22/09/2026
Today was ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ-๐ถ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ with many of the families I work with.
For some young people the new academic year signifies an anxiety-ridden experience.
๐นNew classroom
๐นNew teacher
๐นNew expectations
๐นNew (stiff and scratchy) uniform
๐นNew lessons
๐นNew friends
๐นNew foods and ways of eating
๐นNew building ...
.. and many more strange routines and unexpected ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐๐.
Often, young people in this situation just need a little time to settle, to feel secure and acclimatise to their new environment.
For five of my families, last academic year was very difficult; events at home, a neurodivergent diagnosis, dysregulated emotions and behaviour that was challenging for adults and their peers.
The summer was the opportunity to decompress. They were able to relax, to spend their time with loved ones, in nature and away from an environment they sometimes found oppressive.
It's also a period in which they were able to consolidate their learning, not only academically but personally and socially too ...
So it was great to hear that three weeks into the new school term, things are going well. It's early days, but I'm confident that the strategies we've been practising have helped them to adapt to new structures, expectations and all of the numerous changes they've experienced.
I'll continue to support even after the potential '๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐บ๐ผ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฑ' ...
๐นWhen a busy weekend creates fatigue
๐นWhen a teacher's absence means an unfamiliar adult in the classroom
๐นWhen a task or assessment doesn't go to plan
๐นWhen a friendship choice causes angst
๐นWhen a late start to the day triggers a cycle of dysregulation
๐นWhen a week at half-term disrupts the otherwise smooth transition
As adults in educational settings it's helpful for us to place ourselves in their shoes.
Let's remember that sharing equipment in early years is tough.
Making up after falling out takes time to get right.
And forgetting to go to the toilet at breaktime happens to us all!!
To my lovely families ...
.. well done and keep going. You're doing ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ well. ๐๐ฝ