This is a sponsored post

Though we are currently home educating

We are beginning to think about secondary schools

This will be a huge change for our children

And we will be doing a lot of preparation work

In terms of making sure they are where they need to be academically

That they know they can always talk to us about anything

We will be building their confidence and self esteem

Talking about all aspects of school life not just the learning in lessons

Whenever children face a change it is important to guide them and support them

As much or as little as they need

Knowing that change can be challenging

I agreed to host this post about the possible impact of changing schools

There are lots of reasons why a child might need to move to a new school; maybe you have a new job that requires you to relocate, or perhaps there was an unresolved bullying issue at the last school.

Regardless of the reason, changing schools will be hard on your child and parents must be fully prepared for the repercussions. I have put together some advice, with the help of a top girls’ school in Surrey, so that parents can understand ways to alleviate the stress of changing schools for their kids.

There are a range of emotions involved when a child has to move to a new school. First of all, they might be feeling upset at having to leave behind their friends and they might feel nervous about not having any friends at the new school. Your child might be completely the opposite; the might be thrilled at the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Nobody can predict how a child will react to a big change but parents should understand these possible emotions and be prepared.

When joining a new class, your child will have to adapt to a new teacher who might use different methods. What’s more, your child might be miles ahead of their peers or miles behind, which requires further adaption. Of course, they will settle in eventually but the first few weeks (perhaps even months) will be quite challenging. Keep an eye on them during this transition period; you might need to give them a little extra support or potentially hire a tutor.

Make sure you have an honest and open relationship with your child from them minute you decide to relocate. They need to understand the reasons behind the decision and they need to feel like they can comfortable share how they’re feeling with you. When talking to them, try and emphasise all of the positive aspects to starting a new school and show them that you are confident with the decision. If they see that you are unhappy or worried about the move, they won’t be able to overcome their own anxieties.

Try and familiarise your child with their new school and the local area as much as you can as a way to eliminate “fear of the unknown”. Browse the website and potentially even visit the premises to get them used to it. There might be an open morning or taster day you can attend together. The settling in process will happen at different speeds for different children, just try and be there for your child when they need you to get them through the change.