starting secondary school a big step

[dmo]

my son who will be 11 on thursday starts high school in september
we have the whole pile of paper work to fill in and we have a paretns only meeting on thursday night (his birthday)
my son has been to the high school varies times and has also been to other primary schools to play with yr 6 children
just got a letter to say my son has to spend the day at high school next friday (primary school not taking them) so now i am thrown into a panic of how he gets to school and back.
plan is in september dh takes son to breakfast club at 8am and he will walk/bus home. but we havent gone through the walk yet so i'm not willing to let him come home yet on his own.
i work from home as a childminder so will be home.
dh brother works at the high school he is head of i.t and head of yr8 did think of asking him to take our son (he lives in next st to us) but dont want ds to get picked on as they have the same surname etc

email me for some tips

rtkangamummy AT yahoo DOT CO UK

I would ask your brother in law to take him/bring him back, it's the obvious solution. No-one else needs to know they are related if that is what is worrying you or him! Ask if he can be dropped off either just near the school so he can walk the last minute or so, or just in the staff car-park - no other child is going to work out that's where he's come from! And at home-time he could stay in the library or whatever until his uncle is ready to bring him home. It's only the one time after all, in September you'll have your proper routine going - although make sure you practice the bus route and walk a few times beforehand.

For what it's worth, several teachers at my children's secondary school have their own children at that school and it seems to work out fine. Usually other children do know, unless there's a different surname involved, but it's really no big deal.

Or if you're a childminder, could you not walk your son to school that day with all your charges, if the timings work out OK.

Or ask another parent - explain it's a one-off and that you're not asking for a regular favour! I'm sure someone would be willing to help out.

Make sure you use the parents' evening next week to sort out any niggling worries you have or to ask any little question you're still unsure about - many parents will be thinking exactly the same and you'd be surprised at how many 'daft' questions are asked and how the staff are used to these! They deal with anxious parents every year after all!

thanks guys
cant do pick up/ drop off as i collect 10 children from our local primary school at the same time as high school finishes but will ask bil this one time

thanks for your info