Help Prepare Your Child for Y7

Beginning life at secondary school isn’t just a big step for youngsters – it marks a major change for parents and carers. Be it helping with a child’s nerves or wanting to make sure they know how to pack their bag properly, many parents spend the last months of primary fretting about the transition to secondary.

We spoke to some parents of younger students about what they wish they had known in advance and what they would advise parents to do. Here’s what they said.

The transition for secondary should be an exciting adventure. By taking basic steps to prepare and asking questions, parents and carers should be able to allay any fears and help their youngster think positively about the future.

1. Attend open days and transition events – any events organised by the school ahead of term are worth going along to. Parents and carers receive really important information. The more time you spend in the school itself, the more chances you have to see what your child may struggle with or worry about. There are lots of opportunities to ask questions and staff will be supportive.

2. Ask questions – secondary schools do tend to use a bit of jargon. While most will try to speak in simple terms, the occasional acronym may slip in. If you don’t understand what it means when “SLT have approved funds for DOE”, you won’t be the only one. Make sure you ask.

3. Talk through the changes – while your child may not want to spend all summer talking about the new term, it is a good idea to start slipping the topic into conversation. Presenting it as a new adventure helps build excitement. But talking about school also creates opportunities for a youngster to pipe up about anything that’s bothering them.

4. Practise the route to school – in many cases, your child will soon start taking responsibility for getting themselves to school. Whether they are walking or catching the bus, it’s a good idea to practise the route a couple of times before term starts. Depending on their personality, they may want to make their own way to school as soon as possible, so being familiar with the journey will give you both peace of mind.

5. Be prepared, but let them take the lead – going into Year 7 means taking responsibility for managing your timetable and getting yourself from A to B. It will also be your child’s job to ensure they have everything they need for the day ahead – be it science equipment or their PE kit. Practise the process of packing their bag with them to ensure they understand what’s expected. But don’t be tempted to do it for them. It’s crucial that they start taking the lead in mastering their routine.