Transition & Induction Days
We consider ourselves specialists in the creation and delivery of Transition and Induction Days in Schools.
Transition and Induction days whether it be from Primary to Secondary School or from Year 11 into a Sixth Form is more than just a tour of the school or college.
What if transition built problem solving, confidence and collaboration?
Soft skills are not just going to appear in September!
Transition isn’t a day – its a skill set.
Starting a new school whether it be In Year 7 or starting Sixth Form is a daunting task for many students. The unfamiliarity of the location, peers, teaching staff and expectations can create anxiety in the most conifident of students.
The Problem Solving Company have a wealth of experience and programmes to help students:
- Build confidence in new and unfamiliar environments
- Develop friendships beyond those from existing feeder schools
- Promote a strong and positive year-group identity
- Minimise anxiety associated with change and transition
- Start the school year feeling secure and well supported
Transition Programs
When planning your transition or induction day it is important to know that we build many bespoke transition / induction days for schools delivering their specific outcomes whilst working with different budgets, time and facilities constraints. Below we have our two main styles of team building days that help to make these days as impactful as possible.
Whichever of the programmes below you choose all of our activity programmes build on and support:
- Leadership Skills
- Working Together
- Planning & Communication Skills
- Problem Solving Skills
- Building Confidence & Resilience
Instructor Led Team Building
Our Instructor Led Days were designed to allow a group of 30 students get the most from a day of transition activities. This style of day is particularly effective for transition because it gives each new form the opportunity to work with every member of their group — not just the same small set of students throughout the day.
Rather than bringing a single set of equipment for each activity, we provide enough activity sets for the entire form to take part in the same activity simultaneously. This approach has two key benefits.
Firstly, it enables us to create smaller sub-groups within each activity, often 8 students, which encourages greater participation, engagement, and involvement from every student.
Secondly, it allows us to reorganise the groups each time we rotate activities. As a result, every student has the chance to work with all members of their new form group across the course of the day, helping to build stronger connections and a greater sense of belonging from the outset.
A member of our experienced team will remain with each class throughout the day, rather than moving between different groups. We also encourage a member of school staff to stay with each class to provide continuity and support.
To maximise the impact of the transition experience, many schools choose to have the new form teacher accompany their newly formed class, helping to build early relationships and establish a strong foundation from the start.
When booking our Instructor Led Transition and Induction Programmes we are able to incorporate some of of our other activities such as Laser Tag, Crazy Golf and our Escape Room Experiences into the day. These are generally not possible as part of The Challenge Carousel day.
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The Challenge Carousel
WWe understand that not all schools have the budget available for our Instructor-Led Days outlined above. That’s why we developed The Challenge Carousel — a more cost-effective alternative that still delivers a high-quality transition experience.
This option is significantly more affordable because we bring one set of equipment for each activity and operate with a smaller instructor team. We are able to do this by working in partnership with a greater number of school staff. We do not, unlike some companies, charge a premium rate for you to use your own staff to support the day.
The Challenge Carousel involves groups of approximately 10 students taking part in a series of team challenges. Each group stays together throughout the day and is supported by a teacher or older student mentor. The Problem Solving Company staff oversee the event as a whole, working across all groups to facilitate activities and maintain quality — while not being assigned to one specific group for the entire day.
Compare our Transition Programmes
Memorable, Meaningful & Fun
Our days are designed to be not only meaningful and purposeful, but genuinely fun. We believe students learn best when they are fully engaged and enjoying themselves, which is why our activities are energetic, inclusive and memorable. From the first challenge to the final reflection, students are laughing, collaborating and achieving together — creating positive shared experiences that stay with them long after the day has finished.Â
