What do you wish you'd known or done before your children started secondary school?

[coodawoodashooda]

We have more than a year to go but am starting to panic. Any tips?

This sounds horrendous, but I would say even in schools with high staff turnover, 11 SENCOs in 5 years is extreme.

For context, in a prior school with high staff turnover I've worked in, they've had 3 in 4 years (one a maternity cover). Even that is obviously not ideal.

I think if you are seeing staff turnover that high it's probably time to move schools if you can.

Don't just buy one set of everything (if you can!)
PE kit - including socks
Ties
Stationery
Also school shoes - I had a couple of pairs spare (there was a 10pm incident of noticing a huge hole in my DD's shoes and had to get up early the next day to get another pair!) even if the spare pair are a cheap brand that'll do for a while.

Echo much of what has been said here, far less comms from school, far more independence and organisation needed and expected, plan spending on uniform and it as it's a LOT. The only one I would add is a bit specific to some children I would think, but start getting them used to problem solving for themselves. It's very easy at primary to call school or email the teacher about any issues, from minor to bigger ones, to go in yourself to look through list property, to call and ask for another copy of a form, ask for some missed homework, or whatever. At secondary, they need to be thinking this through and dealing with much of it on their own. They must know that of course you're there for the big stuff (actual struggles with work, or real friendship issues/ bullying and so on), but the smaller stuff they need to get used to figuring out themselves if possible.

You don't know who their friends are and you rarely meet them. Most secondary schools have kids from different areas of the city, so you don't know them beforehand and they don't often bring them home- they meet in town etc. It took me a while to get used to my kids going off to the house of people I didn't know!They rarely stay friends with kids they were at primary school with because they usually end up in different lessons.
Also, if there's a problem at school, you can't just pop in and chat to the teacher. You have the rigmarole of trying to contact whoever you need to speak to and make an appointment with them.
And PE kits always go missing....

And buy at least 2 spare ties.

Prepare to start loosening apron strings. Make it clear homework/kit is their responsibility to do/make sure they have and that if they forget they take the consequences set by school.
Remember no communication from school a positive as high schools tend not to send home so many letters.

Like @DragonflyLady abs @Runnerduck34 If you have any inkling that your quirky Yr6 has ASD/ADD/ADHD you'll definately find out when they hit high school and puberty. Be vigilant as their issues come to the fore. My Y8 is now ADHD medicated but Yr7 was a roller coaster.. not all bad at all but a bumpy ride.

I think if you have concerns around ASD, it's a good idea to try and get diagnosis in primary school. The waiting list is 2 years plus around here, and whilst support is not based on diagnosis, I don't think waiting for a crisis point to seek diagnosis is a good idea.

I do understand why people are reluctant to get a diagnosis, though.

what does airdropping mean?

what does airdropping mean?

sending pictures directly from phone to phone bypassing email/messaging.

might be a good time to talk phone security, like switching off bluetooth when out and about.

Yes definitely need open conversations about phone usage. I'm quite vigilant with hers which has caused some tantrums (her not me).

Ah, I really think we haven’t seen anything yet regarding the impact of smart phones on us as a society, partic. young people. Bravo for trying to win this battle so many of us feel like we are losing.

I'm not sure I'm winning. I just try to get her to be honest with us & tell her we will never shout at her but it's our job to keep her safe. It's changing all of the time isn't it. We are just trying to teach her how to be vigilant.