Starting Year 7

[TeaOneSugar]

Anyone fancy a support thread?

I'm hoping there are lots of people who can offer good advice.

I apologise in advance for starting a thread and then going back to work, I will be back later.

Going to have to join this thread.

DS is going to the same comp as at least half of his class. Fortunately, last summer term he was able to participate in Y5 transition after school clubs for which I had to put him on the bus but he got himself off and did the walk to school himself. DH collected him. :) The children also do a full transition week in July of Y6 where they spend the whole week at the comp and have to do their full school day as if they're already pupils there. They even have to wear the uniform.

He's very excited about going although sad to be leaving primary. Over the Easter holidays we need to do a practice walk to school for timing as he'll be walking to school most days. Also we need to practise buses for going to town after school, particularly getting home afterwards if his friends don't live in our direction. As a previous poster said, we also need to work on his sense of urgency so he gets there on time - it's going to be an approx 35 minute walk each way, so no time for dilly dallying.

It's strange how much preparation is done these days. Back in September 1979 I remember being dropped off with the other girls from our street by one of their mam's on the first day and being left to get on with it.

Great tip about the box, littlenicky, I think we'll be doing that as dd1's personal organisation is dire. I've also been thinking about getting her some kind of planner she can use to remind her what needs doing before school etc.

We've already had a letter about 'Year 7 Freshers' Camp', which is a 2 day affair at the end of the summer hols. She is adamant she doesn't want to go (she's being assessed for Asperger's and finds socialising difficult) but now I'm worried that she will be the only one and they'll all rock up on the first day of September with ready-made friendship groups. (She will be the only girl from her school in her class.)

First day of September? First day of term, I mean. She isn't going to Hogwarts.

I've haf a letter now with a slip to return, which I've done to confirm her place. It says they provide a full uniform and she'll need to be measured for it, doesn't say when but I assume there will be some sort if evening event.

Hi,

My son starts secondary this September and I am dreading it!

He is a bright boy and very capable but he tends to be lazy with homework. We were offered a place at out 1st choice school so that was great. The majority of the class were offered a place too (Catholic). It is a high performing school but demands high levels from the kids (a lot of homework)!

Also, I am concerned over childcare. He has gone to a local childminder (after school and in the hols) since he turned 3 years old (went to a private day nursery beforehand). His younger sister also goes (she is 7 this June). The childminder has told us she will no longer have him once he is at secondary school. She has also told this to other parents of year 6 children. We have no family help.

I moved job location 5 years ago so I would work closer to home but, unfortunately, my job was relocated further away than where I was in the first place. Hubby works in another town in the opposite direction. The secondary school is a bus ride away (private buses but parents pay for them). He will leave the house at 8am (fine for me most of the time as I start at 9am, youngest will go to school breakfast club from 8am) and get back at 4.20pm. Hubby works shifts (I do lates until 8-9pm but only when hubby on an early finish). I won't get home until 530-6pm. Not keen on letting him come home alone even though he has a mobile now (basic one). He will be 12 next March. Hubby will be around when he is on an early shift as he finishes around 2pm.

What is everyone else planning for after school childcare?

I only work 3 days a week and hubby does more early shifts than lates. But, there would be times when we wouldn't have any childcare for that hour after he arrives back from school.

I love the idea about the box to keep things in. I may have to dig out an IKEA box for this.
Our year 6 children go up to the secondary school, for 2 days, in June. There is also another parents evening mid-June (I took these details from the secondary website).
SATS in 2 months! OMG!

Can't he go to your dd's childminder, EmilyMaud?

I remember having to fend for myself at that age . Ah, the 80s...

That's brilliant about the school uniform, Tea! Jealous! I'm already dreading the trip to the school outfitters.

I've chucked the Freshers' Camp letter in the recycling, to dd1's relief. Parents' Evening tonight - should be interesting...

My advice - it can be a weird time for child and parent at end y6. The good news is that when the kids actually start the new schools the schools do a good job these days of settling the children - lots of clubs, activities etc. My dd was so sad to leave her primary school but v quickly settled into new one.

The harpenden/St a post - you may get more help on the local
Board? For what I know more places are soon released as those taking private places let their state places go, so a place elsewhere might come up. Townsend has some v good results and lovely kids go there and it's the right side of St a for harpenden so could be far far worse.

Emilymaud - my dd starts yr7 too this September but i also have a son in year 5. My plans are that dd will catch the bus to and from school - the bus stop is at the top of our road and i notice the children getting off at 3.45pm so she will let herself into the house. I am going to leave ds in the after school club he is already in at the school, I will pick him up by 4.15pm then be home with dd by 4.20pm so its not as late as your day. It will be much better next year when they are both at the same school and can catch the bus together. Tis a right faff!!

Feeling v.happy today as I visited the second hand uniform shop and spent £57 on uniform and sports kit that would have been £283 if bought new. DD tried it on and there is room for her to grow between now & September.

Ok, ds1 started year 7 last September. I trawled through every bit of information on the thread from last year, linked further up this thread.

On the open evening I asked the teachers what sort of pens to have, and we were told no friction pens (ie the ones that you can rub out) because if they need to photocopy the work it will disappear with the heat

Ds has 2 pencil cases for school, a main one, pens, mechanical pencil (no shavings) ruler, highlighters (specified by school) calculator -this is also specified by school so wait to see which one to buy. The usually offer them through school at a discounted price.

The second pencil case has a pritt stick, coloured pencils, maths equipment such as compass, protractor etc.

He never removes these from his bag at home. We have spare stuff here, that way he never forgets his pencil case.

He has Ikea wooden magazine files labelled with days of the week and removes everything from his bag and puts the books in the right file. Packs his bag the night before.

He has a notice board to pin up details of his homework and a daily planner of what to do today so he never forgets his music book or PE kit.

His front door key is sewn into his school bag on a long piece of elastic so he can't lose it.

Teach them to tie a tie if they need to, and shoe laces (although for his football boots and trainers he has locklaces for speed.

Walk the school route with them, make sure they can cross a road, and talk about what to do if they are worried about people around them.

And breathe ds went to a school with only 1 other child from his primary, has settled in amazingly well. He has joined several clubs which allows him to make friends with different year groups etc.

Attaching the house key to the inside of the school bag using a length of elastic has also worked well for DS2, as have lock laces.

I thought ds1 was pretty self sufficient and independent in yr6, but I was rather amazed how much input from me he needed in the first few weeks of secondary.

Seriously, my top tip to parents is to plan to have as much free time after school as possible in the first few weeks.

Every night we chatted about his day, talked about the school routines and issues that had come up; checked what homework had come in and how it was recorded, helped him organise his resources and school materials at home, talked about issues surrounding lunches, breaks, PE lessons, bus-catching, handling cash, managing a damp coat on wet days, etc etc etc.

You might think this was over the top, but it was really necessary: there's a lot to take in at secondary and if children are not organised, it's a real barrier to learning.

It definitely paid off, as once we were through those first few weeks, he was great and just got on with it himself with the routines and systems that we put in place. He never forgot PE kit, never forgot homework, etc. We've been pretty hands-off ever since and he's in yr13 now!

Does private schools have transition day on July too?

Bought the first piece of uniform today - twin pack of black trousers in the Sainsbury's Tu 25% off promotion.

Just need a good deal on a blazer and socks, the rest has to be bought from the school as far as I know.

When DD started Y7 I stopped childcare for her. She had to walk home and had about 2 hours at home alone before either DH or I got home. I panicked a bit about it at first (and used to get her to text me when she got home). I also used to phone her at about 5pm. Now she is in Y9 I only get a text if she wants something. She now also makes her own dinner most days too.

I've been letting DD ( currently Y6) go to school on her own in mornings when DH works shifts - I leave 8:10 she leaves 8.30 or 8.40 is a 5 min walk to school . We have been practicing leaving her on her own for an hour or so at a time with clear instructions - she hates our local after school club and is much happier to be given the responsibility. Next step she will get her own key and be at home a couple of times a month after school in summer term. I figure we both have to get used to it and DH is a nightmare too as she is an only child and PFB! She go outs in our local town in Saturdays to spend pocket money and has a mobile for emergency contact. We use teh train almost weekly with her due to reduced travel for DH job so she knows what to do in various situations there....will have to practice the routes though!

I already have a really useful box set aside with hanging files and a travel pass carrier that can be tied to her school bag!

It is a strangely exciting time seeing them grow up and mature!

Just thought I'd go back to this thread. Had the parents visit to the school, got the information about what's expected of the pupils and ordered the uniform. DS is really into the whole thing, which is really good, and he has a few friends in his tutor group too.

Can I join?

Picking up tips about organisation. Not sure we'd be up to magazine files for days of the week though. We have school visit in a couple of weeks so will trawl through the threads to make a List.

We have induction day tomorrow. Someone from the high school has been to visit DS and the other boys going to that school, at their primary school and his visit was very reassuring for DS.

We've got induction week starting tomorrow. The kids have to make their own way there and back. It's the having to get up earlier which is going to be a struggle. Especially for DS!

DS1's school also had a visit from the Representative of The Best School Ever On Earth. They were told that The Best School Ever takes the adherence to school uniform rules very seriously indeed. I suspect it was targeted at DS1 who looks the Scruffiest Child Ever.

Great thread! Lots of tips. Looking forward to hearing how our "babies" have settled in come September :)

Uptoapoint I would love that. The school where my dd will be going to in September clearly do not implement their uniform policy anywhere near strict enough. I am not lying or exaggerating when I say that I am constantly horrified at the sight of 99% of the girls who attend the school. Think tight black skirt (similar material to leggings) which are so short it's beyond a joke, probably around 10cm of skirt. I cannot understand how the school turn a blind eye. They also seem to wear black trainers. It looks shabby.

This school is very over subscribed, is ofsted outstanding and is about to start a complete rebuild. They are pushing it as having excellent standards but with kids dressing so appallingly I can't help wander if this reflects on the school. Another local school has introduced its own school skirt which is compulsory from this year. I wander if other comps have the same problem?!