Getting DS ready for Yr7

[Feckthisishard]

Hallo, I’m sure this has been covered many times but I’m looking for any advice on how to prep my son for secondary school (state).

It’s obviously a big jump, with the biggest change seeming to be the moving around between classes, and having to remember all the different books. For those who’ve got a yr8 or older boys, is there anything I need to particularly think about, and help him get ready for?

thanks 🙏

Cards, keys etc on a springy lanyard in a bag can be useful, if they always have that bag with them.

The second part being the operative one. If they get public transport, there is the possibility that the bag will be left to.ride the system until it (hopefully) ends up in the lost property office, while its owner arrives home / at school cardless and keyless😕. Springy lanyards for ours were attached to an inside pocket on their blazers, particularly useful for DS1, thanks to whom, DH and I became quite chummy with the staff in the lost property offices at both bus companies covering his route to and from school, not to mention at least two of those providing their services for school trips...

Print out timetable and put it on the fridge. You then know what books they need for a gentle reminder and dc can have an easy look in the mornings.

It would be worth teaching him how to tie an apron, and shoes for that matter.
I spend loads of time helping kids with this- it's a tricky thing for lots.

I bought expanding A4 file organisers for each of them so that they could put each subject's books/papers in each section. I sorted books and kit every night for the first couple of terms (at least for the youngest, who is such a daydreamer he's even gone off to school in socks before I called him back!)
Decent backpack that's on trend but plain black/dark grey (I only let them have the type that have a drinks holder outside the bag, and with an inner laptop area to keep books flat). Also plain-ish pencil case and contexts (miss those Smiggle shops!)
Maybe consider buying a hot food thermos flask - both my boys say they waste most of their lunchtime queuing up if they choose school lunch.
I drove them and their friends the bus route one day then they went on the bus the next day as a practise during the hols.
Take them there and back on the first day to take the separate bus worry out of the equation for the first day.
Have 5x everything except blazer so it's all ready for the week on a Sunday night. Spare tie in case they lose it as it's a detention issue.
Get yourself familiar with all the apps they'll be using for homework/communications etc.
Make sure they know their own mobile number to share with their friends and have WhatsApp set up ready if they don't already have it.
We had a couple of get-togethers during the hols with their new classmates so that they could get to know each other beforehand.

I love the idea of attaching the house key to the springy clip in the blazer! A few times we've had to be out when they've got home, and we've given them a key with fingers crossed and hoped for the best but thats such a good idea!

Also, we have a separate notice board in the kitchen for them - calendar, timetables pinned up, a bulldog clip each for all their trip letters, etc, and the log in details for all their online resource apps. Certificates go on there too and they're always using it so it's been a great help.

Empty bag every night of all books and as mentioned upthread, put the books into the magazine files of when they are next needed. A printed timetable next to where this takes place is essential. We also had a timetable on the back of the front door and the breakfast bar where they ate breakfast. They also had a laminated one in their pencil case too.

We had a homework time period, home, get changed, snack then homework. If no homework then time was spent expanding learning whether actual stuff they were covering in school or general learning about the world.

Whiteboard or notice board labelled with days of the week so they can write their homework on it under the day it is due in. The date it is due in was also written so they can see what to prioritise and you can see what they have.

2 pencil cases in their bag, one with the essential day to day equipment in and then another with compass, protractor, etc plus spares of any of the required equipment, for my sons that included whiteboard markers, pens in different colours, ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener, pencil. Kids can nick stuff to deliberately get you into trouble for the next lesson. None of these ever leave their bags. You have extras of these at home so they never forget a pencil case.

DCs used a locker in year 7 where they left their pe kit. As it meant two bags I made sure that their school rucksack had a carabiner clip to clip the straps of the pe kit to the main bag, that way you can't accidentally leave it under a table.

Make sure your child knows your mobile number off by heart and put it in their planner.

My children are all very different and have needed differing levels of support actually. I found the key thing was to keep asking questions and keep communication very open so that you know how they are coping and what they need support with.

One of my children needed lots of support to be organised enough for each day, and took much longer to be confident in that area than another child. I ended up writing up the timetable for each day with room numbers on as little credit card sized cards that they could pop in their blazer pockets - seeing room numbers for the next lesson in an instant was super helpful and took away the panic about where they were supposed to be through the day!

I have another child starting in September and have a feeling he will be different again! Would counsel lots of patience, being there to chat to, and a recognition that all children are different and will need different levels of support, and that is really ok. 😊

Wow some people very involved in the secondary years here?

My only tip for year 7 is to keep talking to them. It's a busy time and if they have someone to offload on then that's helpful?

Plus stationery. Buy lots.

Sticky back plastic.

ours need to cover their books in the first week and it always catches people by surprise

Our school luckily stopped it as they really got into avoiding plastic waste as the books can't be recycled anymore.

It all depends on the school's policy. DD got a detention in the first month for bringing the wrong RE workbook, two differnent teachers, two different books and she mixed it up.

Hardly a crime to teach a child to organise when the primary school was all about leaving everything in the school and having homework once a week. Or if the school route now involves public transport a child hasn't been using on it's own.