Secondary school induction day today!

[seeker]

He's up already, bouncing around! Anyone else?

Ah bless, it is exciting isn't it?

My dd is in year 9 now and she is one of the people who will be looking after the soon to be year 7s tomorrow, when she did it last year she came home and said "mum, they all look so tiny and nervous"

I told her she looked exactly the same on her induction day but she didn't believe me!

Hope your dc has a wonderful day.

I'm having a bit of a nightmare with it all . DD has 3 days at her new upper school this week, today is day 2. Yesterday was ok but she has dyspraxia and finds change a bit difficult.

She's not going to our catchment school but is one of 8 children going including two fairly good friends. She's not with anyone she knows and they have mixed year tutor groups. She did get talking some some girls in her teaching group who I think they spend most of their time with so that's good. But today they were expected to make their way to their tutor groups for registration, she has no idea where it is and couldn't remember her tutors name. I had to take her to reception. To top it all she had a stomach ache.

Am a bit fed up that she isn't with anyone from middle school. One her friends is with a boy which would have been ok, just one familiar face. Blame myself for not having gone in but she wanted to leave her dyspraxia behind me and I thought she'd be with one person she knows. Have called them and am waiting for call back. I'm really dreading picking her up. Sorry to go on, am having a bit of a melt down.

She'll be fine and muddle through in her own way. In your head I'm sure you are concentrating on all the possible disasters and potential problems. There actually might be some lovely positives at 4.00pm. Fingers crossed.

It's a change for you too... you no longer have the same mechanisms for keeping tabs on her. That's a big thing for you to worry about but when they move up the school ladder they are slightly more empowered and you less so and that's the way you would prefer it to be... Distract yourself with a project or a something you've been putting off at work. Buy chocolate.

ds2 has gone for his 6th form induction at his sn school today. The 6th form dept of the school is on another site attached to a mainstream school. he was petrified and almost in tears.

Like you WynkenBlynkenandNod I'm not looking forward to him walking through the door and hope he doesn't have too big a melt down as we are all meant to be going out tonight for his older brother's last speech day and prize giving and none of us want to miss it which is a distinct possibility for one of us if the induction day has gone badly

Thanks Josh, I know you're right. I'd deliberately been really hands off and yesterday was fairly positive when she got out, she went downhill about it later on. I have been practising being calm, understanding etc. saying yes, it is difficult at first but you'll be fine.

I'm just pissed off that they didn't look at the bit about her dyspraxia and think ah, we'll put her with someone she knows to get her started, that's all it would have taken. I think it's the middle school actually, the Head of Year has been off sick and screwed up with another girl, messages not getting over properly.

Hopefully she'll be out smiling later and it will be fine. Not all that long to go now, I have to leave in just over 2 hours, they finish very early (something else to get used to!).

Fingers crossed for you Eatyourveg, flipping hard this on the nerves isn't it!

I'm having to retrain myself to not interfere with DC's teenage lives (as much) and to let them sort out more for themselves. Year start, exam time and year end are especially stressful and there's no doubt their problems and fluctuations impact hugelyacross the whole house. This is much harder parenting that what's gone on before.

Oh and i forgot to say I'd fail the 'Don't react' parent exam every time!
Wishing for happy tea times tonight to both Eat and Winken's families...

Speak to the school, they will help. My DS went to his induction day really happy but was put into a class without anyone from his primary and had a panic attack and cried and refused to go back. It was heartbreaking. I spoke to the school and they have moved him into a class with three children from his class and have sent their pupil support officer to his primary to have a chat with him about his concerns. I am really impressed and glad that I spoke to them. Happy child and happy mum!

I'm waiting for a phone call as rang this morning to check message has got up there about dyspraxia (it was on her notes). No call yet, she's out in 40 mins.

Well, could have been better- "the lessons were really boring- I thought they were going to be interesting. And we were playing football at lunchtime and some year 8s took our ball. The pizza was delicious though, and I'm in the same form as Callum"

" I was so frightened but Mr X talked to me in my language and went through it very slowly and explained so I made an achievement and he took me swimming which I don't like but it was ok but at lunchtime the dinner lady said I should have had a meal deal to save money but I didn't know what that meant and there was a queue so I couldn't go back but everyone was so proud of me doing it all and he is going to be my teacher and he understands what I'm saying and is very kind"

Hope wynken your dd survived it

That sounds good Eatyourveg, so you can go tonight . Seeker, that sounds pretty ok to me.

Not gone brilliantly, on her own for lunch and break. She did enjoy fencing though. Doesn't want go at all tomorrow an regretting not going to Catchment school. No phone call back from school despite ringing 10.30 this morning. I have a meeting up there this evening. Only good thing is one of her friends will be going in Sept but away at the moment. I'm hoping that might help a little . Am regretting choice of school now bu she wanted fresh start after bullying in year 7.

Apologies for going on rather a lot on your thread Seeker.

Wynken: It is disappointing the school didn't get back to you and that lunch and break times were especially difficult. Hopefully you'll see someone tonight who can put your mind at rest. When school starts back in Sept there will be lunchtime clubs she can join. You obviously gave it loads of thought before you changed so don't beat yourself up. It will get better. In Y3 one of my children spent the first three hours of a new school year hiding under the desk with jacket over head but school never told me until the third term...

Eat: Really good outcome for a first day

Seeker: Pizza is always a safe bet!