Helping your child start secondary school| Mentally Healthy Schools

About this resource

This BBC Bitesize webpage offers practical advice for parents and carers on helping their child prepare for the move to secondary school.

Created in consultation with a representative from YoungMinds, it explores some of the worries children may have about starting secondary school and how parents and carers can respond. It includes guidance on talking about anxiety and helping children understand their feelings, alongside practical ideas for preparing for unfamiliar situations.

The webpage also links to further advice on anxiety and information for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Schools can use the resource as part of their wider approach to supporting children and families during this transition.

Using this resource

This resource is designed for:

parents and carers
mental health leads
senior leaders and leadership teams.

Learning outcomes

This resource addresses the following learning outcomes:

Support or signpost relevant evidence-based resources for parents, families and carers so they can develop skills and strategies to support both their child and themselves.