Start of Spring Term
The return to normality after the Christmas holidays can be a challenging adjustment for the whole family. Children have grown accustomed to a different rhythm to their day and will no doubt have enjoyed a break from their timetabled activities and alarm clocks. After a busy Autumn Term, the Christmas break is a welcome reprieve. Rest is part of healthy development – and it can be hard to re-energise and rise to the demands of a new year after such a wonderful stretch of downtime!
Whilst some children return eagerly, others take a little time to settle back in and may even feel a little anxious at the prospect. Understanding this as a normal part of the transition can make the early weeks of term feel less arduous.
Prep school children and older children experience the return to school in distinct ways, and recognising those differences can help parents offer the right kind of support.
Younger Children
Younger children are particularly sensitive to changes in routine. Living very much in the present, they may feel the end of the holidays keenly. At this age, motivation is closely linked to feeling secure, encouraged and connected. Our pastoral leaders and teaching staff at Surbiton High School understand this well and draw upon their experience and knowledge to ensure that each child receives the welcome they need when they return to School in January.
Some ways in which parents can help their children include re-establishing routines for morning, homework and bedtime; managing screen time and finding time to chat about any worries or excitement to help them acclimatise. Dinner times together are a lovely way to connect and share experiences as a family.
In school, activities such as sport, music, clubs and creative opportunities play a particularly important role for Prep pupils. These parts of the day often help children re-engage emotionally with their teachers and friends, offering enjoyment and a sense of achievement that supports learning in the classroom and overall well-being.
Teenagers
Teenagers often return to school with a heightened awareness of academic pressure. Exams and future pathways can loom on the horizon, especially after a period of relative freedom. For teenagers, motivation is closely connected to independence, confidence and purpose.
At Surbiton High School, pupils return to a School day which includes structured Form Time, as well as the thoughtful and bespoke well-being programme, ensuring that pupils are well supported as they begin the new term.
At home, parents can encourage open discussion with gentle conversations about the term ahead; break the term into stages by focussing on each week separately and diarising deadlines clearly to help them to organise themselves and prioritise their workload. Viewing the term as a whole can be overwhelming, so looking at it day-by-day with things clearly mapped out may feel more manageable. Parents may also like to reassure their children that motivation naturally rises and falls and that it is perfectly normal to feel a little sluggish going into January! And again, a solid routine of sleep, downtime and balancing interests is essential to support a healthy mind and body.
Beyond the classroom, sport and co-curricular activities can be particularly important for teenagers. These opportunities allow pupils to reconnect with school through teamwork, physical activity, creativity or leadership, and can often provide a welcome counterbalance to academic demands. Feeling successful or valued in one area can have a positive effect on motivation across the board.
What can School do to help?
A diverse and engaging school environment helps children of all ages regain momentum after the holidays. Sport, clubs, performances, competitions, and shared activities foster belonging and enjoyment, reminding pupils that School is not only about outcomes, but about growth, relationships and discovery.
These experiences can be especially helpful in the early weeks of term as academic routines settle back into place.
From everyone at Surbiton High School, we wish you a good start to 2026!
