Tips for starting at a new school in Year 1

[goandshowdaddy]

Hi,

We're hoping to move house soon - were aiming for start of term in September but doesn't look like that's going to happen now so probably late Sept/Oct now.

Have any of you got any great tips of how to introduce the idea that my DS (age 5) will be going into a new school (he'll be Year 1 by then) as we're going out of the area? I mentioned it to him ages ago and he was not happy at the thought of going to a new school as he loves his current one so much. It's really worrying me, I know he'll settle in eventually as he's still so young but any tips you've got to help ease him in gently would be gratefully received.

Thanks.

Hi

I think however you do it, he will need to be upset - ie grieve - the old school. But that doesn't mean he won't bounce back fast and embrace the new, in fact he's pretty much bound to at that age!

Is there any way you can take him to see his new school before he starts? Make a trip there in September, introduce him to his teacher, maybe one or two children? The school should be open to helping you facilitate the transition - after all, it will make life easier for them too, if your little ds settles well.

When dd1 started at school she was a year younger, but had been in a different nursery and was quite apprehensive - not the same situation, but almost. I took photos of her school-to-be and made an album with her. She didn't seem to notice it that much at the time, but later I found she'd absorbed lots of information - and positive feelings - from our conversations around it.

Also, I would encourage him to take addresses/mummies' emails of his best friends at his current school, and plan visits, postcards, etc.

Good luck with all of it

Thank you Elibean .

I like the idea of taking him to visit the school in September, might take away some of the unknown of a new school. I'm sure he'll be fine after a while, just really hate the thought of him being upset after being so happy at his current school.

We'll definitely keep in touch with old friends and will be back here fairly often to visit family etc. so can see them then.

Hi, DD changed school in Yr 1 at the end of Xmas. We really 'bigged' it up saying how exciting it was going to be an dhow much fun it would be to be at the new school because of x, y and z. Also said that the other children would find it exciting for there to be a new girls in the class. Luckily DD is quite outgoing and confident and so is quite good in social situations and happy to ask people to play with her. I also went out of my way to arrange play dates with girls in the class so that she could get to know them independently too. You may want to wait to see who your DS makes friends with in his own time too, as I rushed in a bit and invited all and sundry, some of whom she doesn't play much with now.

DD settled in really well and although there have been the usual playground politics, there has been nothing much to worry about or that didn't happen at her old school, i.e. girls falling out and refusing to play with each other. Breaks my heart but they fall in and out of friendships at this stage. DD occasionally talks about her old school and friends but on the whole it has been very positive for us.

Our son changed to a new school from reception to Y1. it worked fine he was a bit apprehensive and would have preferred to stay at his old school however once he was there he embraced his new school and made friends

Get him involved in the school visiting if you can. It was slightly different for us as DS was temporarily home educated for a couple of months between leaving one school and moving to the new one, but he came along to view all the possibles and I had a 'review sheet' for him to fill in with the things he noticed, liked and didn't like aboiut each one. He know that he didn't get to choose, but he did know that his views were being taken into account.

He also had a clouple of hours in his new class just before we moved - again, probably more important to us because for him it was a transition back into school, and I was handing over Ed Psych paperwork, what I'd done with him during home ed etc at the same time. But if you can do that it may be helpful.

That said, he was very nervous on his first day (but as a previous school refuser, who became a school-induced selective mute in his previous school that isn't surprising). We found his 'feedback sheet' really useful at that point because we could remind him about all the things that he had liked.

Hello OP.

I don't want to worry you and appreciate that all children are different.
This was my ds2 at the same age and I wish I had my time over again.
OK, imo YOU personally along with your dh/ dp extended family etc, whoever does school run, needs to be proactive with parents in playground. Get talking and arrange play dates with any child who will play. My son never settled to school again after the move and sometimes I look back and blame me and dh for moving at the wrong time. I would put everything possible on a back burner to ensure your ds is settled. The problem we found that many of the children had been together since nursery and friendship groups were well established and ds2 was an outsider. Please don't let the same happen to your ds and I will help further if you want to pm me. The moving to new area is also a culture shock for them sometimes too.

Hi goandshowdaddy:

My advice (but I admit we haven't changed schools - although I've dreamed we could)....

my advice is once you've made the move look into your DS joining some of the after school activities or cubs. This will help him 'fit in' more quickly.

Also make a point of throwing a birthday party. This seems to be a real bonding experience and a great ice breaker. It doesn't have to be hugely fancy - a friend (new to school) hired her church hall and did a series of silly games & races and finished off with a pinata (she's Mexican). She made lots of mexican dishes (which the parents really enjoyed) but also had the usual sausages and crisps & taught us all to sing a song in Spanish as well. It was a huge success.