Getting (school or kindy) ready for 2025!
I hate to admit it BUT if you haven’t already then now is the time to start thinking about a transition plans for 2025 if you have a kiddo who will start kindy or school next year!
Predictability is power so preparing a child with autism for starting school or kindy will work best with careful planning and support and plenty of time!
Here are some suggestions to help make the transition smoother:
Early Communication: Establish communication with the school/kindy staff well in advance aka NOW! Inform them about your child's diagnosis, copies of reports are useful but even better ….work on developing a key points profile that will quickly and effectively translate critical info to the education site. Include strengths, interest (important to help build rapport), challenges, sensory supports and any specific accommodations or strategies that you know are effective. Ask if the teacher would be willing to share information about themselves with your child too. Building familiarity is a two way street and profiles shared pre start date give everyone a head start!
School Visits and Orientation: Arrange visits to the school before the official start date. Familiarize your child with the new environment, classrooms, playground, and other key areas. Meet the teachers, principal, and support staff to introduce your child and address any concerns or questions. Take photos and videos of your child in those spaces for them to look at over the coming months. Take your child to the school (if accessible) during holidays and weekends to play on the oval/playgrounds and become familiar with the physical space.
Social Scripts and Visual Supports: Create or obtain social stories or visual supports that explain the school routine, expectations, and procedures (uniform, canteen, casual days etc). Use pictures, drawings, or written descriptions to help your child understand what to expect throughout the day. Have these resources on high rotation in your regular reading materials in the months leading up to school!
Transition Plan: Collaborate with the school to develop a transition plan tailored to your child's needs. This may involve a week 0 visit before all the other children arrive, gradually increasing the amount of time spent in school. Consider including a gradual introduction to new classmates and activities, if appropriate you may ask for photos of staff and peers so you can teach your child names before the school years starts.
Ask about the process around Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or One Plan (depending on private or public sites) and don’t let too much time pass before your child has their plan created with your input. Be a (friendly!) squeaky wheel until a plan you are happy with is in place.
Disclosure: Consider-What do you want your child’s peers to know about their diagnosis. Are you happy to disclose? If so you may consider sharing your child’s profile with their classmates, or writing a letter that introduces them, some of the things they like or find hard and why. Its best you are in control of how this info is shared, don’t let it become playground gossip.
Skill Development: are there daily living skills your child will need at school that they haven’t quite mastered yet?? Eg managing their own toileting, shoes, zipping up a school bag, blowing their own nose etc. If so make those a focus for the months prior to school. Start using the lunch box and drink bottle they will use at school/kindy before they actually start so you know they can manage all the latches and lids. This has the added bonus of making sure these items are familiar and comfortable for them when they enter a space that is going to be largely new and novel.
Ongoing communication: Maintain open lines of communication with the school throughout the school year but be sure to do this in a way that suits everyone. Ask teachers what their preferred method of communication is for eg email, drop by the class in the morning/arvo, a communication app?
Self-Care and Emotional Support: Starting school can be BIG for both the child and the family. Prioritize self-care for you all in the first few weeks of term. Use the supports around you. Remember your wellbeing is actually really super important in your child’s success too so taking care of your own well-being will enable you to better support your child during this transition.
Celebrate: make time to celebrate your successes!
Remember, every child is unique, so tailor their strategies and supports to meet your child's individual needs- you know them best so you are the perfect person to do this (with support of course!)! Work closely with the school and remain proactive in advocating for your child to help ensure a successful start to their school journey.
To book in for a session or two to get tailored support in designing your Childs 2025 transition plan call 8131 0149