Starting a new school is a big deal for all children, but for children with special needs - and their parents - it can be more frightening than exciting.
So what can be done to ease the stress and calm the nerves? As always, it all boils down to good planning.
Ask your child what they need to know about the new school. Make a list together of questions that you can ask when you visit the school. Where do I go for help? Who can I speak to if I’m worried about something? What can I do at breaks or lunchtime? Where do I go for lunch? What do I do if I’m late?
Visits to a new school are vital. It’s important to familiarise your child with the environment and the people. All schools run transition days but do ask for more visits if necessary. Spend some time there doing something fun like painting or listening to a story. Gather as much information as possible. Ask for a map of the school. Get a weekly timetable (or an example) and ask for the school rules. Take a camera and take photos of teachers, playgrounds, classrooms and sports halls.
Buy a scrapbook and add photos from your visit, timetables, pictures or any information from the school website. Add in photos of your child dressed up in the new uniform. Create a morning routine page using pictures. Plot the journey to school in pictures - perhaps the front of and inside of the bus, the landmarks you pass on the way, the pedestrian crossing to use.
You can then go through this scrapbook with your child repeatedly during the holidays.
Find out who else is starting at the school and try to arrange play dates. Ask if there is a buddy system and if you can contact any ‘buddies’ in advance.
The greatest anxiety is a fear of the unknown so making things as relaxed and familiar as possible is the key. Never use school as a threat; keep it positive. Talk to your child so you know what’s worrying them. Keep in regular contact with school staff. And finally, be flexible, be patient, and go at your child’s pace.
Need help? Perhaps you suspect your child has some learning difficulty and you would like advice on what you should do. Or perhaps it is becoming clear that your child's current school is not working for him or her, and you need help to find a mainstream school which has better SEN provision, or to find a special school which will best cater for your child's area of need. Our SEN consultancy team advises on both special schools, and the mainstream schools with good SEN support, from reception through to the specialist colleges for 19+. Special Educational Needs Index
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