The end of the school year is always a cause for celebration as students and teachers alike mark the end of exams, assessments and homework. Six weeks (give or take) of lie ins, reduced responsibility and binge-watching TV lie ahead, and it’s hard not to go into that with a smile on your face.
Of course, if you’re a parent of a current Year 6 child who will be transitioning into Year 7 in September, it can be a bitter-sweet moment. No doubt it feels like only moments ago you were kissing your little one goodbye on their very first day of school. Now, you’re preparing to pick them up at the end of their last day, shirt signed, leavers hoodie draped over their shoulders as they wave an emotional farewell to teachers.
Six years have flown by, and it’s a stark reminder that the following five years of High School will go by just as fast. These children of ours refuse to stay little for long.
As emotional as this experience can be, it’s important to remember children are hugely adaptable, and invariably sail through these sorts of transitions easily. Often, it’s us parents and carers that have the toughest time. So, how can you help prepare yourself, and your child, for the changes that are now on the horizon?
The last time you do that school run will likely be an emotional experience. If your school does a Leaver’s Assembly, a last performance, or a guard of honour for their Year 6’s, chances are you are going to shed a few tears (pack tissues). It’s perfectly normal and part of the process.
However, it’s essential you don’t dwell too much on what you’ve lost. Yes, your child is leaving primary school. Yes, it’s a massive change. This is the place where they learnt to read and write. Where they formed friendships and learnt how to handle arguments and fall outs. This is where they discovered a love for maths or science. Where they first played rounders or performed on a stage.
Embrace the nostalgia, but don’t spend too much time on it. There are things that you and your child are leaving behind, but the focus should be on the adventures yet to come. In September, your child will be meeting new teachers and making new friends. They will have more in-depth and challenging lessons. They will really begin to develop their own identity, increase their independence, and become responsible individuals.
Yes, it can be daunting, but it can also be hugely exciting. Allow your child to feel that sense of wonder and what might be – high school is a world of possibilities and the anticipation should be electric.
It can be tempting to allow your child to while the summer holidays away in a blur of lie ins, TikTok videos and late-night sleepovers. Whilst none of these are bad in moderation, it will serve everyone better in the long run to try to stick to good habits throughout the break.
Ensuring your child gets plenty of sleep, exercise, fresh air, and a balanced diet will stand them in good stead for the return to school. Everyone struggles with fatigue when they go back after a break, so maintaining a strong routine and being fairly disciplined with the essentials will give them a leg up for September.
We know it’s logical to want to allow your child to take the pressure off when it comes to the school break. They’ve worked hard for the end of Year 6 SATS and honestly, they have deserved some peace and chill out time.
That said, spending six weeks doing nothing in terms of academia may mean they are liable to forget some of the things they learnt previously. In turn, this can put them at a disadvantage when they start High School.
Organising some online maths and science tuition during the holidays, for example, an online physics tutor, or online chemistry tutor, can help your child to gain lots of confidence with these difficult subjects in preparation for secondary school. Take the opportunity to either go over topics they’ve struggled with in the past, or simply keep subjects fresh in their mind. The physics tutor or chemistry tutor can also help to prepare your son or daughter to study physics and chemistry at KS3 level in much greater depth than they studied in primary school and can inject a love and enthusiasm for the subjects as well. This will make the adjustment to the different levels of studying in year 7 KS3 physics and chemistry a lot easier and smoother for your son or daughter, and can help them to be well prepared, confident, and excited for the start of their new academic year.
The benefit of using online private tutors is you can easily fit lessons into your day. Even a simple 30 minute – one hour session per week would have a huge impact on reducing the possibility of a learning loss over the summer and help increase your child’s confidence.
Another benefit of hiring a tutor for the summer holidays is they can help your child make the transition from primary to secondary school learning. Subjects are studied in more depth at this level, which can be a stretch for some students. Working with chemistry tutors or a private biology tutor for example, can help prepare them for these specific topics.
Tutors will be in the best position to understand what your child should know now, and what will be expected of them over the coming months. This way they can support them with any gaps in their knowledge or skill set, and help encourage them to become more independent and focussed learners.
Talking about how you feel can help encourage your child to talk about their feelings, too. It will give you an opportunity to see if there any specific worries they have – and as a result, give you a chance to address them head on in plenty of time.
Some children may be anxious about the journey to school. Maybe they will be walking alone for the first time or will need to catch the bus. Practise this journey with them over the holidays, so you can get an idea of how long it will take and ensure there are no surprises for them.
If you are looking for a science tutor, or online maths tutor to support your child as they make the step from primary school to the exciting world of secondary education then we can help. Click here and take a look at the tutors who are available. Or, if you prefer, you can request a tutor, let us know your requirements, and we can recommend suitable tutors for you.
