Supporting Your Child Through School Transitions
You can see your child’s capability and potential. But when a big school transition is coming up – starting kindergarten, moving to high school, or changing schools – you might feel uncertain about how to help them prepare. School transitions bring real changes: new environments, different routines, unfamiliar expectations, and new people to meet. For many children, these changes can feel overwhelming – that’s where occupational therapy support comes in.
Why Transitions Feel Big
School transitions aren’t just about logistics. They represent shifts in identity, routine, responsibility, and relationships. These changes can affect your child’s emotional wellbeing, daily routines, social connections, and how they participate in learning. When your child navigate uncertainty, it’s natural to wonder how you can help them feel confident and ready.
How Occupational Therapy Can Help
Occupational therapists understand how sensory processing, emotional regulation, daily routines, and participation all work together. We use evidence-based strategies to make transitions smoother and more manageable. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
Understanding What’s Ahead
Transitions often bring changes in responsibilities and expectations. A child moving from early childhood to primary school might be expected to sit for longer periods, follow routines more independently, or manage their belongings with less adult support.
We work with you and your child to explore what the new routine might look like. Will they need to wake up earlier? Catch a bus? Remember a timetable? We use visual schedules, social stories, and role-play so your child can anticipate the changes. These practical steps help your whole family feel prepared.
Finding What Works
In therapy sessions, we trial different strategies and supports:
- Seating options like wobble cushions or footrests to support attention and regulation
- Movement breaks, fidgets, or breathing tools that work at home and school
- Sensory supports like noise-reducing headphones or weighted lap pads
- Practical tools like packing checklists or colour-coded folders
The goal is to equip your child with strategies that support their independence and confidence in ways that work with how they think and move through the world.
Collaborating with School Staff
Successful transitions happen through shared understanding. When educators understand your child’s strengths and what helps them learn best, they can prepare proactively and make informed decisions about supports.
We can organise care team meetings with you, teachers, and other professionals. We provide transition summaries that highlight your child’s strengths, current supports, and helpful strategies. We explain the reasoning behind recommendations so educators understand why certain supports make a difference.
This collaborative approach creates more inclusive classroom environments where your child is better understood and supported. It also means consistency between home and school, which makes life easier for everyone.
Building Self-Advocacy Skills
As children grow, self-advocacy becomes increasingly valuable. Transitions are an ideal time to begin or continue this work.
We help your child identify what helps them feel calm, focused, and ready to learn. We support them to communicate their needs in ways that feel natural and comfortable – through visual aids, role-play, or scripts. We also coach you to speak confidently with school staff and ask the right questions when advocating for your child.
Self-advocacy builds confidence and resilience that serves children well as they move toward more independent environments.
Questions to Ask When Exploring Schools
You might feel unsure what to ask when visiting potential schools or planning a transition. Here are some helpful questions:
- How do you support students who need flexible attendance arrangements?
- Are there options for modified or reduced workload?
- What is the average class size?
- Are classrooms open plan or closed?
- Do learning support staff receive disability or neurodiversity training?
- Are all facilities physically accessible?
- What wellbeing supports are available to students?
- Is there a learning diversity or inclusion coordinator?
- Can allied health professionals observe or deliver therapy on site?
These questions can help you make informed choices and feel more confident during the transition process.
What Becomes Possible
With the right tools, planning, and collaborative support, school transitions become opportunities for growth rather than sources of stress.
Your child feels confident and safe stepping into new settings. You feel heard, informed, and equipped with practical strategies. Educators feel prepared to support your child’s learning in meaningful ways. Everyone benefits from a more connected, collaborative approach.
If your child has a school transition coming up and you’re looking for practical support that recognises their unique strengths, we’re here to help. Complete your referral today to explore how occupational therapy can support this important transition.