Then, sometimes quite suddenly, the next threshold arrives for some of our children: the transition into Saplings.

Although this is a new step, there is already something familiar beneath it. The children know the environment. They recognise the songs, stories and rhythms. They may already know some of the teachers and have experienced the feeling of being part of this wider community. For parents too, there can be reassurance in coming into an environment and a rhythm they already know.

I also have the privilege of spending time in Saplings at the beginning of some of the children’s settling-in days. It is a very special thing to see a child I have known in Parent & Child (some since they were babies!) arrive in this new environment, perhaps holding their parent’s hand a little more tightly at first, and then gradually finding their feet.

There is something deeply meaningful about being a familiar face at the edge of this new experience. A continuity we are able to provide that is very special at Michael Hall.

The transition into Saplings is one of many thresholds a child will cross in their life. We cannot remove the uncertainty that comes with something new, nor would we want to. But we can surround these transitions with connection, rhythm and warmth, giving children something steady to lean into as they take their next step into the world.

And for me, there is a great joy in watching them cross that threshold, knowing where they began, and seeing where they are going next.

Anna Schmidt
Parent and Child Teacher