Tips for successful start for school

Starting primary school is a monumental milestone for all

children. When you have a child with a disability, this transition can have

additional challenges. However, this does not mean that the transition needs to

be a source of stress. Here are a few tips that may help smooth the process.

Prep for school for the neurodivergent child

Firstly, kids thrive on routine and the known. When faced

with a new environment and new schedule this can be off putting particularly

with children who are neurodivergent or slightly anxious. To assist kids to

cope with the change of a new place and routine, there are a few things you can

do in the weeks prior to the start of school to assist with the transition. Firstly,

have the morning routine that will be required for getting to school on time

implemented prior to the start of school. The routine of getting up, having

breakfast and getting out the door by a certain time can be implemented a week

or two before school starts and can assist kids to not be thrown off or tired

during the first few weeks of school. Secondly, take your child to the school

premise prior to school beginning. It is possible to access some aspects of the

school grounds even when they are closed. Walking around the premise and

talking about what school will be like, can help prepare your child to become

more familiar with the school environment. This can be particularly effective

as transition sessions to school happened late last year and the memories have

faded slightly over the summer period.

Tips for Anxious Children Starting School

Ensure that there is conversation about school is part of your

regular day in the weeks prior to school. Including your child in purchasing

uniforms and books and pens for school can keep it at the front of their mind

and help include them in the preparation process. Allowing them to decorate

exercise books or pencil cases can also be a way to help them feel including in

the preparation process. Practice doing activities they are likely to do in the

first few weeks of school. This could include setting up a desk at home,

creating a name label for their room or desk, or practicing some writing,

drawing activities and linking this to potential activities that they will do

at school. This will help them know what to expect in those first few weeks at

school. Finally, if there are aspects that your child has spoken positively

about, keep highlighting and emphasising these parts. This will help your child

stay positive about school even if they begin to feel anxious.

Building a School Transition Plan

Finally, the transition to primary school is hard for all

kids. Some children thrive but others need a bit more time to adjust. It is

important to realise that every kid is different. With a child with a

disability, they may need some additional strategy to help you, their school

team and your child adjust to the change. The most important thing is to have a

clear transition plan communicated with your therapists, school team and aides.

This should include a plan of how the school will communicate with you and your

child’s therapy team about successes and challenges experienced by your child. Some

schools implement a communication book that goes home with the child everyday.

This can include medical information as well as progress with curriculum goals.

It also should have a plan for the first couple of days and how any training or

handover should be completed between you and the school team. Depending on your

child’s needs, this may include a session/sessions from your therapy team to

train the school aids and your child’s teacher on modification to content and

additional care needs of your child. Some schools also encourage a parent to be

present for a time at the start of term to provide some training or to start

with shorter days. This can be really beneficial for children who tire easily

and will be highly stimulated by a new environment.

There are no hard and fast rules with a successful

transition to school. Every child is different and every family has different

needs. The most important thing is that you are mindful about what your child

needs, what you need to feel comfortable and how competent the school team is

at managing the transition. Remember, that school is fun and most kids grow to

love school.