Settling into a new primary school can be an unsettling experience for your child, there are often tears on both sides. There are lots of things you can do as a parent to help your child feel more comfortable.
Here are a few tips to manage the transition:
- New school visit. If your child is already in nursery or preschool then they may do this with their current carers. If, on the other hand, they are a little older and changing schools rather than starting for the first time, you may have to organise it yourself. Don’t hesitate to contact the school and ask if you can visit. This takes away the fear of the unknown and these visits often deal with big issues for younger kids, such as knowing where the toilet is and where they will hang their coat. If you live locally then it’s a good idea to make a walk past their new primary school part of your routine.
- Find out if friends or neighbours children are attending the same school. Obviously if your child is moving school as a result of your family moving to a new town these might be “new” friends in any case, but it will still really help your child if they see a friendly face. Some schools have a system where older children shadow the younger children in the first few weeks so they have someone to guide them and lessen the chances of them feeling lonely.
- Focus on their interests. If your child mentions they fancy trying karate or a friend is part of the ballet club then encourage them to get involved. It’s a good way to help them foster friendships and become more confident.
- This might be a time for them to be a little bit more grown up but, for very young children, a comforter won’t hurt. Maybe they have a special blanket or toy which can be stashed in their rucksack or bag to combat any wobbles.
- Get to know their teacher. They’ll be looking after your child for the next year and it’s important that you feel able to go them with both academic and pastoral concerns. If your child isn’t settling or seems to be struggling academically then do go in and speak to their teacher. Teachers at this level are well versed in helping children settle into the primary school system and encourage them in areas where they may be struggling.
If you’re worried that your child is falling behind academically with school work or lacking confidence after starting primary school, he or she could benefit from one to one tuition. If you’re based in the Manchester, Stockport, Wilmslow and Cheshire areas and would like to discuss tuition options, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at 121 Home Tutors. We’ll do our best to help.
Tags: new school, Primary