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Starting high school is a significant milestone for every child and their family. For children with disability, thoughtful planning during Year 6 can help you make this transition smoother and set your child up for success in the next phase of their school career.
This change can understandably feel daunting, but breaking the process into manageable steps will help you and your child approach high school with confidence. Here’s how to prepare for this important transition.
Creating a transition plan for your child
You can start developing a transition plan during Year 6 by working with your child’s primary school staff and teachers. The transition plan document(s) will be an important tool for sharing information about your child’s needs, strengths and learning style with their new high school teachers.
The Raising Children Network recommends that your transition plan should include the latest health reports, school reports, and any strategies that work well for your child. Include key dates or milestones like prioritising transition discussions in Term 2 of Year 6, orientation in Term 3, and Student Support Group (SSG) meetings in the final term before high school starts.
Then create a timeline for each step of the process, making sure information reaches the relevant professionals at the secondary school.
This document really helps the high school with planning, whether arranging staff training, managing medication requirements, or preparing emergency procedures. The more detailed your transition plan, the better equipped the school should be to support your child from day one.
The role of Student Support Groups (SSGs) and learning plans
According to the Raising Children Network, SSGs create a partnership between you, school staff, your child, and relevant professionals like inclusion leaders and allied health practitioners. Everyone works together to plan and implement the support your child needs.
Before high school starts, find out what support is available at the new school and who to contact. Ask for an SSG meeting during Term 4 of Year 6 to talk about logistics and plan for the year ahead.
The SSG will help develop an individual learning plan that outlines your child’s learning goals for the year and detail how the school will support this. Your input is so important here, as you know your child best, and your insights will help to create realistic and meaningful goals.
It’s also a good idea to ask for detailed handover notes from primary school teachers. Their observations about what works well and what’s challenging for your child may be useful information for high school staff. Then plan a follow-up SSG meeting during Term 1 of Year 7 to check how your child is settling in and adjust support as needed.
Independent support workers on Mable can help with transition goals, whether that’s practising new routines, building independence skills, or providing extra support during the adjustment period.
Preparing and building skills for high school
The school orientation is your first look into the new environment. Be sure to attend the official orientation day and meet all key staff members, like the learning support coordinator, year adviser, or special education coordinator who will become important contacts.
You could also ask the school office for a map of the campus and then look at this at home with your child to help them become familiar with the campus before they start. Consider some extra visits during the holidays to practice moving between classrooms and finding important areas like the library, canteen and toilets.
Also think about the new skills your child might need for high school. These will make their daily routine much more manageable:
- Using locker combination locks
- Navigating between classrooms using a timetable
- Packing bags and managing equipment for different subjects
- Using a diary or planner to track homework and activities
- Preparing lunch or managing at the canteen
- Asking teachers for help
- Using public transport if relevant.
Try to practice these skills during school holidays when there is less pressure. Breaking tasks into smaller steps and then repeating them will help build your child’s confidence.
Providing emotional support and useful resources
Talk openly with your child about any worries they have. Starting high school brings uncertainty for almost everyone, and acknowledging these feelings will help you have honest conversations.
It’s also important to chat about how much they want to share about their disability with their peers. Respecting their choice around disclosure helps them feel more in control.
Remind your child about the support that’s available, like learning support teachers, teacher aides, and adjustments designed specifically for them. If your child has access to NDIS funding, explore how this can support transition goals. Allied health professionals can help to address specific needs as they arise.
Moving forward together
Remember, transition takes time. Try to stay as connected as possible through parent information evenings and teacher interviews. Enjoy celebrating the small wins as your child adjusts to their new environment. With preparation, support and patience, your child can thrive in their new high school.
This article and any of our articles linked to it provides our summary of this topic and terms and is intended for general purposes only.