A Guide to… Transitioning to Secondary School
BEACONSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Dare to be remarkable
Having been in this ‘business’ for many years, and a mother myself, I completely understand what you and your child are thinking and feeling right now. There are a lot of unknowns, what ifs and sheer anxieties about moving up to ‘big school’. But, with the right preparation, you can ensure the transition is smooth and relatively calm. My team has put together some fine tips on how to transition your child to the ways of secondary school. Read on to put your mind at ease and make this move the exciting adventure it should be! Of course, there is homework too – what kind of institution would we be without including self-motivated learning!? All the very best for these coming months. Rachel Smith Headteacher BEACONSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Emotional support
However confident your child is, there will always be a necessary amount of ‘shoring up’. Build confidence daily Praise your child as often as you can for effort, kindness, attention to detail, perseverance, determination, recovering from meltdown, showing respect. Make praise about something other than ‘being clever’ or getting good marks. Listen to their fears Give them the opportunity to talk, maybe start with a list of fears/concerns then gradually unpick specifically what concerns them. This way you can help formulate a plan to allay fears. Talk-up the school Whatever school they are allocated, ‘big it up’. Talk positively about the school so your child feels positive about their allocation. Talk about friendship What makes a good friend? How do we go about making friends? Friendships develop over time, they are not instant. Build resilience Let them struggle on tasks, don’t step in too early and relieve them of responsibility. This will help give them the tools to deal with the issues that arise in daily life.
Teach School ‘Survival’ Skills It’s never too early to start introducing the skills and know-how to thrive in secondary school.
Talk to adults Get them in to situations where they need to converse with adults; paying for items, asking directions, asking opening times, asking how much things are. The internet Teach them how to use search engines efficiently and effectively Check what is being looked at and regulate times Know your child’s passwords and be their Facebook ‘Friend’ Ensure they leave their phone downstairs at bedtime! No computer in the bedroom Task setting Give them small independent tasks to complete, like posting a letter or making a snack. Tasks will be thick and fast in secondary school. Packing Get them packing their own bag now, remembering their packed lunch, pencil case, homework. Talk timetables Tell them how many subjects they will be studying, how many teachers they will probably have, the fact they move between parts of the school.
Get Practical
Use the summer holidays before the big move to start introducing practical preparations. Route planning Plan the route, practice the route, talk contingencies if something goes wrong en route, talk about ‘what if….’ Plan routines Get buy-in from them about when they will do their homework before term starts, and hold them to it. Part of the skill is getting it done effectively in a reasonable time, so they shouldn’t take too much time. Stock up Check printer cartridges, paper, cellophane for book covering. Reading Read age appropriate books, transition books from the list and newspapers. In fact, read...read...read! Write it down Encourage your child to write stories or journal entries about their summer experiences and adventures, to share with their new Form Tutor in September. Language progression Continue to encourage them to speak in the language they have been learning at primary school with French lunches, or Spanish suppers!
Enriching experiences Plan theatre and museum trips to open their minds and continue their thirst for knowledge and understanding. Playtime Introduce games and fun activities that include mathematical puzzles to stimulate their thinking. Get up In the last week of summer holidays start to get them up early so its not a shock and they don’t get tired and run-down immediately. Relax Leave the first two weekends free, they will be overloaded with info, new experiences they will need a rest. You will also want to spend time with them hearing their news.
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BEACONSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Dare to be remarkable