Student Wellbeing 

Whole School Transition – Monday, 15th December: A Positive Step Forward

Next Monday, your child will meet their new teacher for 2026. This is an exciting time, and I’d like to take a moment to share some insights into how these decisions are made.

Our dedicated teachers and leadership team spend countless hours carefully planning class groupings. They thoughtfully consider each child’s social, emotional, and academic needs, as well as their relationships with peers and staff, to ensure the best possible environment for them to thrive. While your child may not always get their preferred classmates or teacher, this is a valuable opportunity to build resilience, a skill that will benefit them throughout their lives.

As parents, you play an essential role in shaping how your child views the changes ahead. A positive attitude from you can make all the difference. Reassure your child that change brings blessings, new friendships, new learning opportunities, and the chance to grow under the guidance of a teacher who will care deeply for them. Children who see change as an opportunity, develop adaptability and resilience, key skills for their future success.

You have a choice: Will you speak with enthusiasm about the opportunities ahead, or will you model uncertainty? Your outlook will directly influence your child’s experience!

How to support your child under 16 with the new social media age restrictions  

From 10 December 2025, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 will require social media platforms to:

• prevent children and young people under 16 from having a social media account
• deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.

Delaying access to social media protects the health and wellbeing of young people and gives them extra time to build real world connections and digital literacy skills. 

The responsibility will be on the social media platforms, not parents, carers, children or schools, to implement these new restrictions. 

Most popular social media platforms will be age restricted. These include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit and YouTube.

Messaging services and online games, as well as apps and platforms that support health and education, can still be used. 

How to help under 16s prepare for the change

Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their children to be safe online. 

To help get under 16s ready for the social media minimum age requirements, you can go to the eSafety website to learn more about the social media age restrictions and find tips on how to talk about social media age restrictions with young people.