We have developed a week-long, intensive ‘Transition to School’ program for children starting school in 2025. Held in the upcoming summer school holidays, the program aims to support children in preparation for their transition to kindergarten. We are running the program in the weeks beginning Monday 13th January and Monday 20th January, and you can register your child for one week or both. Click here for the flyer and contact us via info@stf.org.au or 1300 111 783 to register your child.
Starting school is a significant milestone for every child, and for those with developmental delays or neurodivergent needs, this transition can present unique challenges. Here at the Stronger Together Foundation, we are committed to supporting families through this journey, ensuring that each child feels prepared and confident as they step into their new educational environment.
The move to school involves new routines, environments, and social dynamics. For neurodivergent children (and their parents!), these changes can be both exciting and overwhelming. Our goal is to provide strategies that foster a smooth transition, promoting a sense of belonging and readiness. Please feel free to talk to your child’s therapist if you have any specific concerns.
Building familiarity with key individuals
Establishing relationships with school personnel is so beneficial for children and parents alike. If you can, introduce your child to their classroom teacher, principal, office staff, and specialist teachers (such as SLSOs or librarians) to create a network of familiar faces. This familiarity can help reduce anxiety and build trust within the school community.
Exploring the school environment
Familiarity with the physical layout of the school can help to ease a child’s transition. Visiting essential areas like classrooms, playgrounds, toilets, the canteen, and pick-up/drop-off points can help with confidence. These visits can be arranged during orientation days or informal visits, providing opportunities to get used to the new surroundings.
Establishing and practicing routines
Consistency is key to helping children adapt to new schedules. Practising daily routines at home, such as dressing in the school uniform, packing a school bag, and rehearsing drop-off and pick-up procedures, can make these activities more predictable and manageable. Utilising visual schedules or calendars to count down the days until school starts can also aid in building anticipation and understanding.
Collaborating with the school
A strong partnership between parents and educators is essential. Sharing up-to-date information about your child’s strengths, needs, and effective strategies ensures that the school can provide tailored support. Providing recent assessment reports, child profiles, and details about sensory tools or visual supports can facilitate a supportive learning environment.
Preparing through social stories
Social stories are effective tools to help children understand and anticipate new experiences. Creating personalised stories that outline daily routines, introduce key individuals, and depict various school scenarios can enhance your child’s comprehension and comfort. Include photographs of the school environment and discuss what to expect to help with familiarisation.
Encouraging independence
Building independence in managing personal belongings and self-care tasks is beneficial. Practising skills like dressing in their school uniform, organising their school bag and carrying their own bag can boost your child’s confidence and readiness for school.
Engaging in orientation programs
Participating in school orientation programs provides valuable exposure to the school setting. If additional visits are needed, discussing this with the school can ensure that your child has ample opportunity to become familiar with their new environment.
‘Transition to School’ intensive program
By implementing these strategies and working collaboratively with schools, families can support their neurodivergent children in embracing the new adventure of starting school. To further support this journey, the Stronger Together Foundation will offer an intensive program during the January school holidays for children with a diagnosed developmental disability who will be starting kindergarten in 2025. This group program is designed to prepare children for the routines, social interactions, and expectations of a formal school environment, giving them a head start on their transition. Click here for more information.
