If your child has recently joined a senior school, their lesson plans will be based around the Key Stage 3 curriculum. This is a big milestone in their education and, although daunting, it’s an exciting time for them to experience a fresh start, make new friends and learn new things. Moving from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 can be quite overwhelming for students, so it’s important for parents to be patient and expect some mood swings every now and again.
It’s a good idea to follow a routine before and after school each day so that your child can experience familiarity within their home life, particularly as their school life is now so different. Preparation is also key and it doesn’t hurt for them to put in a little extra effort to make the transition feel a little easier. They’ll need to know how to read a timetable and potentially a map, as they will have to be more independent during Key Stage 3, so it’s worth practising these skills at home until they have it mastered.
This new key stage will bring a new set of challenges, so it wouldn’t hurt to have some extra text books and revision guides at home that your child can refer to for additional support. You might also want to invest in some fictional texts that have particular significance or are of historical importance, as Key Stage 3 is a time to start analysing literature and thinking critically about how it affects society and culture as a whole. It’s great to encourage these kinds of conversations when you’re discussing what they’ve been reading. A trip the library once in a while is a good place to start.
Speak to your child’s teachers if you would like any additional support with helping your child adjust to their new school and new subjects. The teachers will be able to give you a basic outline of the Key Stage 3 curriculum so that you can explore these areas at home where possible.