Supporting children and young people during times of change

Excel Safe Transitions supports children and young people for whom transitions may feel overwhelming, unsafe or destabilising. We recognise that many children experience transitions not just as practical moves, but as emotionally significant moments that can activate fear, anxiety or loss of control.

Our approach is grounded in understanding the emotional and developmental factors that can make transitions particularly challenging.

Trauma and adverse life experiences, which can heighten sensitivity to change, authority or unfamiliar environments
Disrupted or insecure attachment, impacting trust, separation and relationships with unfamiliar adults
Emotional overwhelm or anxiety, particularly during periods of uncertainty or loss of predictability

We support children and young people who may experience

Sensory sensitivities, including heightened responses to noise, movement, confinement or unfamiliar surroundings
Neurodivergence, including autism, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental differences, where transitions may require additional flexibility and understanding
Fear, mistrust or uncertainty around transitions, often shaped by previous experiences

Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC)

We also support Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, recognising the additional vulnerabilities linked to migration, separation from caregivers, cultural transition and experiences of loss or trauma.

Our practice with UASC is informed by an awareness of:

Language and communication needs
Cultural and identity considerations
Heightened uncertainty and fear
The impact of displacement and separation

Support is delivered sensitively, with attention to safety, reassurance and continuity wherever possible.