How to make school transfer easy for your child

[puddingandsun]

Hi,

I applied for my dc5 to transfer schools. Just have been told it is going ahead from Monday!
We haven't moved address. My dc can be very sensitive so I want to find the best way to speak to him about the transfer.
He doesn't like his current school, it's a struggle to go in every day, but of course there will be things there that he's already attached to like some kid/s, the familiarity, etc.
He was at nursery at his 'new' school so it's not a completely new place, but he doesn't remember most of the kids / doesn't have friends there.
I want to talk to him about the transfer in a very positive light but also prepare him should it be a bit tricky to adjust at first. Anyone who has had experience with that please let me know. TIA

Does he know you applied for the transfer? If so then show him the letter/ email and remind him why he was happy for you to apply for it. Ask him how he wants to deal with last few days at his old school, does he want to take in little cakes/ sweets etc. Help him to write a letter to the class teacher saying he is leaving and goodbye . The teacher will know anyway,/but it might help your child to accept the reality if he has to verbalise it.

Check with the school about what they do with old exercise books. Some schools are happy to let them go, others not, others will send them directly to the new school. Ask if they are willing to write a shortened report for you to take to the new school. (Don’t do what one former parent tried to do, she asked for the books , they were given as she said the child was moving abroad. Six weeks later she came in and asked for demanded with menaces a full report which was refused as a) child no longer on roll,b ) teacher up to his ears in writing reports for children who were on roll c) books no longer available for reference. She was not happy.)

Explain it is all going to be a bit strange for a while as every school does stuff a bit differently but that you know he is ready for a change and that he will be able to cope with the changes. Say there are things he will miss, but also things he won’t miss. You could make a list together, put in some not serious things as well as the serious ones.

Make sure you pick up his pe kit!

My reception aged son is also transferring to a new school but we aren't moving house (new school is smaller overall and smaller class sizes, just a better fit for our family) he's moving for transition month just before the summer - I'm currently focusing on the things he has mentioned that he likes about the new school - the green uniform, the forest school and that we get to walk past some horses on the way are our current things. Also that we will still see some of her friends around as the catchment areas for both schools are fairly similar so lots of her friends live locally.

I don't have any other tips I'm afraid but following this post. Hope it all goes well for you both.

@viques thank you so much! These are all great suggestion and so so helpful x

@ZebraKid71 Good luck!
Can I ask what you told his current teachers and does the class now know dc is leaving?
It's all happening a bit last min here.

I just explained that having done nursery and reception in a big school we felt a smaller school was better suited to our family - we avoided the awkwardness a bit by emphasising our two younger children and focused more on them needing a smaller school and not coping in a huge early years setting rather than us being unhappy with something more specific about the school. The class doesn't know as such but I know he has told a couple of kids and I've told the parents I'm friendly with so it isn't a secret, a few kids have left and joined their class this year so I don't think they will see it as a big deal.

@ZebraKid71 thank you for responding!
I spoke to the teacher today- not sure if the office had already told her. I only said we're transferring without giving a particular reason. She asked if the class should say 'goodbye' to dc tomorrow, as she doesn't work on Fridays. I said I'll check with him and let her know.