Parent Support Page
Do you have a child who is worried about Secondary School? We have collated some helpful resources and trustworthy signposting to help you to continue to support your child.
As your child transitions from primary school to secondary school, it’s understandable that both you and your child may have questions or concerns about what to expect.
It’s a big change, after all.
But as a parent or guardian, you want to make sure that your child feels supported and prepared for the new challenges ahead. That’s why our team has put together a carefully curated collection of resources and signposting designed to assist parents and caregivers in supporting their children through the transition process.
Whether your child is anxious about making new friends, struggling with academic expectations, or feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size of their new school, we’re here to help. Our aim is to provide you with reliable and trustworthy information to promote your child’s confidence, well-being, and academic success during this crucial period in their life.
Our Top Tips for Supporting Your Child:
- Talk to your child regularly and remind them that it is normal to feel a mixture of emotions, it might take time to settle in, not everything will change, who they can talk to if they are feeling worried/scared and remind them that they have coped with big challenges in the past and coped well!
- Talk about how it will be the same and different to Primary. Talk about what will change and reassure them that it is normal to feel worried.
- Familiarise them with their new school.
- Share any key information with the new school regarding your child.
- Prepare ahead of time with uniform, equipment, travel arrangements (do a trial run), work out a plan for the first day.
- Help your child to develop their independence and organisation. We recommend setting them up with 3 independent activities that they can do each day to gain that added responsibility, such as feeding the cat!
- Give it time – maintain familiar routines to create reassurance. Keep routines in place, meet with old friends, keep up hobbies and interests.
Childline Video Exploring Coping with Anxiety for Children:
Resources we recommend:
Whilst ‘Exciting Teacher’ was originally created to support Teachers in classrooms, it is NOT just for Teachers. We have HUNDREDS of parents using our resources to support their children at home. Here are some resources that you might find helpful to work through with your child:
I Feel Worried: Anxiety-Themed Workbook – Exploring Feelings, Thoughts, Behaviours, and Bodily Sensations
‘My Anxiety Map’: Thoughts, Feelings, Behaviours and Bodily Sensations inspired Worksheet
‘My Anxiety Coping Wheel’
‘My Anxiety Toolkit’ Coping Strategies
The Problem-Solving Worry Tree
5-4-3-2-1 Coping Strategies/ Grounding Techniques A4 Poster (54321)
My Coping Plan Fortune Teller
Breathing Techniques for Relaxation Cards
Exploring 'Transition to Secondary School' and Worries:
This sequence of resources can be used by parents and carers at home to support your child. Simply download the lesson plan and work through it 1:1 with your child completing the activities as you go! We highly recommend completing the ‘Coping Plan’ in Session 3!
Signposting to YoungMinds:
YoungMinds have collated their Top 10 Tips for supporting your child through a period of change, check it out here!
YoungMinds have a Parents Helpline that we HIGHLY recommend if you are concerned about your child, want to discuss a difficult or are looking for accurate advice:
Call their Parents Helpline for detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about a child or young person up to the age of 25.
You can call their Parents Helpline on 0808 802 5544, Monday – Friday 9:30am – 4:00pm.
Alternatively, you can contact them via webchat.
Signposting to Anna Freud:
The Anna Freud Centre have put together a guidance brochure for parents and carers. Supporting children’s transition to secondary school is an evidence-based guidance for parents and carers, written with input from clinicians at the Centre and teachers.
Anna Freud Video on Transition to Secondary School:
If you are struggling or your child is struggling, talk to someone and seek help today!
If you are struggling, talk to someone and seek professional mental health support. We recommend:
Samaritans – 116 123: whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
NHS 111 – option 2 for FREE NHS Mental Health Support.
Mind – a FREE service for Emergency, Crisis, and Harm support amongst all other Mental Health difficulties.
Shout 85258 – a 24/7 text service: shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) -CALM run a free, confidential and anonymous helpline as well as a webchat service, offering help, advice and information to anyone who is struggling or in crisis.
Education Support are dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of teachers.
For children: