How to help children settle into a new school – tips for parents and foster carers
The new school year is almost here and hundreds of children across the country are getting ready to set foot in a classroom for the very first time. Starting school is exciting, but it can also cause children and their caregivers some stress and anxiety.
To make the transition a little easier for you and your little ones, we’re sharing our tips for helping children settle into school this September. Foster carers can also find advice here on how to best support children moving from one school to another.
How to prepare a child for school
Starting school is a big milestone for every child. There are several things parents and carers can do to help their children prepare for school life:
- Visit the school – If possible, take your child to see their new school before their first day. A school visit gives children an opportunity to see their classroom, meet their teachers, and get used to the school environment.
- Answer their questions – It is normal for children to have lots of questions about their new school. Take the time to answer all of the questions they ask and provide them with the reassurance they need.
- Talk about the school day – The fear of the unknown can cause children to become anxious in the lead up to starting school. Help to put your child at ease by sharing what they can expect to happen during the school day. Some children may be happy with a brief overview – you will learn new things and make new friends – but others may want more detail – when you arrive you will hang up your coat, sit at your desk and wait for your teacher to do the register.
- Get them involved in the preparations – Build excitement by asking your child to come uniform shopping with you and let them pick out their new stationery, lunchbox, and bag. Children are more likely to look forward to starting school when they’re more involved in getting ready for the big day.
- Meet classmates in advance – If possible, arrange for your little one to meet some of their new classmates before they start school. If you know other parents and carers in the area, arranging a get together with the children before the start of term is a good idea. If your child has already met some of their peers before the new school year, they will likely feel more at ease when heading into the classroom for the first time.
The key to helping your child settle into school is listening to their worries and providing them with as much information as possible. The more a child knows about their new school, the less anxious they will be.
Remember, it is normal for children to feel scared about starting school. But with your encouragement and support, they will soon settle into their new routine.
How to help a foster child settle into a new school
Moving from one school to another is a common experience for children in care. While hundreds of four year olds are getting ready to start reception this September, there are children of all ages who are about to begin the academic year in a different school to the one they left at the end of the summer term.
Children in care are not always able to stay in their current school when they move in with their new foster carers. It is not uncommon for looked after children to move out of catchment areas or even to a different county. In these circumstances, the children must leave their existing school and continue the term somewhere else.
It doesn’t matter how old a child is, settling into a new school can feel challenging. It can take a long time for a young person to get used to their new classmates, teachers, and school environment.
If you are caring for a child who is moving to a new school, here are some tips to help them settle in:
- Let them say goodbye – Leaving behind classmates and familiar teachers can be an upsetting experience. If possible, allow your foster child to say goodbye to their old friends and school staff before they move on. Saying goodbye isn’t easy, but it can provide children with some closure.
- Share photos of their new classroom and teachers – Before starting at a new school, looked after children are often given the opportunity to meet with their new teachers and visit the school building. Seeing the school before their first day can help to reduce anxiety and make the transition between schools more manageable.
- Look at the school website – School websites are a great place to find out important information and learn more about a school’s ethos and approach to learning. If it’s not possible to visit a school in person, look through the school website with the child you’re caring for instead.
- Book breakfast and after school clubs – Making new friends in the middle of the school year can be challenging. Breakfast and after school clubs are a good place for children to interact with each other outside of the classroom and form new friendships. These clubs provide children with an opportunity to enjoy more of the social element of school life, with less focus on learning and completing classwork.
- Include them in the preparations – Involving a child in preparations for school often results in a smoother transition. Foster carers can ask a child if they would like to come uniform shopping or practice the walk to school a few times before their first day.
If you are worried about how a child in your care is settling into their new school, don’t hesitate to share your concerns with your social worker and school staff. Professionals understand how challenging attending a different school can be for young people in care, and that’s why we are here to help.
What is virtual school for looked after children?
All children in care are provided with a Virtual School service from their local authority. Virtual school is used to provide children and young people with all of the resources, advice, and support they need to receive the best education possible. At Focus Foster Care, we work with local authority officers to identify the most appropriate school for a child and to put the correct provisions in place.
Foster carers will be involved in the Virtual School process and be provided with all the information they need to best support and advocate for the children in their care. As part of the Virtual School service, children also receive a Personal Education Plan (PEP). A child’s PEP is reviewed termly; the plan is used as a record and roadmap of a young person’s educational journey.
Starting school checklist
- Prepare together
- Answer questions
- Provide reassurance
- Visit school and meet the teachers
- Talk about what your child can expect
- Seek support from professional if needed
If you are caring for a child starting at a new school this September, we are wishing them lots of luck for this new chapter.
Thinking about fostering?
Are you interested in becoming a foster carer? Focus Foster Care is an independent fostering agency, currently seeking committed and hard-working people to join our team of foster carers.
If you have the drive to make a positive difference to a child’s life, we want to hear from you! Contact our friendly team for a chat today, call 0800 524 4797 or fill out our online contact form.
We look forward to hearing from you and hopefully welcoming you to the Focus family soon. Together with our foster carers, we are changing the lives of children in care throughout the West Midlands.
