Starting Strong: Tips for a Smooth Transition into the New School Year

Getting Ready for a New School Year

A new year is a fresh start – a chance to make the most of new learning opportunities, to strengthen the friendships we have, and to make new friends. The new year also gives us a chance to use all the knowledge and experience we’ve gained over the years.

Ideas to prepare for the year ahead
Below are some ideas for things you can do to help the new school year get off to a good start:

Build confidence around skills that your child may need for school.
– Reception students: consider practicing getting dressed (doing up zips etc.), opening containers (ready for lunch boxes!), becoming independent in routines (e.g. going to the toilet, packing their school bag) or even playing on the playground.
– Year 1 to 3 students: try focusing on social skills (turn taking, waiting, winning and losing), play skills (including catching up with friends from school) and helping them learn to look after their belongings.
– Year 4 to 6 students: consider focusing more on organisation skills, social problem solving, responsible decision-making or working as part of a group or team.
Begin getting back into routine ready for school starting. This would include getting up at the time that you would need to for school as well as going to bed as you would on a school night.
Start talking about going to school a week or two before school starts. The school holidays are a long time (especially for children) with lots of exciting occasions (Christmas!). Thinking about going to school may be more meaningful if it is linked in with other activities (going school shoe shopping, trying on uniforms etc.).
Be positive! The conversations we have with or around our child help shape their thoughts and feelings about a situation. If our conversations about school are positive, then this is likely to help your child view starting school as a good thing. If your child is feeling worried or nervous, remind them that many children in their class will likely be feeling the same way. Remind them of who will be there to help them at school (their friends, their new teacher, other teachers they know etc.).
The “Getting to Know Your Child” meetings held held a couple of days prior to school starting are a great opportunity to begin building a positive relationship with your child’s teacher and really help to get 2025 off to a great start!

For Parents of New Receptions
Making the transition to primary school can be a big change – both for your child and for you! Even for children with siblings already at school, it can take time to adjust to a new routine. Our Flying Start Transition Program gave students an opportunity to become familiar with the Reception classrooms and to meet the wonderful team of teachers who will be guiding the students on their learning journeys.

Separation Anxiety
Starting or returning to school can be an emotional time for children and parents, especially if feelings of separation anxiety arise. To ease this transition, brief but loving goodbyes can help build your child’s confidence, while lingering or showing hesitation may amplify their worries. Most importantly, remind your child that their feelings are normal and that you’ll be there to hear all about their day when they return home. Please don’t hesitate to seek support from staff, especially from Mrs Sarah Noell (Deputy Principal/ Head of Early Years), Mrs Kerry Ramsay (Head of Primary), Ms Tassie Mangos (Wellbeing Coordinator) and Ms Sascha Hennig (Wellbeing Support).