6 tips to consider when changing your child’s school

Facing a school change in the middle of the school year can be a difficult experience for students and parents alike. Factors such as change of address, incompatibility of methodologies or even relationship difficulties can motivate or make the decision inevitable. And during the months of June and July, these transitions become even more common.

To help parents, we spoke to carla oliveira, pedagogue and director of Colégio Anglo 21. She listed practical tips that can make this phase less problematic. Check out:

1. Assess the need for change

According to Carla, when the situation does not involve extreme cases, such as bullying, for example, it is valid to wait until the beginning of the following year to make the transfer. “Dialogue is very important right now. Problems with grades or relationships, for example, can be solved with a set of school strategies along with a more individualized follow-up of educational guidance, “she says.

2. Listen and prepare your child

“When we talk about changing schools among teenagers, taking the child’s opinion into account is fundamental”, says the principal. For her, listing the positive and negative points of the change can help with the transition. “When it comes to younger children, evaluating these points is also important, but the decision, in this case, should be made by the parents themselves.” It is also important to be transparent with the child about what is happening and why. If possible, it’s nice to take her to meet the new school and experience living in the environment.

3. Look for a school that offers the solution for the reason for the exchange

If the school changes, the goal is to improve some aspect of the child’s education. For this, the new institution must overcome the weaknesses of the last one. “Parents should look for a school that proposes solutions for the problem that resulted in the decision, otherwise, it will be like exchanging 6 for half a dozen”, says Carla. However, she points out that they must also recognize that difficulties, especially when it comes to school performance, do not improve overnight. “It is a process that takes time and is part of the student’s adaptation to the teaching strategy of the new school”, she emphasizes.

4. Make it clear to the new school what you are looking for

When looking for a new institution, it is necessary to have transparency regarding expectations and also difficulties faced in the previous institution to avoid frustrations. “Making it clear to the new institution which were the problems that motivated the change is one of the ways of knowing if that school will be the best option”, explains Carla.

5. Be concerned with the school’s strategy for student adaptation

Knowing how the educational institution welcomes new students and makes an effort to insert them into the class is crucial for the student’s well-being in adapting to a new school. “Studying the student so that he fits better in a group makes adaptation easier; in addition, it is necessary to have support from educational guidance and be as close as possible to the family”.

6. Above all, dialogue

Carla says that the adaptation time, in general, usually lasts between one and two months, being easier for younger children. If, at the end of this period, your child still has difficulties, she recommends talking to the school to understand what is preventing adaptation. The same should be done with the little ones so that they can explain what bothers them. “The school-child-family triad must always be talking. Throughout this process, dialogue is fundamental, ”she concludes.

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