Moving to secondary school can feel like a big step. You and your child may have mixed feelings about the change. This move comes at a time when children are changing developmentally. It is normal to have a few worries and nerves but most children cope well with starting high school.
For some children changing schools can be more tricky;
It is recognised that transition to high school is a big event for children and families. It signals a time for children starting to become more independent. This quiz gives provides a fun way to explore together with your child some of the challenges they may face. Why don’t you set aside 15-30 minutes to go through the quiz together and open up some of those more difficult conversations?
The quiz is taken anonymously. However we do ask for your child’s age, home postcode and school so we can monitor trends in the responses you give.
Talk about how your child feels about going to secondary school, this will help you understand and support them. Starting conversations when you are doing something you enjoy together, or when you are in the car can help it to feel more relaxed.
You could ask;
To let your child know you are really listening repeat the words they use to you, back to them. There will be times your child doesn’t want to talk. That’s okay, let them know you will make time to talk when they are ready.
Changes
You may notice changes in behaviour. These changes might be;
Reassure your child you love them, and you know they’re dealing with a whole new experience. Choose times when you are doing something together you both enjoy, this makes it easier to talk.
Schools will have a moving up day. This is time spent at their new school and a chance to meet teachers and other children. It is a chance to get to know the new school and find their way around. Children usually feel a bit more confident after this.
Getting Lost
Getting to School
Uniform and Equipment
If this is a big money worry for your family, talk to your child’s school for advice or you can contact your local Council’s Early Help Teams.
Lunches
Routines
Making Friends
Many schools have buddy systems where other pupils look out for a new child. This helps Year 7 children to make new friends, feel included in activities and offer support in the classroom.
Think about your child joining clubs where other children are moving up to the same school. It helps to see some familiar faces. Once your child has settled in, they might like to join some after school activities to help make friends with the same interests.
Active Norfolk has some low cost sport clubs. These are often held in secondary schools and some also run during the school holidays.
If you notice your child is low in mood and you’re worried about their friendships and bullying, the following pages might help;
Additional Needs
If your child has additional needs you may have different feelings about your child starting secondary school. While the basic needs of all 10/11 year olds will be the same, you will know if extra support is needed. Talk to the SENCO about extra planning and moving up days.
Speak to your child’s new school about their plans to help your child settle. Tell them what your child struggles with and what helps. You could ask:
Find tips and resources from The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Read more about your child’s rights in education from Mencap's
Find out more tips on helping your child move up to secondary school
Other Top Tips
Your Own Feelings
You may have good or bad memories about your own move to high school. Either way your child’s experience will be different. You can be reassured that schools today are much more tuned in, to what helps children make the move positively.
Your child’s school will be sensitive to the big change and are there to help all pupils. They will have a plan to support all pupils to make the move. There will be:
If you are worried give the school a call to talk about how they can help your child.
If supporting your child to get the things they need for school – like uniform – is a big money worry for your family you can talk to your child’s school for advice or you can contact your local Council’s Early Help Teams.
You can also contact the Healthy Child Service team by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
If you are 11-19 you can text ChatHealth on 07480635060 for confidential advice from one of our team.
You can speak to other Norfolk parents and carers by clicking our online community forum below.