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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Year 7 Starters

578 replies

pippistrelle · 30/08/2015 14:18

The new uniform is all ready, pens and pencils bought, as many of the practicalities that I can deal with now have been dealt with. So, just a few days to go. Daughter is getting nervous and, to be completely frank, I am a bit too. Not because I don't think she'll be fine but because, well, change can be daunting.

Anyone else at that stage too? Or, if you're already past this phase, how long did it take until you all settled in to a new routine?

(Couldn't spot any other general Year 7 threads, but apologies if there are any others already.)

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 30/08/2015 20:20

I have two children starting Y7 this week, at different schools.

For DD, who has some additional needs, I am worried about her getting lost (taking public bus) and managing the workload (the day at school will wear her out before homework is added on). I'm anticipating tears and tantrums from emotional exhaustion. She is the first child of mine to attend this school, so it's all a bit unfamiliar and I don't know how things work.

For DS3, I'm not worried about anything. He'll be fine. He is a very organised child and used to prioritising and managing his own workload. I like his form tutor, who has been v.supportive to DS1 in the past.

TheSecondOfHerName · 30/08/2015 20:20

So I have one child for whom I'm worrying about everything, and another for whom I'm worrying about nothing! Grin

NeverEverAnythingEver · 30/08/2015 20:29

Another here. Not sure if I'm worried or not ... Confused

allwornout0 · 30/08/2015 20:52

Pippistrelle, she is the only one going from her old school and nobody gets on at her bus stop although there will be others from her school and 2 other local schools on the bus.
She did a summer school and met a few new people which was good and got to know a bit more about the school.

LilyTucker · 30/08/2015 21:56

I'm petrified they'll miss the bus as I work in a city an hour away. We'll be stuffed.

TheSecondOfHerName · 30/08/2015 23:07

After half a dozen training trips with an adult, DD did her first 'solo' bus trip today. In reality, DH was trailing her on his bike.

On the way there, she got off the bus and forgot which direction to start walking towards the school. She burst into tears and DH had to come and point her in the right direction.

On the way home, she found the right bus stop but didn't signal effectively to the driver, so the bus didn't stop for her. The next bus wasn't for another 30 minutes.

School starts on Wednesday and I'm trying to stay calm.

Original poster
pippistrelle · 30/08/2015 23:39

Oh poor thing. But on an actual school day, I guess there'll be others walking in the direction of her school for her to follow, and waiting for that bus. (And I love the thought of your DH trailing the bus!)

OP posts:
Kitella · 31/08/2015 00:17

My eldest starts on Thursday. A mix of nerves and excitement here.

She has to be at the bus stop for 7:30. I'm walking her to the bus the first day, but she's nervous that she'll miss the bus, or that it won't turn up. None of her friends are going to her school with her, so that's a little stressful too. But on the whole, she's more excited than anything else.

HPFA · 31/08/2015 12:52

I asked DD if she was nervous and she said "a bit but it would be strange if I wasn't" so she doesn't sound too bad. Bus stops virtually outside our house and eight girls from her primary are going so she should be OK.

nicoleshitzinger · 31/08/2015 13:59

Yes very worried.

Tiny DS is anxious. He's got to go on a busy train which will be mobbed with London commuters. At the other end he has a 10 minute walk.

Mahoosive school - 300 going in to year 7. I'm trying not to stress about it.

nicoleshitzinger · 31/08/2015 14:00

Oh, and he's the only one going from his school.

Lilaclily · 31/08/2015 14:02

The bus seems to be causing the most nerves here too
I don't drive & have to walk to school with eight year old dd and then get myself to work so if the bus doesn't turn up or he misses it I can't get ds to school
I'm already thinking how easy we've had it the last 7 years being able to walk to our closest school !

Lilaclily · 31/08/2015 14:04

My ds isn't the only one going from his school but he'll be the only one catching the bus at his bus stop

moosemama · 31/08/2015 15:29

Ds2 starts on the 7th. I have one in secondary already, but he has SEN, is in an out of area placement with door to door transport, so it's a completely different set of worries this time around. At least I have been informed he has the same driver and escort this year, so I can stop worrying about him and focus on ds2.

Ds2 is both nervous and excited, but has arranged to walk with the same group of friends he did on induction day and is lucky enough to have three of his closest friends from primary in his form (this is almost unheard of at his secondary) which has helped reduced his anxiety quite a bit.

I think we have everything he need, except his PE/Sports bag, which is due for delivery tomorrow or Wednesday, but I still haven't named everything.

I'm most worried about him walking there and back, not because of the route - he's been walking it every other day with either myself or dh during the holidays, so knows it by heart now - but because he has joint problems and used to be in pain after a full day, then walking home from primary and we only live three minutes from his primary school. Now he'll be walking just over a mile with a bag full of books, sports kit etc, plus carrying his bag around all day. We've made a point of trying to get him fitter over the summer holidays, but we won't know how badly it's going to affect him until he starts.

I also have to wait for the start of term to set up the care plan for his pain relief and make sure all his teachers, especially PE teachers are informed. I tried last term, but the pastoral manager said they have meetings with parents for this in the first two weeks of term - not great when he has to be sat facing the board without twisting or craning his neck and his new teachers won't know for the first week or so. Hmm

Other than that, I know from other families locally that the school takes care of the new y7's very well, pupils are escorted to and from lessons by class buddies and there are individual buddies for any pupils that need them too. I know quite a few children that are already there and they all seemed to take to it really well.

Just remembered. I need to top up his lunch money online though. I put in enough for the first two weeks last month, but need to add some more before I forget.

cece · 31/08/2015 16:29

OMG this thread has reminded me that I have not taken DS1 on any practice runs for the journey to school.... Guess where we're going after dinner!

HHH3 · 31/08/2015 17:00

DS1 starts on Wednesday. He's had a taster day and a 2 week sports club at the beginning of the holidays. So he knows some others already and I'm confident the school is a good fit for him.

Very worried about the bus journey though. We've practised over the holidays but his head is always in the clouds and I'm still not sure he completely knows it.

I get to spend this evening naming all his uniform etc!

Electrolux2 · 31/08/2015 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tippytappywriter · 31/08/2015 17:27

It does seem a big deal. 2 children in different schools adds more complexity than 2 in primary. I just hope that DD doesn't get too stressed and tired. She does put pressure on herself to do things correctly! It will be hard for me to let go. She will get the bus there and it will be strange not knowing other parents. I'll be totally reliant on what she tells me. She seems much more independent now so I know it will be good for her really.

moosemama · 31/08/2015 19:33

I will have three at three different schools and am dreading the admin and logistics of that. Three Christmas/Summer fairs, three lots of charity days, three lots of Parents' and Open Evenings etc. They all have slightly different holidays too, which isn't great.

I've gone from three at the same school to just one left there now - feels very odd.

Currently learning to drive so I can at least fetch ds2 from school if he's in too much pain. Feel awful that I haven't passed in time for him to start though. Sad

CountryLovingGirl · 31/08/2015 20:13

My boy is also starting year 7. He has to catch the school bus but there will be a few of them, from his class at primary, so he won't be alone. I will still be taking my youngest (year 3) to primary on my days off work so I still have a few years left with them.

I am dreading the amount of homework and ironing shirts! I hate ironing shirts!

IguanaTail · 31/08/2015 20:31

They will know what way to go to school when they get off the bus because there will be about 800 kids wearing the same clothes going in the same direction.

Come on everyone it's going to be fine! Wink

cece · 31/08/2015 21:36

M&S sell non-iron shirts.

var123 · 31/08/2015 22:25

FWIW, I asked DS1's 13 year old friends what advice they have for DS2 who is about to start in year 7.

They all said, be friendly to everyone and try to quickly make as many new friends as you can but otherwise not to worry as everything will be fine. Thinking back to two years ago when Ds1 was in year 7, that is really sage advice. They hit the nail on the head. In the end, everything else I fretted about first time around was just worrying over nothing.

brytte · 31/08/2015 23:04

I remember being in this place last year. DD is about to start Y8, and, as above, I wasted a lot of time worrying about things I didn't need to worry about. I did feel like I lost DD for a term, as she dabbled with new personas, affected by new friendships. I felt I got her back during the 2nd term.

NewLife4Me · 31/08/2015 23:11

just wondering if I have left this too late to get together.

Those who have early risers 6.30/7.00 how long do they need to do this before it becomes routine?
DD has never had to get up early at all, well not for the past 4 years at least.
She usually rises at 9/10am.