How can I help my child transition to secondary school

How can I help my child transition to secondary school The summer holidays always go by faster than any of us would like, so we thought there was no time like the present to consider how you can help your child be both physically and mentally prepared for secondary school. No doubt they have already been thinking about going up to big school! Induction days Hopefully in the summer term Year 6 have been on an induction day (or two) to the secondary school they will be attending. This will have given them a 'day in the life' allowing them to experience the new timetable, longer days and meet lots of new friends and teachers. Schools put a lot of effort into these as they want pupils to get excited about their first day and know what to expect when they arrive. Sit down for a chat Secondary school can be a nerve-wracking time for both you and your child. Sitting down for a chat with them is a good way to explain what they might expect and find out if they have any questions. It's a time of big change, with larger class sizes, more homework and greater importance put on education. Assure them that everyone else going into year 7 is in the same boat. Try to be upbeat and positive, as you don't want any anxiety to pass on to your child. Consider what you need to buy There's nothing worse than being in a rush before the new school term so don't leave it until the last minute to purchase new school uniform and sports kit. It might need adjusting and labelling everything takes time to ensure clothes don't got lost. Think about making a day out of it, allowing your child to choose their school bag and get any stationery they will need (e.g. pencil case, pens, pencils, eraser, ruler and geometry set). Plan the journey A new school means a new route to get there. If your child is going to be travelling on their own do a mock journey with them. This allows you to check they are aware of road safety and can read timetables if required. Having done it once they will feel more confident about it on the day although do expect them to want you to accompany them for the first few days. The day before Make sure everyone gets to bed early the night before, alarms are set and uniform laid out. Pack their school bag with their pencil case and anything else they might need e.g. lunch money or healthy packed lunch and sports kit. If you have time putting the breakfast out for the morning is a good idea to ensure getting everyone to school in the morning will be as stress free as possible. Then all that's left is for you to get up and go in the morning.