From visual schedules to honest prayers and celebrating small wins, Beth Stockwood from Growing Hope wants parents to know that they can help their children feel secure and valued during every new beginning
Whether your child is starting reception, moving to secondary school or simply changing classrooms, transitions can feel like a big step. For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), change often brings extra challenges, leaving parents wondering how best to prepare and support them.
As a speech and language therapist, I’ve seen how much difference preparation can make. While we can’t take away every challenge our children may face, we can help them approach new experiences feeling more confident and secure. As Christians, we also have the reassurance that God goes before them into every new beginning.
one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the confidence that they are deeply known, deeply loved and never alone
Here are five practical ways you can help your child navigate school transitions with confidence, while rooting them in God’s love.
1. Prepare little by little
Many children with SEND find the unknown much harder than the new experience itself. The more predictable we can make a transition, the less overwhelming it often feels.
Instead of talking about school only a few days before term starts, begin preparing gradually. If possible, you could:
- Look at photographs of classrooms, teachers and playgrounds.
- Walk or drive the journey together.
- Read books about starting school.
- Use a social story to explain what will happen on their first day.
Breaking the transition into smaller, familiar steps gives children time to process what is coming
Social stories are short, personalised stories that explain what to expect in a particular situation, helping children understand what might happen, how they may feel and how they can respond. Reading them together several times before school starts can help make an unfamiliar experience feel much more predictable.
Breaking the transition into smaller, familiar steps gives children time to process what is coming, rather than feeling that everything changes overnight.
You could also spend time praying with your child in the weeks leading up to the new school year. Pray for their teachers, classmates and the year ahead, asking God to give them courage and peace.
2. Build predictable routines
Once school begins, familiar routines can provide a reassuring sense of security, especially when so much else feels new. The key is to start introducing these routines before term starts, so they already feel familiar by the first day.
You could practise school mornings during the holidays by putting on uniform, packing a school bag, carrying a lunchbox or role-playing saying goodbye at the school gate. Visual schedules or tick lists can help children understand the order of their morning and after-school routines, while timers, countdowns and verbal warnings can make moving between activities feel less abrupt.
These simple moments can bring peace and remind your child that God is with them wherever they go
The goal isn’t to get everything perfect before the first day, but to help your child feel familiar with what lies ahead. Each time they practise a routine, they’re building confidence and learning, “I know how to do this.”
As these routines become part of your day, make prayer part of them too. You might like to encourage your child to chat to God about anything on their mind on the way to school, sharing things they’re excited or worried about. These simple moments can bring peace and remind your child that God is with them wherever they go.
3. Work with the school: you know your child best
Starting a new school can feel daunting but remember you know your child best. School staff bring educational expertise, while you bring the unique insight of knowing your child’s needs, strengths and what helps them thrive. My husband is a teacher, and he really appreciated it when a parent emailed early in the school year to share a little about their child and what helps them engage in the classroom.
Some ideas of what you could share include:
- What helps your child feel calm
- How they communicate best
- Any sensory sensitivities
- Strategies that work at home
- What signs show they’re becoming overwhelmed.
Something as simple as knowing your child needs extra processing time or prefers visual instructions can make a huge difference.
There may be times when things feel difficult or perspectives differ, but approaching conversations with humility, patience and love helps keep the focus on supporting your child. As Ephesians 4:2–3 reminds us, we are called to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” and to seek unity in our relationships.
When families and schools work together with understanding and grace, we can create a supportive environment where every child is valued and encouraged to flourish.
4. Make space for big feelings
Even when a transition goes well, many children experience big emotions. Anxiety, excitement, tiredness and frustration can all show up in different ways - some children will talk about their worries, while others may express them through their behaviour.
Try to make space for these feelings rather than rushing to fix them. After school, it can help to begin with something that helps your child feel regulated, such as a crunchy snack and some movement such as time on the swings or a jump on a trampoline.
God welcomes every emotion we bring to Him
Once they have had time to reset, you might gently reflect on the day together using a feelings board. If things feel overwhelming, calming strategies like deep breathing, creating a calm corner at home, or using a ‘feelings box’ can help children express what is going on inside. This can also become a simple prayer activity - writing or drawing worries and giving them to God by posting them in a box, perhaps while listening to calming worship music.
The Psalms remind us that God welcomes every emotion we bring to Him. We can help our children learn that they can come to God with their worries, fears and frustrations.
5. Celebrate every small success
When we imagine school transitions, we often focus on the big milestones: making friends, academic progress or settling in quickly.
But for many children with SEND, success looks different. Maybe today they walked into school without a meltdown. Maybe they asked for help from a teacher for the first time. Maybe they simply got through the day.
If your child finds transitions difficult, it does not mean you have failed or that they will not settle
Celebrate those wins and be specific in your praise:
- “You kept trying even though that felt difficult.”
- “I’m really proud of how you asked your teacher for help.”
These moments build confidence by helping children recognise their progress, not just their challenges.
Scripture reminds us of the importance of encouraging one another. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we are encouraged to “build each other up.” As parents, we have the opportunity to reflect God’s encouragement by noticing the small steps, speaking words of life and helping our children see the strengths and progress that God has placed within them.
A final encouragement
If your child finds transitions difficult, it does not mean you have failed or that they will not settle. New beginnings take time, and every child’s journey will look different.
There will be hard days, but there will also be moments of growth and progress. As Christian parents, we can prepare, support and encourage our children while trusting the God who goes before them.
Alongside all the practical support we provide, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the confidence that they are deeply known, deeply loved and never alone.
