Thriving Lives Toolkit Webinar, Session 6: Transition is Effective
Posted in News
The sixth webinar in the Thriving Lives Toolkit series focused on Principle 4: Transition is Effective. This engaging and informative session brought together national, local, and school-level perspectives on how to support effective transitions for children and young people from Armed Forces families.
Carolyn MacLeod MBE, ADES National Education and Transitions Officer, opened the session with a comprehensive overview of the Scottish context. She explored how national policy, local authority collaboration, and data collection are helping to shape more effective transition support, while highlighting the importance of self-evaluation and professional autonomy within schools.
Priyanka Chard, Education Support Officer for the Dandelion Project, shared how Moray Council is using a co-designed, region-wide approach to ensure consistency of support across all schools. From resource hubs and deployment forms to staff networks and CPD opportunities, Priyanka illustrated how partnerships with families, schools, and military organisations are driving meaningful change.
Rachel Wolford, Headteacher at Kinloss Primary School, offered an inspiring look at school-level practice. With a significant proportion of Service pupils, Kinloss has developed a robust, whole-school approach to transition. Rachel discussed the emotional and academic challenges of high pupil mobility and how the school fosters a welcoming culture through targeted support from its Armed Forces Pupil Support Worker, strong relationships with military partners, and child-led resources—including a welcome booklet and video, all available on the school’s transitions webpage.
Together, the speakers highlighted the power of collaboration, practical innovation, and lived experience in making transitions more effective for Armed Forces children. The session was rich in insight, offering both strategic context and tangible ideas that schools and settings across the UK can learn from.
