It’s that time of year again: the summer holidays are drawing to a close and throughout the country millions of children are reluctantly turning their thoughts towards going back to school. For many, it’s an unsettling time as the daunting prospect of changing schools looms large. As parents, there are a number of things to consider which canto help ease the transition from primary to secondary school.

Confidence

As your child enters the brave new world of secondary school, self-confidence is arguably never more important. Be it making friends or tackling new academic challenges, self-belief is crucial if your child is to successfully adapt to his or her new surroundings. You may find this surprising, but confidence is something that can be easily improved in the home; here are a few simple tips:

• Give praise both willingly and often, and avoid highlighting your child’s shortcomings, particularly if they are struggling with a new subject.
• Ensure you take a special interest in all parts of their new school life, from academia to sports and other extra-curricular activities.
• It’s important to avoid overloading on the importance of success in the classroom, particularly in the early stages, and instead make a concerted effort to work together on subjects that don’t come naturally.

Time

It’s important to spend a good amount of quality time with your child in the lead up to their first day. Encourage them to be excited about starting at a new school, and share in their excitement. Changes in their academic life, such as the looming spectre of Eleven Plus papers, should be carefully explained to avoid confusion and panic at a later date.

Research

As your own teacher probably said, “fail to prepare, prepare to fail!” Little things like establishing the after school care routine and confirming your arrangements with these services well in advance all help create a relatively stress free environment come show time.

Another tip is to find out exactly what time school starts on the first day and exactly where you should take your child. First thing in the morning, school is a colourful, noisy and confusing place, it’s best to know exactly where you’re going.

Develop

Encourage your child to voice their opinion on all manner of things, from popular culture to current affairs, and then listen to what they have to say. This will help their development as they gain independence and confidence.

But above all, do everything in your power to make school fun. They are, after all, the best days of your life.