Y7 in Sep 2019 - support

[stubiff]

Is DC (not) looking forward to it.
Is DC (not) ready for it.
Are you (not) apprehensive about it.
Have you got equipment, etc, sorted yet, or are you leaving it until the summer hols/last minute.
How have the transition days been going.
Anything else that is relevant.
Thanks.

Most students (especially in Year 7) keep their phones in their bags- ideally switched off, or at least on silent. A separate pocket just for things like the phone and house key is probably a good idea so it doesn't accidentally get pulled out in lessons.

Kids do tend to find their "tribes" during Year 7, but this can take a bit longer if they are less good at fitting in. Encourage them to join clubs etc- this is a great way to meet people outside their tutor group and year group and can be a safe space at lunchtime etc if there are friendship issues.

I agree going through "what if" scenarios is really important e.g. "What if the bus is late?" "What if you miss the bus?" "What if you lose XYZ thing?" as this can be where Y7s come a bit unstuck, even if cope well normally. Make sure they know where they can find an adult before or after school just in case there is a problem.

I agree that it's important to go through the threshold of when to tell/involve an adult in things. At secondary age, telling a teacher about minor rule breaking, lying or minor fall outs isn't the "done thing" BUT there are times when it's OK to/important to tell someone e.g. if another student is talking about self-harm, for example or if a comment has made them feel really uncomfortable or if there is bullying going on. Teachers can only help if they know, and because tutors only see children for about 20 minutes each day, they often won't pick up on things the way a primary teacher would. Remind them that they can talk to any trusted adult in the school about things if they aren't comfortable with their tutor.

I like the idea of working through some "What if" scenarios. Thank you for these suggestions.

My son is still pretty much ignoring the whole concept of changing school but has had his transition day which he really enjoyed. He is in a form group (8 form entry) with two other boys from his class one of which is a close friend which I think he's happy about (I certainly am).

DP and I have been with DS to a Parent's "meet the teacher" event too which we found really helpful. The form teacher greeted all the children by name as they arrived which I found comforting (and very impressive given that she had spent only one day with them!)

All of the leavers events are starting to happen at primary at the moment: learning lines for the play, track requests for the leavers party and they got their leaver's hoodies this week. I think things like this are helping to cement the idea that the end of primary is almost here.

My DD is both looking forward to secondary and very ready. She’s bored of primary school now and excited about doing more subjects and the far better facilities secondary have.

I don’t think she’s at all apprehensive, she tends to just get on with things and not overthink them (very much unlike her mother). I’m mostly worried about her making friends, she tends to be both a bit reserved and give no fucks what other people think of her. In a way that’s an admirable quality but she can come off as aloof. There are five other girls from her current school going (its a single sex school) and she’ll be in a form with two of them, unfortunately none of them are her closest friends though.

The school is less than half a mile away, her current primary is over a mile and she’s more than capable of getting herself to and from there. Not having to worry about bus or train journeys or long walks on cold, dark evenings is a huge relief.

We’ve got all the required logo uniform because the school outfitters were doing an early bird 10 percent off day. The rest, along with shoes everything else I’ll get over the summer.

We’ve had one evening meeting for parents and girls which covered the basics, the full transition day is this Thursday.

Hi
My only son is starting secondary school in September and tbh I'm worried about him being picked on ...he's very sweet natured and sensitive.
How do I go about making sure he sticks up for himself?
I cant afford boxing or self defence classes at the moment as I am a single mum on disability unfortunately!
Please help!

Is DC (not) looking forward to it. - DS2 is pretending to be cool about it but I think he's more excited than he looks
Is DC (not) ready for it. - He thinks so, I'm not sure
Are you (not) apprehensive about it. Very. He is disabled so I'm mostly worried about the size of the place and him getting around without falling over.
Have you got equipment, etc, sorted yet, or are you leaving it until the summer hols/last minute. Got most of the uniform from his big brother, just need tie, pe top and stationary
How have the transition days been going. He's missing them because he has a tummy bug
Anything else that is relevant. DS1 (now year 8) is very excited about ds2 joining him at secondary. He is planning on looking after ds2, introducing him to all his friends etc. He's so sweet. DS2 is not impressed by this and is planning to avoid ds1 at school!

DD is in Year 7 at the moment. Schools do this differently so you may not know until they start, but she has to do quite a bit of homework on the computer and then print it out for marking. This is easier if you have a printer at home although she can print things out at school as well.

DD's school has a two week timetable - this means knowing which week it is, as well as which day of the week it is, is important. DD's is printed in her planner and is also on the school's website so it is easy to find out the answer.

Friendships have fluctuated a bit this year which is inevitable because they were a new group of children. Just encourage your child to be nice to others and to join in with clubs and other activities at the start so that they meet different people.

ESIN It seems to me that bullying is stamped on pretty hard by most schools if it happens and is reported to them, so try not to worry. The chances are your DS will be absolutely fine, he will 'find his own tribe' and have his own friends.

I don't think self defence should be needed (unless he is going to a school known for lots of trouble). Encourage him to walk around confidently, and discuss with him what to do if he or a friend are being picked on. First ports of call should usually be tutor, pastoral care, or any other adult or prefect nearby.

My DD, going into y10 in Sept, is a 'peer supporter' (special badge and everything ). These are tasked with keeping an eye out for the y7s in the first few weeks. They were overwhelmed with applications - most kids are nice kids who look out for younger ones.

Thank you so much for your reply!
Yes, I think I'm more concerned than he is!
I'm hoping because he is in the top classes he will mix with kids the same intelligence as himself, as he is a nightmare for getting bored of kids too quickly due to lack of intelligence! (Sigh!) Lol!

ESIN

How quickly does the school set, do you know?
Some schools go for mixed ability in most things in y7, though most set for maths quite early.

Do you need to talk to him about tolerance/politeness to those less able & not inadvertently putting them down? It's fine not to be friends, but less fine to be outwardly irritated/scathing of less insightful questions.

Lol! He is the most patient and polite boy ever!
He seems to get bored very quickly though of others his age less intelligent!
I'm sure he'll be fine it's probably me thats over worrying about it!

I have just started ordering the uniform bits and pieces. The cost is just shocking.

My y9 was a bit put out today. The school had its going up day, and a number of the soon-to-be y7s are taller than she is!

Elenade The cost is possibly more shocking because you are buying all in one go rather than as and when bits are grown out of. Get things as big as you can without looking ridiculous. DD1's blazer and PE kit lasted 5 years, DD2's might do so too (apart from the fact that first PE shirt went missing 2 weeks into y7 and had to be replaced.)

Is DC (not) looking forward to it. - Yes

Is DC (not) ready for it. - yes

Are you (not) apprehensive about it. - nope

Have you got equipment, etc, sorted yet, or are you leaving it until the summer hols/last minute. - what equipment? She has a bag and a pencil case and I've ordered uniform

How have the transition days been going. - lovely

Anything else that is relevant. - encourage DC to swap contact details with new friends made on transition days so they can have contact over the summer.

My daughter starts secondary school in September-first form.She was 13 in June so I feel she's ready.

A tip for parents of dyslexic kids on large school campuses, colour code classrooms to timetable.

DS' school goes through from primary to secondary, just different parts of the campus, so we thought he was ok until they changed the bloody classroom names during the holiday. So from sensible things like M1 being maths room one, they were all renamed as places with no logical connection (Kilimanjaro was an art room!). He was panicking about showing up in the wrong place so we printed out a map of the classrooms and his timetable and colour coded it. Took ages but saved his stress levels.

That's a good tip SnowsinWater. At DD's school they spent their first day doing that - colouring in their timetable and the relevant room on their classroom map in their planner.

Re uniform - it can be very expensive. DD's school skirts are an eye watering £40+ per skirt. I was more annoyed about the jumpers and blouses which are completely plain apart from the school logo on them which means you can't buy them from anywhere but the school stockists. Does the school have a second hand uniform shop? That's a way of getting stuff cheaper.

Another tip from our experience. If they need a padlock for their school locker then go for one with a combination rather than a key. We didn't think this through as DD needed one for her sports locker but then needed to put the key somewhere safe. So we had to go and buy another padlock to make this process a bit easier.

Anyone else got a really small child moving up to high school? Struggling with blazers for my daughter the sleeves are so long you can't see her hands. She needs a black blazer - any ideas of where to find one with shorter sleeves? Or am I going to have to bite the bullet and get one altered.

I think even the smallest size in the pe jumper is going to be way too big. Not sure what to do about that one.

mum John Lewis do black girls blazers going down to age 3-4.

The school stockists might be able to do you things in a one off special small size, or the school might be happy for you to buy generic and get a logo put on.

My DD2 is small, but not 'really small' (see my comment upthread about many of the y6s being taller than her even though she is y9.)

Just a word of advice to those of you with children going into Y7. I have DDs in Y9 going into Y10, University and a SD in Y9 plus a SS in Y10 going into Y11.

Please, please, please if you have a DC who doesn’t pick up on social cues very well, DD1 was like that, explain to them that they don’t need to report rule breaking if it isn’t actual bullying/concerns them.

What I mean is that if your DC sees older years rolling up their skirts, calling their maths teacher an annoying idiot, swearing, going on their phones etc, they don’t need to to their HOY about it. It’s quite sad but they will get a reputation as a snitch and honestly, it’s just unnecessary for them to do that. Obviously, if your DC sees a boy getting screamed at and told that he is going to get beaten up or someone calls THEM a swear word, then they should tell a teacher 100%.

I thought we were ready but there are some good tips here. I will jot them down

I appreciate all the tips as well.

I will try to get some second hand uniform next time, because DS is visibly growing.

Thanks for all the comments.

Summary so far (hopefully included everything):
Do test runs of walk/bus to school, particularly if public bus.
Decide where they will do homework.
Decide where they will put their books.
Have duplicate things at home, for homework and if/when things get lost.
Sort out tracker on phone.
Don't buy masses of uniform in case they don't wear a certain item at all.
Only get 'involved' if rule-breaking affects DC directly or is very serious/bullying.
Know when to involve an adult.
Colour code timetable/map if it helps.
Know your week number (if 2-week timetable).
Plastic backing or covers for workbooks.
Calendar/app for homework to show priority.
Everybody is in the same boat, so will be nervous as well.
If getting a phone give it as late as poss, otherwise they are on it all the time!
Encourage them to join clubs, to socialise.
Go through 'what-if' scenarios, e.g. bus not turning up.
Check out the school second-hand shop.
John Lewis for smaller blazers.

When they first get their timetable, take some copies of it.

(At DD's school they are meant to cut up their timetable and stick it in their planner in the first tutor time. I have taught DDs not to do this until she has brought it home and I've copied it).

Have a copy folded up in their blazer pocket, possibly reinforced with sellotape.
Have a copy pinned upstairs in their room
Have a copy visible somewhere downstairs, eg on fridge or pinboard in the hall.
For the main copy in the hall we have a cardboard arrow pointing to the right week.

Remember, this is an exciting and hopefully enjoyable time. Don't over stress.

Is DC (not) looking forward to it.

No .he is the only
One going to his school and is very very sad
As am I

Is DC (not) ready for it.

He is not really ready in any way but it’s a local short walk and
Are you (not) apprehensive about it.
Have you got equipment, etc, sorted yet, or are you leaving it until the summer hols/last minute.
How have the transition days been going.
Anything else that is relevant.

Sorry pasted too fast and didn’t answer

Anyway we are all having major wobbles and year 7 has been pretty shit on every level

Everyone is going to the same school
Other than him and it’s all rather sad