regular wellbeing check-ins.
- Access to emotional wellbeing support.
- Nurture and inclusion provision.
- Opportunities to build friendships through clubs and enrichment activities.
- Support during deployment or parental separation.
- Access to The Nest or The Retreat, where appropriate, for pupils requiring additional nurture, SEND or emotional support.
How We Use Service Pupil Premium to Support Mobility
As an Armed Forces Friendly school, we receive Service Pupil Premium (SPP) funding to support children from Service families. This funding helps us provide additional support designed to reduce the impact of mobility and Service life. At Le Cateau, Service Pupil Premium helps us provide:
- Enhanced transition support through dedicated Admissions Coordinator role.
- Additional pastoral care.
- Wellbeing and emotional support.
- Friendship and social development opportunities.
- Support during deployment and separation.
- Additional transition visits for new arrivals.
- On-entry assessments.
- Targeted interventions where mobility has affected learning.
- Enrichment opportunities that help children feel connected and included.
Our goal is that every Service child feels valued, understood and able to flourish.
Supporting Mobile Children with SEND
We understand that moving schools is particularly significant for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. If your child has:
- An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP),
- A SEND Support Plan,
- Medical needs,
- External agency involvement, or
- Is currently undergoing assessment,
please let us know as early as possible! Early communication allows us to:
- Liaise with previous settings.
- Work with specialist services.
- Prepare appropriate support and resources.
- Arrange additional visits where needed.
- Ensure a smooth and successful transition.
The more information we have, the better we can support your child from day one.
Supporting Children Who Are Moving On
Leaving Le Cateau is just as important as joining.
When families are preparing for a move, we work closely with receiving schools and provide support to ensure the next transition is a positive experience. This may include:
- Sharing records and information promptly.
- Supporting the transfer of SEND provision.
- Liaising with receiving schools.
- Helping children prepare emotionally for their move.
- Celebrating their time at Le Cateau.
- Supporting children to maintain positive memories and friendships.
We want every pupil to leave Le Cateau feeling proud of their achievements and excited about their next adventure.
How Parents Can Help
Parents play a vital role in ensuring transitions are successful. You can help by:
Letting Us Know Early
As soon as you become aware of a move, please contact us. The more notice we have, the more support we can put in place.
Sharing Important Information
Please tell us about:
- SEND needs or ongoing assessments.
- Medical conditions.
- Wellbeing or pastoral concerns.
- Family circumstances.
- Support from external agencies.
Keeping Communication Open
If plans change, please keep us updated so we can adjust arrangements and continue to provide appropriate support.
Talking to Your Child
Encouraging your child to discuss their feelings and ask questions can help them feel more confident and prepared.
Useful Information for Service Families
Families may find the following resources helpful when planning a move:
These resources provide practical information to help families navigate educational transitions successfully.
Friendly Contacts and Further Support
We understand that moving schools can sometimes feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate the process alone.
Mrs Pascoe - Admissions Coordinator
Mrs Pascoe is the first point of contact for families moving into or out of Le Cateau and can support with admissions, school visits, transition arrangements and information sharing.
Miss Bell - Assistant Headteacher and Service Pupil Champion
Miss Bell works closely with Service children and families, ensuring pupils are well supported during periods of transition, deployment, separation and change.
Angela Campbell - North Yorkshire Service Pupil Champion
We also work closely with Angela Campbell, who provides wider support and guidance for Service families across North Yorkshire.
Contacting Us
For all admissions, transition or mobility enquiries, please contact the school office in the first instance. We encourage families to get in touch as early as possible, particularly if:
- You are moving into the area.
- You have received a posting notice.
- Your child has SEND or additional needs.
- You would like to discuss transition arrangements.
- You are preparing to move on to another school.
The earlier we can start conversations, the more we can do to support your child and family.
Our Promise
At Le Cateau, every child matters and every family belongs.
Whether your move is across the country, from overseas, from another local school or simply the next chapter in your family's journey, we are committed to making the transition as smooth and positive as possible.
By working together, sharing information and planning ahead, we can ensure every child feels welcomed, supported and ready to thrive.
Together, we can make every transition a positive one.
