A new school, a new class or even a new teacher can be hard for any child, and harder for a child who needs routine, finds change stressful or has sensory differences. Careful preparation makes a big difference. These ideas come mainly from guidance written for autistic children, and many of them help other children too.
Before the first day
- Visit the school at least once with your child. If you can, go out of school hours when it is quiet, and visit the classroom.
- Meet the teacher and key people beforehand, and take photos of them and of important places such as the classroom, the toilets, the canteen and the playground.
- Make a social story or a photo book about the new school: what the day looks like, who will be there, and what to do if worried. A visual schedule of the school day helps too.
- Talk about what will be the same and what will be different, for example “you will still have lunch, but you will change classrooms”.
- Practise routines at home, such as the morning routine, the journey and packing the bag.
- Think about uniform. Some fabrics, belts, ties and shoes cause real distress for children with sensory sensitivities. Ask the school if adjustments are possible.
- Walk the route, especially when moving to a bigger school with several classrooms.
Share information: a one-page profile
A one-page profile, sometimes called an “About me” page, introduces your child to teachers, support staff and even the bus driver. Keep it short, positive and practical:
- What your child enjoys and is good at.
- How they communicate, and how they show they are upset.
- What helps them to settle, and what makes things harder, including sensory triggers.
- Routines and things that need warning in advance.
- Anything that helps with learning, such as visual supports, breaks or extra time.
- Who to contact, and how.
Also ask the previous school or nursery to pass on reports and information about your child’s needs. Attach any assessments, therapy reports and the current IEP.
Questions for the new school
- Who will be my child’s main contact, and is there a special educator?
- Is there a transition plan, with visits and dates?
- What happens at break time and other unstructured times?
- Where can my child go if overwhelmed?
- How will you tell me about how things are going?
For more, see choosing a school for a child with additional needs. In India, government-funded and recognised schools are expected to admit children with disabilities without discrimination under Section 16 of the RPwD Act, 2016; see the rights guide.
The first weeks
- Expect tiredness. Starting school is tiring and confusing for all children, so give your child about half an hour of quiet time after school before any routines.
- Keep home routines steady and predictable.
- Check in with the teacher early and often, and share what you notice at home.
- Review the plan after a few weeks, and change it if it is not working.
- Treat the new school year as a fresh start, whatever happened before.
Sources
- National Autistic Society, Starting or switching school.
- Raising Children Network, Preparing autistic children for starting primary school.
- Spark for Autism, Making back to school easier for students with autism and their families.
- Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), Starting or changing schools.
This guide is general information, not legal, medical or professional advice. If something here does not match your situation, please speak to a qualified professional.