Moving to a new country is a big adventure for the whole family. For children, however, an international move can bring an additional milestone: starting a new school. New classrooms, new teachers, new friends and a different curriculum can feel exciting and daunting in equal measure. The good news is that there are plenty of simple things families can do to help children feel prepared, confident and positive about their first day.
Here are our five top tips for starting a new school.
Get familiar with the school before the first day
A little familiarity can make a big difference. Explore the school’s website together, look at pictures and read all the information provided to find out what a typical school day looks like.
It can also help to practise the journey to school in advance. Whether you’ll be walking, driving or using public transport, doing a trial run means there is one less new experience to navigate on the first day.
Top tip: Ask the school whether they offer a buddy system for new pupils. Having a friendly face waiting on the first morning can be particularly reassuring for a child arriving from overseas.
Get to know the school routine
School life may look a little different from what your child is used to. Find out all the practical details such as the school day, uniform, PE kit, lunches, homework, clubs and what children should bring with them each day. If you don’t have this information, try to reach out to the school or post on a local group on social media to ask other parents.
Summer is a great time to shop for uniform and school essentials together. Giving children some involvement – from trying on their new uniform, to choosing their pencil case or lunchbox – can help turn nervousness into excitement.
Talk about how they’re feeling
Starting a new school can bring a mixture of emotions. Your child might be excited one day and worried the next. Give them opportunities to talk about what they are looking forward to as well as anything that is making them nervous.
Try asking specific questions such as:
- “What are you most excited about?”
- “Is there anything you’re wondering about?”
- “What would make your first day feel easier?”
Rather than promising that everything will be perfect, reassure them that it is completely normal for a new school to take a little time to feel familiar.
Help friendships happen
For many children, the biggest question isn’t about lessons – it’s “Will I make friends?” If you arrive in your destination before the start of the school year, look for opportunities to meet other families locally before school starts. Parks, sports clubs, holiday activities, libraries and community groups can all provide opportunities for children to meet others. Local Facebook groups can also be a great place to start. Ask around about whether there are parent groups, class groups, summer activities or opportunities to connect with another family before term begins.
For older children, encourage them to think about joining a school club, sports team, music group or activity that interests them. Shared interests are often one of the easiest ways to start conversations and build friendships.
And remind them of something simple: they don’t need to make their best friend on day one. A smile, saying hello and learning one new name is a great start.
Give yourselves time to settle in
Perhaps the most important tip of all: don’t expect everything to feel normal immediately. Your family isn’t simply starting a new school; you’re adapting to a new home, new surroundings, new routines and potentially a completely different culture at the same time. Children may be more tired, emotional or quiet than usual during the first few weeks. Building some downtime into evenings and weekends can help. Try to establish familiar family routines quickly – regular mealtimes, bedtime routines and favourite weekend activities can provide some welcome consistency when everything else feels new.
Keep communicating with the school too. Teachers can be an important source of support, so if your child is struggling with anything – from friendships and language to understanding classroom routines – encourage an open conversation.
One final tip for parents…
Remember that children often take their cues from us. You may have your own worries about whether your child will settle in or how different the education system might be. Try to project calm confidence around your child while giving yourself space to ask questions and seek support separately.
And celebrate the small wins – finding the classroom without help, learning a classmate’s name, enjoying school lunch, joining a club or coming home saying “I had a good day” are all important milestones.
Starting school in a new country is a big step – but with a little preparation, patience and encouragement, the new school year can mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the whole family.
