Starting secondary school

Moving from primary to secondary school is an important milestone in your child’s life, it is an exciting time with new experiences. Lots of change can understandably bring some anxieties for both parents/carers and children, which is why preparation is key. Explore this page to find lots of information, support and guidance on what to expect as you begin your journey to secondary school. There are various resources at the bottom of the page that you might find useful. 

Advice for parents/carers

Tips for parents/carers:

• Look at all the schools in your area and their admissions policies. Check the school's websites to see if they have a completed 'snapshot' of what they can offer. This will enable you to compare settings and get an overview. 
• Visit the schools on their open days, these will be advertised on the schools websites. We would encourage you to start these visits in Year 5 and don’t just visit one school - visit a few to help you compare.
• Once you have decided, you can submit 3 school preferences to admissions - open September to October for general admissions. If your child has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) then the Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND) team will support with transition to secondary school with an EHCP. The  EHCP reviews can be a good time to talk about transition planning.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Feel free to contact the secondary schools directly to find out more information. 
• If the secondary school offers extra events in Year 5/6, encourage your child to attend them. This will help them to become more familiar and meet other children before they move to secondary school.
• Talk to your child’s current primary school if you have any worries. They may be able to offer additional transition support.
• Ensure your child's current school are sharing important information with the new school. This is really important for children with  SEND or additional vulnerabilities.
• If possible, print a school map for you and your child to look at, visit the school's website to see if they offer virtual tours and videos of the new school environment. Taking time to learn about the new school environment before starting can help to reduce anxiety.
• Help to familiarise your child with the journey to and from the new school by walking or driving with them. If relevant, check the transport options on the school website or Cheshire East's transport policy.
• Young Minds provide tips and advice for parents/carers to help your child/young person cope with change.
• Remember this is a change for you too. Reach out to other parents/carers for support. 

Year 6 - 7 transition timetable

Preparing for secondary school is key to a smooth transition and the earlier you start, the better. Please contact your preferred secondary school or look on their website to find out when their transition days will be taking place. Some schools offer enhanced transition days, these are additional visits for those children with  SEND or additional vulnerabilities, if you feel these are needed then speak to your current school. The transition section in the inclusion toolkit (pdf 150kb)   can also help identify some common steps expected from all educational settings to support with transitions.

Support for children

Watch this video to get top tips to help prepare for secondary school.

Top 5 tips

1. Don’t worry about getting lost - everyone will feel the same so ask for help. Getting lost can help you find new places too.
2. Make friends and be yourself! Use the taster days to start meeting other new starters. Secondary school gives you lots of opportunity to meet new people. Exciting!
3. In Year 5 and Year 6 try to build more independence in preparation for secondary school. Help with your packed lunch and organising your school bag and PE kit. 
4. Start to set reminders for your homework and ask a friend if you are unsure.We all need to support each other. In secondary school you might get more homework than in primary school, being organised will help. 
5. Start to familiarise yourself with secondary school, visit the school website to look at the school map/watch virtual tours, start to learn what your new school day will look like. 

Here is an example of a secondary school video to give you an idea of what you might expect. Check online to see if your new school has a video you could look at too!

 Young Persons Checklist:

Resources to help transition to secondary school

• The Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA), outline different types of schools and settings on their website.
• Questions to consider when choosing a secondary school for a child with ASD (PDF, 87KB)
• Supporting Autistic Pupils with transition to Secondary School - remotely
• Starting secondary school - BBC Parents' Toolkit
• Secondary School Transition Booklet
• Cheshire East Information Advice and Support (CEIAS) - Accessing Education 
• School Transport Information 
• The Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA), outline different types of schools and settings on their website.

Feedback

The Transition Team are always looking for feedback on how to improve our service. Use our online form to give feedback on the starting high school information online form. The form only takes 2 minutes to complete and we will appreciate your input.