How to help prepare your child for their first day at William Brookes School

The move to William Brookes School is a big step for a child, for all the family in fact and it throws up many questions and quite a few fears. The world of a big school and being one of the smaller students in it can seem forbidding and very different, but most children are ready for the move and will rise readily to the challenge.

One way to help your child start at a much bigger school is to be as prepared as possible. This might involve visiting the school for the particular events organised for this purpose and talking to parents of children or students already at the school. Importantly, you can provide great emotional support by talking about their concerns, reassuring them and possibly finding out further information for them.

Once at the school there is an important book called a planner (which sometimes remains buried in a bag), for your child to record homework and to give you and the school an opportunity to communicate with each other easily. It is helpful that you find this book early in September, read through it, sign the home-school agreement and sign it every week. How to contact staff at the school and other bits of information are all be in this book.

To do:
1. Preparation. Start preparing for the first day a few weeks before term starts, if not longer if this is their first time at secondary school or if they are changing secondary schools. You may also need to establish a good sleep routine. Wake them up a little earlier and send them to bed earlier until you have established something close to a 'school hours' pattern. A tidier bedroom could be helpful and it is good if your child has a desk with a light available to do their homework.
2. Go Shopping. If possible plan it so you will go shopping together for school equipment. Note that uniform and PE kit are sold through the school. Make sure you make a list together, of everything that you think will be needed. Try and keep a little extra money aside for treats. For example, brand new trainers for PE may not be needed for a while, so by cutting back in one area you might be able to buy some new pink folders or that MUFC pencil case they always wanted.
3. What Not to Wear. Before you go shopping, go through what clothing there is already. Maybe sort their clothes into three piles: 'to keep', 'hand-me-downs' and 'charity'. Make sure that if you both decide to keep something they have to try it on to check it still fits.
4. Visit. If possible, attend the open evening and days at William Brookes to walk round the buildings and get familiar with some of the main rooms they will be in, such as their form room, the Dining Hall and the Main Hall.
5. Bus Route. If your child is taking the bus, then drive the bus route with them a few times so it is familiar. One of the things children can get nervous about is the bus, so going over the route will enable them to know landmarks on the way they will be going. This gives them confidence and is one less thing that will be unfamiliar.
6. Safety. Discuss safety with your child, such as: crossing the road, being careful by the bus, talking to strangers, not running around near buildings or taking medication.
7. Checklist. Make sure you have worked through a checklist of questions and aspects to sort out. Please notify the school of any disabilities, allergies or medication that your child has.
8. Meet. Try to arrange to meet with other parents and their children before school begins so that your children will have familiar faces at school; they will have the opportunity to talk to friends and if they have older brothers or sisters, they can get advice from them too. This will also benefit you and the other parents as you can share information.
9. Incentives. This is quite a big step and your child needs a fuss making of them so that they feel more positively about the change. Focus on positive aspects and make them appreciate that this is a good thing by perhaps increasing their pocket money or giving them their own house key if you feel they are old enough.
10. Celebrate. Make sure you talk to your child (not that easy we appreciate) before they disappear to work or play on a computer or watch TV. Maybe make them their favourite dinner, go to the cinema or buy them a small gift to mark the occasion.

Tips from Parents to parents:
. Label everything! If items are lost they are then easily found and returned.
. Get children to practise wearing their uniform and tying their tie beforehand.
. If there are any concerns then someone from the school will be available to help. However difficult or small the problem might be, do not hesitate to contact your child's tutor or the reception staff.
. More than ever, your pre-teen (and teen) needs your guidance and wisdom to make the right choices.
. Add the school's web address to your favourites. All sorts of news and information (including letters home) will be posted there so check it out regularly.
. It's helpful to involve the whole family in setting out rules for internet use.