Engagement & Wellbeing Page

Navigating Change: Helping Your Child Transition Into a New Year Level

At this time of year students start to look ahead to what next year might bring—new classrooms, new classmates and sometimes new routines. For some children this brings excitement; for others, a sense of uncertainty. Both are completely normal.

Behind the scenes, teachers are already preparing for 2026. Teams are will share information about each child’s strengths, learning needs and interests so that next year’s teachers are equipped to support students from the very first day. Our aim is for every child to feel known, settled and ready to learn.

Transitioning into a new year level can stir up a range of feelings. Children may wonder what their new teacher will be like, whether the work will feel challenging, or what friendships will look like next year. These questions are part of the natural process of adapting to change.

To support your child during this time, here are practical strategies families can use at home:

1. Create space for conversation

Keep discussions open and low-pressure. Ask gentle questions like, “What are you curious about for next year?” or “Is there anything you’re unsure about?” Listening without rushing to fix the problem helps children feel heard and safe.

2. Help them understand the unknowns

Children cope better when they have a sense of what to expect. You might talk about:

• Moving to a new room being similar to moving to a new table group
• A new teacher learning about them gradually
• Routines feeling different at first but familiar within a few weeks

3. Highlight their personal strengths

Remind your child of times they adapted well—starting a new sport, joining a club, or settling into school earlier in the year. Connecting past successes to future challenges helps build self-trust.

4.Help them understand the unknowns

Children cope better when they have a sense of what to expect. You might talk about:

• Moving to a new room being similar to moving to a new table group
• A new teacher learning about them gradually
• Routines feeling different at first but familiar within a few weeks 

5. Keep routines steady at home

Predictability at home reduces stress at school. Try to keep:

• Bedtime and wake-up times consistent
• Mornings calm and unrushed
• After-school downtime predictable. A steady routine gives children a strong foundation when other parts of life feel new.

6. Support friendships and social confidence

If your child is worried about friendship changes, reassure them that friendships often continue across classrooms. Encourage simple steps such as:

• Saying hello to familiar peers during transition sessions
• Practising joining a game or group
• Planning a playdate with a close friend over the holidays

7. Reach out if something feels ‘off’

If your child seems unusually anxious, withdrawn or overwhelmed, please connect with us. Our wellbeing team is here to support families, answer questions and help children settle smoothly.

During the last weeks of school (Tuesday 2nd and Tuesday 9th Dec) students will participate in structured transition activities to help them get to know new spaces, routines and teachers. These experiences are designed to reduce worry and give children a sense of familiarity before the new year begins.

Students will not find out their class groupings, teachers or classroom location for 2026 until the second transition day on Tuesday the 9th December.

We are incredibly proud of our students and the resilience they have shown throughout 2025. With gentle preparation and consistent support, they can approach 2026 with confidence, curiosity and a strong sense of readiness.

Further Parenting Supports - Free Short Courses

If you’d like extra strategies or support, there are some excellent free local parenting programs available to help families build confidence and connection. These programs offer practical tips for supporting your child’s wellbeing and managing anxiety.

 See the Geelong regional Parenting Calendar for term 4 below 

We encourage all families to take advantage of these wonderful resources. A little guidance can make a big difference for both children and parents.

We support inclusion in all it's forms at Surfside Primary School

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the country throughout Victoria and pay respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples.

Supporting Transition

As we come to the end of the school year, children may be feeling overwhelmed by the many changes that will happen over the next few weeks and into the start of the new year.

In our daily life we all experience change, such as changing activities, or going to different places. Another word to describe change is transition. Transition is a word often used by schools to talk about changes in routine and the ability to stop one activity and start another.

Some people find change and transitions more challenging than others. Transitions may appear more difficult on some days or in some places due to other pressures and expectations. Each young person will cope with transitions and change in a different way. Your child may encounter the following transitions:

• Change to class routine
• A different classroom
• Change to teacher
• Starting primary school
• Changing class/grade level
• Changing schools
• Leaving primary school for high school

The following ten tips may help to support your child during these times of transition.

1. Develop a transition plan.A transition plan is a written plan to support changes to routines and/or the environment. It is important to plan for transitions as much as possible to increase success. Transition plans can be brief or highly detailed, depending on the needs of your child and the type of transition you are planning. Well developed transition plans may support your child to successfully manage changes and transitions. Transition plans are best developed in collaboration with your child (if appropriate), and at times the school . Identify a key support person that your child can go to with any questions and ensure the support person knows the plan and the supports required.
2. Create visual supports.Visual supports provide a visual reference that can be used as often as needed, and can support people on the autism spectrum with skill development, communication and increased independence. They may include real objects, printed images, videos, line drawings and written words. You can create a visual schedule or a weekly timetable for your child. Learn more here
3. Visit the new classroom or school several times in the school holidays.Doing this before the school term starts will help familiarise your child with the environment without the noise and crowds. On the visit you could point out to your child different spaces they may access and how to use them.
4. Meet the teacher in advance of the school year starting.You can discuss your child’s strengths and interests, ways to best support them and preferred communication styles. It is important to work in partnership with your child’s school.
5. Practice traveling to school together.If you have a prefered route to school this is something that when practiced may lesten nervous feelings.
6. Focus on your child’s strengths and interests.
7. Highlight what is staying the same.There may be many changes occurring but there will be many things staying the same.
8. Teach skills to help support a successful transition.This could be well supported by things that already happen within the classroom or school.
9. Role play.Assist your child in practicing to talk about what they have done in the holidays so they can talk to their friends, print out a few photos from your break to prompt your child if this will help.
10. Take photos of the new environment.Your child can look back on these images to help familiarise themselves, remember where items are located or identify a quiet space.