There is a particular feeling to the last week of the summer holidays. Shoes are bought a size up, the pencil case is unearthed from the bottom of a bag, and somewhere between the excitement and the late nights there is a small flutter of nerves — for children and parents alike. It is entirely normal, and a little preparation goes a long way.
Our autumn term begins on Tuesday 8 September, with induction for our new Year 7 and Sixth Form pupils on Monday 7 September. Here is how to arrive ready.
EASE THE ROUTINE BACK IN
Sleep is the single biggest lever you have. Rather than a sudden switch on the first Monday, move bedtimes and wake-ups earlier by fifteen or twenty minutes every couple of days across the final week. Reintroduce breakfast at the time it will happen in term time, and start winding screens down an hour before lights out. By the first morning, the day will feel familiar rather than a shock.
SORT THE PRACTICAL THINGS EARLY
Label everything — uniform, PE kit, water bottles, instrument cases. Check shoes and blazers still fit, and lay out the first day’s kit the night before so the morning is calm. Pack the bag together rather than for them: children who know what is in their bag and why feel far more in control when they walk through the gates.
It is also worth walking or driving the route once, particularly if your child is changing site or travelling independently for the first time. Knowing where to get off the bus is a surprisingly large comfort.
MAKE USE OF WRAPAROUND CARE
For our Prep families, Breakfast Club opens from 7.30am with a nutritious start to the day, and After School Club runs through to 6.00pm with healthy snacks, a supervised space for homework and plenty of sport, art, construction and games along the way. It is a gentle way for children to settle, and one less thing to solve in a busy September week. Registration and session booking are handled through the parent portal — worth doing before the term rush.
TALK ABOUT THE TERM AHEAD
Ask open questions rather than reassuring ones. “What are you looking forward to?” tends to draw out more than “You’re not worried, are you?” If something specific is on their mind — a new class, a lost friendship group, a subject they found hard last year — name it calmly and make a plan together. Small, concrete plans defuse most first-week anxiety.
LOOK AHEAD TO THE CO-CURRICULAR LIST
Clubs and fixtures restart in the second half of September, and with more than 140 opportunities on offer across the School, the list can be a lot to take in. Encourage your child to choose one thing they already love and one thing they have never tried. That balance — comfort and curiosity — is where most of the growth happens.
AND A WORD FOR PARENTS
You do not need to have everything perfect by the first bell. Term settles quickly, staff are on hand from day one, and your child’s form tutor or class teacher would far rather hear from you early than late. If something is unsettling them, tell us. That is what we are here for.
We cannot wait to welcome everybody back.
