Transition Collection
As part of the Birmingham Early Years Networks’ support for transition to reception, we have created a selection of resources.
These resources will be included in our Book Packs, which you will receive when you attend one of our Transition to Reception 2026 events during the summer term.
If you are unable to attend one of our events, you can download the resources below.
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Starting Reception 2026 - Flyer for families
Our Starting Reception flyer gives families clear, friendly information at a moment of big change. It reassures them about what to expect and makes links to 50 Things activities that will support their child’s learning and development.
By giving everyone the same key messages, it strengthens the partnership between home and school and helps children arrive feeling confident, familiar, and ready to learn.
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Booklist for Transition
We are working with Peters bookshop, who are offering BEYN members a 30% discount on any books purchased.
Use code: BEYN30 when you place your order.
This transition booklist has been selected by our BEYN team as a helpful starting point.
If you use other books that support children moving into Reception, we’d love to hear your recommendations so we can share them with the network.
Transition Book - Maya & Marley and the New Friend
We are delighted to be working with Laura Henry-Allain MBE and to be using her new book, Maya & Marley and the New Friend, as our city-wide shared book to support children’s transition into reception. There is a copy of her book for every Birmingham school, nursery and childminder with children moving to reception.
Laura has created a special video to introduce herself and the book to the children of Birmingham. The link to view this is in the book pack. We hope that practitioners and childminders with children moving into reception will share this video with their groups, and that reception staff will do the same at the start of the new school year.
If you weren’t able to attend a district transition event and would like a copy of the transition book pack to share with children in your setting, please email us: info@birminghamearlyyearsnetworks.org
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As part of the book pack, we have also created a resource for you to copy and share with families.
This flyer explains how schools, nurseries and childminders might use the themes from the book in their transition planning, and how families can support this at home by trying some of the linked 50 Things activities too.
An electronic version is included here so you can download and print it whenever you need.
Explore Transition with Your Team: Curriculum Conversations Booklets
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Supporting Smooth Starts and Confident Steps: Ensuring positive transitions for young children in Birmingham.
Our in‑setting professional development and learning series offers early years practitioners an opportunity to reflect on their practice.
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Each resource is created in response to identified themes and will often link to our termly in‑person network meetings, recognising that not everyone is able to attend but may still wish to explore the topic in their own setting.
1. Engage & Reflect
Read the material. Live links in the PDF will help you navigate.
Identify key ideas, challenges, and connections to your own practice and the children you work with.
Consider how this aligns with your curriculum intent, implementation, and impact.
2. Share & Discuss
Exchange insights with colleagues.
Explore examples, questions, and different approaches.
Identify what strong practice looks like across your team and setting.
3. Plan & Take Action
Decide on one small change and one longer-term improvement.
Clarify what support or evidence you’ll need.
Agree on how you’ll monitor the impact on children.
Related materials
Webpage - The Birmingham Transition Approach
Blog - Understanding Transitions in the Early Years: Supporting Children Through Change
Blog - One Book, One City: How a Shared Story Is Helping Children Step Confidently into School
Blog - Supporting Daily Transitions Through Song in the Early Years
