Thrive Through Transition: Complete Parent & Student Toolkit
Thrive Through Transition is a comprehensive 90-page transition toolkit created by HerCommunity C.I.C. to help girls navigate the move from primary to secondary school with confidence, resilience and a sense of belonging.
The toolkit combines:
Practical activities
Reflection exercises,
Wellbeing tools
Four sets of conversation decks
Parent reminders to help them emotionally
Student guide
Psychoeducation and parent guidance to create a shared transition journey for both children and their families.
Thrive Through Transition is aligned with the Department for Education's Whole School Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing. The resource particularly supports Curriculum, Teaching and Learning; Working with Parents, Families and Carers; Student Voice; Targeted Support; and Identifying Need and Monitoring Impact. Through the HER Framework (Hear, Empower, Rebuild), pupils develop emotional literacy, resilience, confidence and practical coping strategies while parents are equipped to support their child's wellbeing throughout the transition to secondary school
Rooted in HerCommunity's mission to support girls and young women to be heard, empowered and equipped to thrive, the toolkit bridges the gap between emotional wellbeing support and everyday educational transitions. It recognises that moving to secondary school is about far more than changing buildings. It is a significant developmental milestone involving growing independence, new social expectations, changing friendship groups, increased academic demands and identity development.
Throughout both guides, children and parents will encounter HerCommunity's recognisable HER Framework icons, creating a consistent language of support across every activity.
Hear encourages self-awareness, emotional literacy and understanding. Participants are supported to identify feelings, recognise worries, explore strengths and reflect on their experiences.
Empower focuses on confidence-building, skill development and self-belief. Activities help girls develop practical coping strategies, communication skills, problem-solving abilities and healthy habits.
Rebuild supports resilience, growth and future planning. Girls are encouraged to apply what they have learned, strengthen support networks, set meaningful goals and move forward positively into the next chapter of their education.
Rather than simply teaching information, the HER Framework guides young people through a developmental journey of understanding themselves, recognising their strengths and building confidence for the future.
Research consistently demonstrates that the move from primary to secondary school represents a critical period for emotional wellbeing, engagement and school belonging. While many children adapt successfully, others can experience increased anxiety, reduced confidence, friendship difficulties and concerns about academic expectations.
For girls in particular, worries are often internalised rather than externalised. Instead of displaying disruptive behaviours, girls may experience anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, overthinking, social withdrawal or reduced confidence. These difficulties can sometimes go unnoticed because they are less visible than behavioural presentations often associated with boys.
The toolkit therefore takes a preventative and early-intervention approach by helping girls develop emotional literacy, resilience and coping skills before transition challenges become overwhelming.
The toolkit is particularly relevant for pupils who may be vulnerable to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA/EBSNA) or attendance difficulties.
Recent UK research has identified the primary-to-secondary transition as a significant risk period for the development of emotionally based school avoidance, highlighting the importance of school belonging, positive relationships, family-school partnership working and early support. Research also demonstrates that children who feel connected, prepared and understood are more likely to experience successful transitions and reduced attendance difficulties.
By addressing worries proactively, strengthening support networks and helping girls build confidence before they move schools, Thrive Through Transition aims to reduce emotional barriers to attendance and engagement.
The parent guide has been developed using psychological and educational research relating to:
Emotional wellbeing during school transition
Child and adolescent development
Resilience-building
Attachment and supportive relationships
Growth mindset theory
Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA/EBSNA)
School belonging and connectedness
A particular influence is the work of Professor Carol Dweck, whose research on Growth Mindset suggests that children are more likely to persevere through challenges when they believe abilities can develop through effort, strategies, support and practice rather than being fixed traits. Growth mindset approaches encourage children to view mistakes as learning opportunities, embrace new challenges and build confidence through persistence.
Within the toolkit, parents are supported to use growth-focused language, encourage problem-solving, celebrate effort and model resilience during times of change.
The toolkit has been designed primarily for:
Year 5 pupils beginning to think about secondary school
Year 6 pupils preparing for transition
Early Year 7 pupils who may benefit from additional support during their first term
The flexible structure means activities can be completed at home, within transition programmes, pastoral support sessions, mentoring schemes, small groups or intervention work led by schools and wellbeing practitioners.
The toolkit supports girls to:
Understand what transition means
Explore worries and excitement about change
Develop confidence and self-esteem
Build healthy coping strategies
Manage uncertainty and anxiety
Strengthen communication skills using the four sets of conversation decks
Develop friendship and belonging skills
Recognise personal strengths
Set future goals
Create supportive routines
Build resilience for challenges ahead
Alongside pupil activities, the parent guide provides practical guidance to help families understand transition challenges, support emotional wellbeing, recognise signs of distress and create a positive home environment throughout the transition process.
Organisational licences available.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House. Supported by contemporary summaries of growth mindset research. [ctl.stanford.edu], [ascensionl...inginc.org]
Slifi, J. (2024). Exploring Experiences of Emotionally Based School Avoidance Across the Primary to Secondary School Transition. University College London. Findings highlight transition as a key risk period for EBSA and emphasise school belonging, family partnership and supportive adjustment processes. [discovery.ucl.ac.uk], [discovery.ucl.ac.uk]
Buckinghamshire Council. Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) Toolkit. Prevention, early identification and collaborative support approaches. [schoolsweb...ire.gov.uk]
Oxfordshire Educational Psychology Service. Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) School Toolkit. Guidance on anxiety, attendance and emotionally based barriers to school engagement. [schools.ox...ire.gov.uk]
