Y7 transition - Tips and advice thread?

[Cinnamonspider]

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience or tips with helping a SEN child transition to Y7, particularly through the summer holidays.

DS is under SENCO, I think ASD but certainly a Highly Senstive Person like his Mum!
He's getting quite emotional about leaving Y6 and has got a bit of a bond with his teacher, and i want to try and support him through that.

I wonder if this is an opportunity to start a thread for advice other SEN parents could share their experience or advice on and we could refer to?

I've created a time table based on his new school days if its any help to anyone x

Is DS having extra transition visits? And have you spoken to the secondary SENCO?

How will DS be travelling to school? If he isn’t going on transport from home or taken by you, practice the route and a second route if possible. Also make sure DS knows what to do if something goes wrong. If you will picking him up, make sure he knows where you will be waiting.

Lots of copies of the timetable. Some find colour coding it helpful.

Pack DS’s bag the night before. DS may need support to do this, at least initially, but don’t worry if he needs help longer term. A checklist of things DS needs to put in his bag can help.

It can help to have 2 pencil cases, calculator, etc. One for home and one for his school bag. The school bag set never comes out of the bag at home.

Find an organisational system that works for you/DS. For example, one set place all school books are kept. Some find colour coded folders where all books/random pieces of paper are kept helpful.

Ensure DS knows who he can go to at school if there is a problem.

Also let him know he doesn’t have to tell a teacher every time some does something against the rules.

It can help to have a map of the school if they have one available.

You're amazing, thank you!

The pencil case one is brilliant as he's very much school is school and home is home.

He is under Senco, yes. Having an extra visit next week. We have the open evening tomorrow so Im hoping to speak with SENCO then but she has visited his class so they've met.

I'll be doing school runs as its a bit of a trek to school by foot. That is something I'd like to work on with him eventually though.

I came on to add things but @perpetualplatespinning has pretty much said it all, especially pencil cases, checklists and not reporting minor rule breaking.

Since you have said school is school and home is home, I would look to see what in-school homework support is offered, for example in the library at lunch or after school. Otherwise you may find yourselves in distress over homework.

This is a brilliant point as well, I'll make a note of that.

If DS’s primary uniform doesn’t include shirts and secondary does, make sure he can do the buttons. For changing for PE, he may prefer just unbuttoning half way then taking it off like a T-shirt. Similarly, if DS’s can’t tie laces, working on that or coming up with an alternative e.g. adaptive laces will help. And if the secondary has a tie and it isn’t a clip on one, practise tying it.