Getting DS ready for Yr7

The routine of them getting books etc ready the night before really helps. It’s also worth making sure they’re confident about the route to and from school (and any relevant back up plans for floods or bus/train cancellations etc).
My Y7 packed herself lunches sometimes in the first few weeks because she was struggling to find time to queue at the canteen and still have time to eat, so worth keeping an eye on how the food situation goes.

*stationery for them to use

This is the style bag she uses and there is 10% off the sale price.

Minimise the bags they have to carry in their hands, school bag, PE kit, boot bag, food tech, lunch etc. Something is bound to get left behind. I bought DD a Hershel bag from Surfdome (on sale at the time) it fits everything in and still looks as good as new a year later, totally worth the money.

Most children put their essential stationery in their blazer pocket. DD had a spare pencil case in the bottom of her bag incase she needed it. Make sure they restock both (and sharpen pencils) on a Sunday.

Provide your DS with as much equipment as possible to reduce having to share, scissors, glue, scientific calculator. Many of the children I teach don't even bother with a pencil and pen and we waste an insane amount of time finding stationary for them to use and then sanctioning them for not having it.

Phew! Though I do know quite a few parents who were still doing this for their DC in Year 11. And wondering why their DC were so incapable in other ways.

The main thing my DC found hard was working out when to do homework. At first it's useful to talk through what homework they have, how long they think it will take and when they should start it. But they also need to find their own way. DS will always be mostly a last minute artist (but even he realised you couldn't leave everything until the last minute if you had lots due on the same day. DD tended to at least start homework the day it was set.

We found it useful to have a spare set of stationary at home, so that the school stuff could just stay in a pencil case in a blazer pocket (less chance of forgetting things).

Don't argue with the older students. Remember everyone is as nervous as you are, and if you ask someone if you can sit with them at lunch (for example) they are fairly likely to say "yes".

@redskyatnight

I didn't mean mum do it! I meant encourage ds to do it himself!

Just make sure he’s got everything ready the night before for the next day.
apart from that they do have a steep learning curve.

Don't do this.
He should pack his own bag and get his ow PE kit and uniform ready (tbh my DC's PE kit sat in their lockers until holidays and never came home otherwise). He should also make his own lunch if not buying it.

Ideally you would have been getting him to do this through primary school, but if he really hasn't done any of this for himself before, then perhaps it's reasonable to check for the first week or two.
If you keep doing stuff for him, he'll never become independent.

I've got a year 8 ds. I didn't do anything different to when he was at Primary School.

He will be given a timetable. Pack his bag the night before. Get pe kit ready and uniform ready for next day. And make a sandwich. Then you go to bed as prepared as you can be = a nice feeling.

I always wonder about these threads. I am not sure that you can help him find his way round and remember his books etc. Surely the school will help him with those things like they have for thousands of other year 7s. The only role you have is to buy his uniform and stationery. It may be that you need to prepare yourself for the step back in involvement compared to primary school.

Travel to and from on own.
Understanding use of social media to make friends but not get in trouble.
To walk away from any hassle.
To check he has what he needs each morning.
Time management.