The transition to secondary school is a real milestone in any family’s life. It can be an exciting time; but of course there will be anxiety as well. Here are some ways you can increase the chances that your school year will begin smoothly.
Where can I get advice about starting secondary school?
Many primary schools do an excellent job of preparing children to move on up to secondary school. You may find that your child knows more about it than you think. Take time to chat in a low-key way to find out what ideas they have about starting big school. Asking what they’re looking forward to can be rewarding, and may lead to more intel about what they think they’ll need, and what they’re worried about.
BBC Bitesize has various guides to starting secondary school aimed at both parents and children.
Your secondary school should send you plenty of information, too. Take time to read it over and share it with your child.
Attending meet-ups during the summer can be helpful as it will put you in touch with other parents – and help your child to meet their classmates.
Making space for homework
For many children, the amount of work they need to do outside school in year 7 comes as a shock. Ensure they have a quiet space with good lighting where they can do anything from a history essay to a food tech plan to a model of the Eiffel Tower. Some children like to hide away while they work – but others value company and will prefer to work in the kitchen while you get dinner.
A space on the end of the kitchen table can be invaluable, so get into the habit of keeping a homework spot clear.
A new bedroom for a new school year
You may also need to make room in their bedroom for a desk, or change the furniture to better fit their growing body. They will need a place to store their school uniform and clothing and equipment that they use for sports and activities.
This is likely to mean rearranging their bedroom. Involve them in the change, rather than sweeping out old toys and furniture. Moving things into storage can be reassuring if your child is not sure about getting rid of them immediately. Toys and bedroom furniture will be covered by your self-storage insurance with Store and Insure. Make sure to update us if the value of your stored goods increases. And if you don’t insure with us, use our storage insurance quoting tool to find out how much self-storage insurance should cost.
When to buy school uniform
It can pay to buy some bits of school uniform early on in the summer – but beware of sudden growth spurts! On the other hand, you don’t want to leave it until the very last week of the holidays as items run out. If the school has a second-hand sale, go along and pick up a bargain. It can also help you meet other parents.
Check the kit lists early on
Read any material the school sends you about required kit, such as books and calculators. You may already have some of these items at home, so don’t rush out to buy them immediately. Parents with children already at the school can often tell you which aspects of the kit list you can safely ignore.
A good routine for secondary school
You can make your family life much easier by helping your child to take responsibility for some aspects of their routine. Encourage them to unpack and repack their own school bag each evening. Let them know where to put dirty sports kit, and teach them how to care for their shoes and pack their own lunch.
A new start in a new school year
The new academic year is as exciting as it is difficult for many families – but a good routine and a decluttered home will always help.
