How Does Moving Schools Impact a Child?

There are lots of reasons why a child might have to move to a new school. Sometimes it’s because their parents have to relocate for work, or maybe they are going through a separation. Sometimes parents make a decision to move a child who has been bullied or not progressed well at school.

The transition can be tough for young people, especially when they are dealing with difficult changes in their personal life at the same time. I have teamed up with a pre-school in Oxford to explore the ways in which moving schools might impact a child, so that parents can be better equipped to deal with it.

Extra support

When moving schools, it’s not just the building that’s new. The child will also have to adapt to the teaching staff, who might be following a different curriculum. If they are behind or ahead in their new class, they might lose interest during lessons. With that in mind, parents and teachers should really keep an eye on children who are settling into a new school and give them a little extra support should they need it. It’s especially important not to criticise the child if they are performing poorly in any of their subjects, as it will take some time for them to acclimatise.

Plan ahead

Children who are forced to get used to a new environment with new people might suffer from anxiety. Parents should make sure their kids know they can stay in touch with their old friends and even meet up with them from time to time (if this is possible). The trick here is to make them feel a little less alone. Depending on the child’s age, parents could also consider arranging a play date with some of the children at the new school to help them get to know one another.

Be positive

Photo by **Gerd Altmann** from **Pexels**

If your child is moving to a new school, try and express a positive and optimistic mentality. If your child sees that you are confident about the transition, it might settle their own nerves. Show them the school’s website and prospectus and even try and pay the school a visit ahead of their start date so that they can familiarise themselves with it, rather than suffering with fear of the unknown.