Current YR 6 children going into YR 7

[yourmumsnet]

Is there anything we should be doing from now until September that I may not have thought of?

Uniform order and practice journey there and back.
Encourage enjoyment and cherishing last month of secondary school.
Slowly allowing more independence.

Anything else? I feel like this is quite a big transition and I'm anticipating lot of growth from seeming like a child to admire teenage like over the summer.

I want to allow that growth but whilst keeping good boundaries and not allowing to do too much and selfishly, maintaining family things rather than the focus shift all on friendship groups.

Prepare to lose everything in the first term
Have plenty of printer ink in stock
Set up Apple Pay
Don't let them wear white socks (if girls) or do up their blazer buttons (either sex)

Doctormartin girls only wore white socks at DD’s or tights but only the low sports socks style. Uniform is very school specific I’d be wary of buying too much of anything beforehand eg school list said white ankle socks but no one wore them. No one wears the jumpers that are ££. Luckily someone told me and I didn’t buy one.

For those saying the “right shoes, bag” etc… how do you know??? I’m planning on buying dc school shoes at Clarks as we’ve done all her life in August - probably with Velcro straps … is this a no? I don’t fancy having to replace before she’s outgrown them! And does the backpack (school specified backpack not shoulder bag) have to be black?? She’s already moaning secondary uniforms are so dull in colour (she already has a nice sensible turquoise backpack, it’s not pink fluffy unicorns and rainbows 😅)

She's another kid that could do with not standing out for the “wrong” reasons 😔

AiryFairy1 can you have a scope out eg be near school at start or finish time or any concerts etc. I’d go very plain and not too expensive. I see children from 4 local high schools going past to bus and there’s a distinct style. Like I said handbags are not done at DD’s school but they all have them at a school a mile away?!

@Dixiechickonhols thanks, I need to drop off some forms so might time it for a break time or home time. 👍

Apple Pay on their phone? To their account of to ours?

get a luggage tag for their oyster card/bus pass.
if cycling colour code the keys and the spares with the same colour for easy retrieval if oroginal pair is lost.

@whathobby 0h gosh theirs! Bank cards are too easily lost or forgotten but an iPhone is never far away!

I learnt this the hard way when Dd switched schools in Y7 - uniform list clearly stated grey tights or white ankle socks. Dd swore everyone wore black tights only. In the end I sent her in grey with black tights in her pocket, as she predicted she was the only one in grey and changed at break time!! If in any doubt have a look at the kids going to school before they break up this summer.

I see you've had loads and loads of really good things, but please warn them about the chaos that is a secondary school's corridors at lesson change time! I think it's a shock to many, and I know my dd's school isn't the exception. Although she says it has improved during and since Covid. It can get pretty rough at times.

Someone asked about bags. Yep all the kids that walk past our house have either plain black ‘label’ rucksacks Nike/adidas/under armour. Or the girls have black big leather A4 size shopper / handbag style. If you want them to fit in save the colourful bags for outside school. Same with coats, even dark purple my DD felt she stuck out so we got a cheap plain black one. Shame really but My kids still use the colourful stuff for sports training no probs. My daughter wears black tights but not the thick ones the 30-40denier ones, Marks & Spencer’s had smaller sized ones if ladies small are too big.

Can I ask a question if my DD wore a hidden disability pin badge or wrist band the sunflower & green one would this be a negative at school? I have got her a couple for using the train to get to school but if it makes her a target she definitely won’t use them (ASD).

When DD joined her school she didn't want to wear certain items of uniform because they were deemed nerdy. DS on the other hand doesn't really follow the crowd and doesn't care (or isn't aware) whether the clothes or activities he chooses are nerdy. It helps that some of his friends are the same, but they are definitely in a minority!

You can't use Apple Pay until you're 13 so no good for year 7s.

If they've got to Yr6 believing then yes. Break the news

Not at our school. Kids have various passes and badges

Velcro is a no.

Don't buy too much uniform. As others had said 1. At our school 50% wear jumpers but some schools no one does. 2. My DD wanted loads trousers as never ever wore a skirt ever in primary. In Yr7 she ditched trousers for rolled up skirts and cycling shorts.. although plenty of girls wear trousers. But her new mates all wore a certain look.
You can always buy extra later

Agh, fellow year 6 parent here and this thread is just feeding my anxiety! I’ve never had real cause to worry about DD in any way but this transition is stressing me out - there’s only her plus 1 other going to this school and she’ll need to get the bus at least some of the time. She’s a bit quirky and not very trendy so hoping she is able to navigate the first few weeks without incident. School feels huge compared to her single form entry primary.

OP, I really recommend the school holiday club which is normally a week or so before school starts. They are normally put into form groups and this is when they start forming friendship groups. I’m not saying that those who don’t attend will be left out, but it will make their transition easier in a more informal environment.

Huge schools come with huge benefits @ChuckBerrysBoots , esp if you are a bit quirky and not very trendy. Far easier to find your crowd.

That is very reassuring to hear!

I'd like to echo that.
DD found a couple of friends (at the summer school) that stayed with her throughout. They also did some 'social skills' lessons for the less confident / kids with ASD, and she made friends through that too.

ps I think quite a few kids had velcro shoes in y7 (DD for one couldn't do lace ups), though quite possibly not the 'cool' girls.

Personally I think some of the stressing about bags & shoes is OTT.
OK, don't send them in with Smiggle or Disney princesses, but otherwise don't over stress. Just don't spend £80 on a bag that you may be asked to change at half term!
If necessary go check out the school at arrival/leaving time and see what the younger looking pupils have. They aren't all clones.

Oh shoot my son hasn't got a bank account like that yet. Anyone got any recommendations for a good account for under 12s?