ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how the biological, social and emotional changes experienced by middle-years learners impact the transition experience. It explores how the interaction between middle-years learners and the secondary school environment impacts the transition experience. The chapter describes constructs and strategies that schools and teachers can use to support middle-years learners and their families. It also explains how the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework can be employed at secondary school to support incoming learners. The chapter focuses on middle-years learners as they negotiate the transition from primary to secondary school. The transition experience is not just a matter of successfully completing the requirements of primary education and moving to a different school to continue secondary education. The physical changes experienced by middle-years learners before, during and after the transition to secondary school have an impact on the success of the transition experience. The transition to secondary school is marked by dramatic changes in thinking, reasoning and understanding.
