How Does Changing Schools Affect Your Child’s Education?

Changing schools can be a very unsettling and stressful experience. This move can affect your child both emotionally and academically, so the transition will need to be handled very carefully by parents.

To help parents prepare for changing schools, here is some great advice from an independent school in Hertfordshire…

Whether you are changing schools because you are moving house or because your child is unhappy at their current school, it is important to talk through all the changes your child can expect.

Be positive about the move and point out all of the benefits that their new school will offer them. It helps to maintain an optimistic attitude for your child to follow.  If your child sees that you are confident about the transition it will help to settle their own nerves.

Leading up to the move, show your child the school’s website or prospectus and visit the school together to look around.  This will help your child to get to know the new school, rather than fearing the unknown on their first day.

Sudden changes like a new environment and new people can cause children to suffer from anxiety. With this in mind, reassure your child that they can stay in touch with old friends and make arrangements to visit them once your child has started their new school.  It is important that your child knows that they don’t have to end old friendships.  For younger children, a play date with some of their new classmates can help them to settle in.

When moving schools, it’s not just the school building that’s new.  Your child will also have to adapt to new teachers, new classmates and possibly a new curriculum.  If they are behind or ahead in their new class, they could lose interest during lessons.  If this is a concern, ask the new teacher to keep an eye on your child and offer extra support should they need it. 

Finally, it is especially important for parents to be patient and not to criticise their child if they are performing poorly at the start of the transition. Remember it will take time for your child to adjust to their new school life.

Thanks for reading xxx