By their very nature, International Schools see a significant percentage of their pupils leave during the course of an average year. Not so much because parents are dissatisfied with the school, but simply by virtue of the fact that, in today’s global economy, we have a transient workforce that is constantly on the move. Contracts are extended and terminated and families (and their children) are moved with short notice and often given little time in which to prepare.

Change and a new country can, of course, be enormously exciting for children. On the other hand, if handled insensitively, it can be a cause of real worry and unhappiness for them and have repercussions for the whole family. So what can you do as parents to handle the departure from one school and the arrival in another in such a way that it is a pleasant and positive experience for you and your children?

Departures:

Before You Leave Your Current School…

• Tell them you are leaving! This avoids any financial penalties for late withdrawal. Give the school the final date for when you would like all the relevant reports/summaries and transfer documents prepared. It is also a good idea to keep some samples of work for your child’s new school.

• Parting and saying goodbye is an essential part of the leaving process. If you can stay until the end of term, it is worth doing so. There is nothing worse than your child leaving a week or so early when they will miss end of term parties and other social events.

• Remember to take close friend’s email addresses, telephone and contact details and provide them with your next contact address. Particularly in the early stages, before new friends are made, your child may draw comfort from being able to contact close friends from their previous school. Take some photos to remind you what they all look like.

• Keep some of your child’s favourite books, teddies, toys, games, etc., for your plane luggage. Container shipments can be late and being six weeks without the favourite teddy in a new country could prove disastrous!

• Find out as much as you can, about the new school – admission requirements, uniform, curriculum etc. Begin talking to your child about the new school and country, slowly introducing the idea that you will be moving. It is essential here to manage the whole family’s expectations. Avoid “building up” and “talking up” the new school or country. Be realistic and honest with your children telling them that you, too, are sad to leave, will miss existing friends and routines, and that you are also a little nervous about the move. This will reassure them that any worries or apprehensions they might have are entirely acceptable.

Arrivals:

Once You Arrive At Your New School

• If possible, try to visit the new school with your child before their actual first day at school. Look around and, if you can, see their proposed Year Group area and/or class.

• Children like to fit in straight away and feel accepted. It’s a terrible feeling for a child than to not have the right equipment or uniform or to bring it in on the wrong day. So check the uniform, buy it before the first day, and make any necessary adjustments. Remember swimming days and P.E. kits. Find out all equipment needs and make sure, for younger children that their name is on all equipment and clothing.

• Similarly find out about as many school routines as possible.

• Ensure the school has all your contact details. Hand phone numbers, address etc. This is essential if the school needs to contact you in an emergency.

• If your child is using school transport, double check if he/she knows where to go for pick up and drop off and that all arrangements are in place. Avoid the situation in which everybody knows where they are going and heads off home and your child is left with a feeling of increasing isolation in a strange building!

• Many schools have a “Buddy Support” for new pupils whereby new children are given a Buddy or Class Friend who provides support and accompanies new children until they find their own new friends and feel settled. Enquire if your new school has such a system.

• If the school has a Parent Teacher Association, then it is a good idea to join. This can provide you with quick and easy answers to many of those settling “settling in” questions.

• Make an appointment to see your child’s new class teacher after about a month. Not too soon; give them time to settle, but a meeting after a month or so can help gauge how your child is coping socially and academically. A good school should, however, contact you if they have any concerns before then.

• Once new school friends are made consider asking them over to your home to help your child socialise in a nonschool environment and forge stronger friendships. Attend to their “departure” and “arrival” needs well, and you should enjoy a smoother move… not just for your children, but for the whole family!