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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Helping son with changing schools in reception

8 replies

Hellsbells2017 · 20/02/2017 20:30

Hello....hoping someone might have some wise advice for me please!
. My son and I are moving to a new area (10 miles away) in march and that means changing schools. He loves his current school and is in a nice reception class but in return of a big change we get a house with garden and a kitten... Bonus! However he's really struggling with leaving his school. He's openly worried and scared and there's heaps of reassurance for all his worries. We've been to visit the potential school and he seemed okay looking around. Apart from lots of TLC ,positive words has anyone got any other things I could do to prepare or try or anyone been through a similar experience? ....I'd be so grateful of any words of wisdom...best wishes

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RitaConnors · 20/02/2017 20:36

We emigrated when my dd was five to Australia. I didn't really talk about it. I just said we were going to live in a new house. She just thought that school had finished.that she had done that and now she was going to do something else. She definitely didn't know that she had left and that school and the people in it were carrying on without her.

nat73 · 21/02/2017 09:39

I would play it down. Try not to keep talking about it so its not this big thing in his life. I moved country when I was 7 and with my parents it was a given and there wasn't much chat about it in advance!

GU24Mum · 21/02/2017 10:01

I'd agree with the playing it down suggestion - children are usually very resilient and are very much, that was that school and now this is my school and won't overthink it. I'm sure you aren't but if you ask whether he's sad about leaving his friends etc he may think that he should be if that makes sense.

jamdonut · 21/02/2017 10:28

My children were 10 .5, 6 and 2.5 when we moved 250 miles away. My eldest was nervous, my middle one excited for a new school. Like you what made it better was a house with a garden. ( We were cramped into a 2 bed flat , all 5 of us, before that!)
They visited their new school the day after we moved and started the next day, with no problems. Children are resilient, as long as you do things in a matter of fact way. If you show your anxiety, they pick up on it.

Mamabear12 · 21/02/2017 13:50

Make It in to something exciting. My daughter just left a school she was happy for to start at another school for a bilingual french education. We made it into an exciting thing and was super excited to go to the new school and happy there now a couple months in. She does say she misses old school sometimes. But that's normal as she was happy in old school. But she also says frequently how much she likes new school. She was even saying while on holiday that she was missing school and looked forward to go back! It helps to try and set up play dates fast so your child can make new friends. I think that is part of it, kids having friends in class and feeling comfortable. My dd was a little worried that on first day people might stare at her. But they didn't and she had a great first day. 😃

Original poster

Hellsbells2017 · 23/02/2017 15:20

Thanks so much for the advice. Definitely going to play it down more. I think I've talked about it too much.. And yes he's picked up on my anxiety. Really reassuring reading your experiences. Thanks again x

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ChocolateButton15 · 23/02/2017 20:05

My little girl has just moved schools in reception year. We didn't really talk about it much, she visited her new school on the Friday then went in on Monday. I got her a new lunch box etc and made sure she had all the new uniform/p.e kit etc ready to start on Monday so she looked the same as tge other children. They gave her special jobs and made sure her peg was ready and told the other children about her. This is probably the best time to move schools as friendships are very fluid and they haven't been at school long anyway. I just told her it was the same as when she left pre school to start school and reminded her she was fine when that happened.

SpringsInMySteps · 23/02/2017 21:18

We moved when DS was in reception. He was fine. Honestly. But yes - play it down (but with v positive talk around it when it is discussed "more exciting" "more friends" "new, lovely teachers to meet." etc.

Also we went back for a meet up in the park with his old school mates about a week/10 days later. All planned so I could reassure him he wasn;t losing his old friends. Another planned for several weeks later - but by this stage he was not overly bothered/missing old friends too much as he had made so many new ones. Maybe says something about his loyalty but tbh he was only 4!

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