The move from primary to secondary school is always hard on children. They’re moving into a much bigger school with older kids, harder lessons, and more personal challenges to face along the way. It’s only natural that they will be scared about this transition, so it’s important that you offer the right support. There will always be some road bumps along the way but there are things you can do to make this period easier for your child. Here’s how you can make the transition to secondary school much smoother.
Choose The Right School
The first thing you have to do is choose the right school for your child because changing schools can have a big impact on your child. At this age, they are much more alive to the social side of school life. If they don’t feel like their friends will be attending the same secondary school as them, it can make the transition incredibly hard for them. Choosing a school where your child will know other kids can be a big help. However, you also have to look at the academic performance of the school, the location, and the support services on offer. This last one is especially important if you have a child with special educational needs and you are trying to find a school for them. Ask yourself whether the teaching staff are equipped to give them the support that they need.
Visit The School Beforehand
Visit the school before the term starts. This will give your child a better idea of what to expect and they can feel more at home when they first attend as a pupil. They will also be able to see their new classrooms, meet their new teachers, and learn about any extra-curricular activities that they can join if they want to. When they finally start school, their first day won’t feel anywhere near as daunting and they won’t be worried about getting lost etc.
Go To Clubs To Make Friends
If your child doesn’t know anyone in their new school, then they are going to find it very hard to make friends. The best thing you can do is get them involved with clubs and activities before the term starts. This will give them a chance to meet other kids who will be attending the same school as them. They’ll be able to spend time together before the term starts and they’ll immediately feel more connected to their classmates. This will make it easier for them when they join classes because they will already know at least one person. Tackling their first day at school on their own is very challenging, so having friends before term starts is crucial.
Provide Extra Academic Support
Some children are more academic at the start of secondary school than others. If your child is struggling to keep up with their lessons, then you can provide extra support for them at home. Many parents find that they are able to help their kids significantly this way because one-to-one tuition is much more effective than group learning. It’s a big jump from primary to secondary and if your child is already struggling to keep up from the beginning, things will only get more challenging. If they are having a hard time, consider back to school tuition with a professional. This can help them grasp the basic concepts and catch up in areas that they are less confident in.
However, it’s important to let your child know that they don’t have to be the best at everything. If you push them too hard, this can have an impact on their self-esteem later in life.
Create A Rota For Homework
The fact is that some children are naturally better at school than others. If you have a child who struggles academically, then they will be more likely to struggle with homework too. Once they start secondary school, they will get a lot more homework than they ever had before. They’ll be getting different work from different teachers, so there are a lot of deadlines to keep track of. When your child isn’t used to this, it’s easy for them to get overwhelmed.
The best thing you can do is create a routine for them when it comes to doing their homework. If you can help them create a rota and stay organised, it will be much easier for them to stay on top of their homework without getting stressed out about it.
As your child makes the transition to secondary school, it is important that you give them all of the right support to make this period as easy as possible for them.