Tips for coping with educational transition
On this page:
- Pre-school or nursery to infant or primary school
- Infant or primary school to secondary school
- Secondary school to sixth form or college
Pre-school or nursery to infant or primary school
Visit the school first
Some children may find going to a new place stressful. Taking your child to the school before their first day can help your child become familiar with the new place. For example, taking them to open days or just doing the journey from home first.
Practise morning routines
Some children may find having a new morning routine hard to adjust to. Practising the new morning routine with your child before they start school can help them become more comfortable with the change.
Change into uniform
For some children, starting infant or primary school might be the first time they have to wear a school uniform, and this can cause distress. Helping your child get used to wearing their uniform before they start school can help avoid sensory overload, meltdowns, and other uniform-related issues on their first day of school.
Infant or primary school to secondary school
Explain the differences
There are many differences between primary and secondary school, such as moving classrooms between lessons, bigger year group and class sizes, the use of lockers to store belongings and more homework. Explaining these differences to your child before they start can give them a better understanding of what they will experience.
Timetables
At secondary school, children are given a timetable to follow and for most this will be a first. It can be difficult for some children to adjust to this change. It would be helpful to your child if you practice using a timetable at home before they start can help make this more familiar.
Independent travelling
A lot of children travel to their secondary school independently. If your child is able, it might be useful to go with them on the route to and from school a few times in advance. This will help them become familiar with the bus timetable. or the walking route they will have to take. It can also help you learn how long it takes.
Secondary school to sixth form or college
No uniform
When you start sixth form or college, you will no longer have to wear a school uniform. Some places have a dress code or policy that tells you what kinds of clothes you should wear. You may want to look at this before you start, so you can plan your outfits properly.
More independence
At sixth form or college, you will be treated like an adult. You may have a personal tutor who you can speak to, but this will not be timetabled like in school. If you need help, support, or advice from your teachers, you will be expected to ask for it directly. You will also have to work more independently, and you will be responsible for managing your time outside of lessons. You may find it easier to write a timetable for yourself to manage self-study.
Fewer subjects
At sixth form or college, you will usually study between one and three subjects of your own choice. These subjects will be more in-depth and the work you do will be expected to be of a higher level. If you find this hard to manage, you can speak to your subject teachers or your setting’s student support team.
