The transition from primary to secondary school is a big one and can cause some anxieties, not only for students but also parents and carers too. Children’s main worries about starting secondary school include:
- Getting to and from school
- Not having the right books or equipment
- Not knowing who to go to if there is a problem
- Getting lost
- Not making friends
- Being bullied
- Home Learning
- Not being able to do the work
- Getting into trouble
As parents, there are things that you can do to help your child feel more at ease on their first day. Here are a few tips on helping your child learn and settle in to Academy life.
- Practise the journey with them during the holidays.
- Help your child prepare for their day at the Academy, preferably the night before. Ensure that they are fully prepared and have a good night’s sleep.
- Ensure that your child is on time to the Academy and that they do not miss any learning time through lateness.
- Remind your child that if they have a problem of any kind, they must tell a member of staff. Explain to your child that everyone in Year 7 is in the same situation; they are not alone.
- Check your child’s planner at the end of each day to help them organise their home learning. If your child is spending more than an hour an night on their home learning, write a note to that effect in their planner.
- If your child follows the rules and behaves in a sensible manner, they will not get into trouble – reassure them of this fact.
- Tell your child that we are all here to help and want them to be happy and succeed at Wren.
- At the end of each day have a conversation with your child. Ask them, not what they did, but what they have learnt.
- Encourage your child to ask questions of you, their teachers and peers.
- Ask your child what their best question of the day was and ask them to explain why.
How to support your child effectively in their learning is a theme that we intend to revisit regularly. We hope that in the future you join us to find out the most effective ways to support learning.