Anyone want a secondary transfer support thread?

Can I join in too, please? DS1 starts his new school on Monday. He hasn't been to school since February because of anxiety and OCD, so it is a huge challenge for him. He is now on Prozac, which has really helped, and he will have someone from the Education Office looking out for him on his first couple of days - but I'm still really, really nervous for him. I took him to buy sports kit yesterday and didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight of him trying on a rugby head guard - he is such a pale, skinny little boy that it's absurd to think of him playing rugby.

And then there's the 30-minute walk to school. All those roads to cross! He wants to do it with his friends, but I am simply terrified at him doing it without an adult. He had a practise walk on Monday, with him walking ahead of me, and he is going to do it again with a friend tomorrow.

I have been distracting myself by focusing on all the practicalities, like labelling uniforms, but now it's getting so much closer I am feeling more and more jittery.

ds (yr9) has induction session on Monday and starts on Tuesday. Think we're kittted out now. Hasn't played rugby in 3 years, dislikes contact sport and lacks coordination (dyspraxic), so is dreading it.

ooops - sorry TheOriginalBanshee - I shouldnt skim read! My fault!

OhYouBadBadKitten- I'm not Fab, I'm afraid!

I didn't realise there was a well known poster called 'TheOriginalFab' until after I'd chosen my name. I quite like 'TheOriginalBanshee' as it's what dd calls me when I'm having a rant about something or other

Same here Fab - I've taken dd to the stop a couple of times now and told her exactly where to ring the bell so the bus stops at the right place. dds school doesnt allow phones, so a new dimension of terror as they dont seem to realise that phone boxes are practically vanished.
oh gosh, its tomorrow.
haircuts and playing with friends today.

Getting scarily close here - 1 more day until DS1 starts. I feel sick but trying to be calm and positive as we had tears from DS1 last night as he's worried about going.

Hoping to have a lovely day tomorrow, we're going stationary and school bag shopping.

Feeling sick sick sick with nerves! DD starts on Wednesday and seems very calm about the whole thing whilst I am having kittens.

She will be travelling by bus (which she's never done before). I'm worried she'll miss her stop on the way back home and get lost, that she won't recognise her stop at all and will stay on the bus until it reaches another town entirely! I'm worried she'll lose her phone as well.

TMMRJ -Just been to tesco extra and saw a really long see through pencil case - like the ones you get for exams - would definitely fit a 30cm ruler!

I think about 130 girls and 130 boys. She has done fine at 3 primary schools in terms of making friends, but her school is quite accommodating, quirkinesss seems fairly acceptable there, and several of her close friends there are boys - she often has more in common with the boys. She's the sort of child who still never brushes her hair or worries about clean clothes, she's happier grubbing around in the dirt looking for bugs like a little kid than discussing "girl" things. Her current career plan is to be a hermit, alone on a remote island off the Scilly isles.

Oh in my experience secondary school is much better for quirky kids. In a year group of 300 there must be someone like you/you get on with. It just takes a while to find them. There is also less conformity than in primary school, teachers are seen less often which means they don't impose their personality/opinions on a class (even if accidentally).

I'm just about to reassess uniform for 2 kids, one of whom I want to buy as little as possible as next year it will be 6th form (yikes! that is frightening). Now just keep breathing, it will be fine!

Yeah DS has that whs set it is a 30cm folding ruler!

DS starts on Monday. He can't wait! Got all uniform and shoes. Spent yesterday sewing name tags into everything - yawn!! How do you label shoes? - DS said the foot shaped stickers we had for primary are a definite no-no!! He's using his bag and pencil case rom primary he's just not bothered with the fashion trends at all!

tmmj - I'm not sure how long the ruler is, but there a mathematical set in whsmoths that has a folding ruler, that might be 30cm - dunno if that helps at all?

Fennel - how many girls will there be starting next Monday? If there are 120, let's say, there must be a few your DD1 will find a connection with. Here's to a good start!

hi

dd1 is starting yr 7 on Monday and I was nicely chilled out about it til this week, and now I'm busily worrying. She's very enthusiastic but I worry cos she's, well, a bit weird. Not your normal 11yo girl at all, utterly oblivious to fashion and peer pressure and what everyone else does. Very sweet and lovable, quirky, but hmm how far does that get you at secondary?

I am also not sure whether to buy football boots and other things on the PE kit so we have left some items to see if everyone else has them.

I did hear another parent at DS's school talking about boots with "interchangeable" studs for football and rugby, she got them at a high st sports shop but i don't recall which one.

thetasigmamum not sure why they would need both football and rugby boots as DH and DS2 both play rugby for a club and both wear football boots rather than rugby boots

Going to get dd to check through everything this morning. We are also gong to have a lesson on 'how to catch a bus' later - they are rare beasties around here.

dd has been a bit stressy and tearful this week, so extra cuddles needed - when she wants them.

thetasigmamum - I seem to remember decathalon have rugby boots that would fit your description.What a lot of footwear!