Is your little one off to big school? Six preparation tips for parents

It can be an exciting and nerve-racking time for everyone, mainly for children, but also for parents, as they stand by and watch their little ones head off on the first day in their new ‘Big School’ uniform. There’ll be new friends to make, new teachers to get to know, a new timetable full of different subjects and, of course, new homework.

“It’s a very big leap for children and parents alike,” says Carrie Starbuck, a former teacher and managing director for Learning Performance Training which runs workshops in schools, including ‘Introduction to Big School’ for those soon to start Year 7.

“Primary school tends to be quite small, they have one teacher, one classroom – and at secondary school, they suddenly have six or seven teachers, and have to move around the classrooms.

“Some students may find it slightly easier if they’re moving up with some friends, but others will be starting completely new and fresh.”

Starbuck adds: “Parents may be feeling nervous too, so it’s good for them to try and turn those nerves into something positive. A child might be worrying about whether they will they make friends etc.

“If parents say things like, ‘This is a fresh start, it’s really exciting, you’re going to meet new people...’ - putting a positive slant on things will build the child’s confidence up, and soothe their concerns.

“It’s a celebration rather than a terrifying change. We want students to be resilient and life is full of changes, so if they react positively to a change, then that transition will be easier.”

Besides moving from GCSEs to A-Levels, the leap from primary to secondary school is one of the biggest a child will face in their education, says Starbuck.

“The issues are actually very similar; they are suddenly expected to become quite independent learners. When children are at primary school they are supported a lot by the teacher. When they get to secondary school, they have to manage their time well and remember to take the right books on the right day.

“But they’re still just children and shouldn’t feel pressure to grow up.

“We always say to the class that, just because they’ve had a summer and they’re in Year Seven, it doesn’t mean they’re not 11-year-olds anymore.”

Parents can help their children become independent learners by talking them through what they’re going to be doing when.

“It’s usually really simple, they’re given a timetable and a diary. When you ask, ‘Have you got any homework tonight?’ or, ‘What do you have to do tomorrow?’ and they might not know or want to tell you, just double-check in the diary; it’s used as a communication tool between parents and staff.

“Have the school timetable up on the fridge or somewhere really prominent and take time to help prepare their bag the night before. The first few weeks do this with the kids, but after a few weeks you need to encourage them to do this themselves.”

A new school bag will help children get excited about being organised, but shouldn’t cost the earth.

“A new bag, an organiser, nice coloured pens, all of that definitely helps,” says Starbuck, who’s also a school governor. “But it’s not the end of the world if you can’t afford it. What’s important is the child has confidence – they don’t need a bag for that.”

Once the child starts school, it’s important for parents to build up a good relationship with their form tutor.

“They’re well versed in that transition and they’re there to support your child,” says Starbuck. “You’re working in partnership with them, they care about the children and they want them to do well.

“Work together with a form tutor in particular, so that any issues or any concerns that do come up further down the line, you have somebody to go to, and so does the child when you’re not there.”

According to research, Starbuck says children of parents who got more involved in the life of the school, were found to be three months ahead in terms of attainment than other children.

“A lot of secondary schools put on events to increase parental engagement. Things like quiz evenings, parent forums, theatre productions.

“I would recommend it really strongly for parents. If they’ve got the time, and make the effort, they’ll make friends themselves, and it’ll only enrich their children’s lives as well as their own.”

Starbuck also advises keeping the school timetable in a prominent place at home, so everyone can see what they have to prepare for and are doing day-to-day as well as using a diary planner to help children prioritise their schoolwork.