Transitioning to Primary/ Secondary School

Change is inevitable through the course of your child’s life as their world extends from their primary carers to the extended family or to structured childcare. Your attitude as a parent and how you handle times of change will guide how your child approaches, experiences and remembers change.

 Through your nurturing role as a parent, you will know best how your child responds to change. You will have seen it through their transitions beyond the family and through the inevitable changes of routine that take place in most families.

Starting primary school is a significant event for your child and so taking time to plan ahead will help to set the scene for a great start to your child’s formal education.

Transition from primary to secondary school:

Your role as a parent in your child’s educational journey continues through high school. In fact, it is as important to be engaged in the high school space as it was in primary. We are sometimes led to believe that our children don’t want us around once they are in high school and while it may be time to step to the side, it is definitely not the time to step away.

 As parents, we should be ready to guide and offer support to our children through this process. Encourage them to ask questions, take a reasonable risk and to keep trying. We all learn from our mistakes and over time become more confident in our judgement.

For some tips and ideas to make the transition to school as smooth as possible for both you and your child click here: