Supporting your autistic child’s move to secondary school
Image: A dad hugging his son, both smiling.
How can I ensure the smoothest transition possible?
Start early. Arrange visits to the new school, ideally at quieter times, so your child can get acquainted with the environment gradually and on their own terms. Be aware of and utilise school transition booklets, which often include photos of staff and classrooms routines. Practice the new journey to school and talk through what the first days will look like. By doing this, you’ll create a level of predictability prior to your child’s first day, helping them feel more at ease in their new environment.
What extra support is available in secondary compared to primary?
Secondary schools often have specialist staff such as SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), learning mentors or autism support bases (sometimes called ARCs or Resource Centres). There’s usually access to subject-specific teaching assistants, quiet spaces for break and lunch, and small group interventions to support organisation and social skills. What you may also see in secondary schools are external professionals coming in to host these groups, e.g. behaviour analysts leading social skills groups.
What reasonable adjustments should I ask for?
Adjustments may include:
- Access to a safe or quiet space
- Help with transitions between lessons
- Extra time for processing instructions
- A buddy system, or visual timetables.
Don’t hesitate to ask for flexibility around homework, uniform or sensory needs. If you are unsure on what reasonable adjustments your child needs, think about what accommodations you make for your child at home — what works versus what doesn’t work. These practical examples can support school staff with their strategies.
How do I get a needs assessment?
You can request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment directly from your local authority. Write a clear letter or email explaining why your child requires extra support beyond what’s normally available in school. Supporting evidence from teachers, health professionals and reports will help, e.g. teacher statements, incident reports, attendance and school results.
What if my child doesn’t yet have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) but is struggling?
Schools must provide special educational needs (SEN) support even without an EHCP. Speak with the SENCO and ask to review your child’s support plan. Request regular check-ins and document everything. While waiting for an EHCP, reasonable adjustments and personalised strategies should still be in place.
How do I support my child if their friends are going elsewhere?
First, acknowledge their feelings of loss and help them stay in touch with old friends outside school. Balance this by encouraging new friendships through lunchtime clubs, interest-based groups or buddy systems. Practicing social scenarios at home and utilising social stories (short, personalised stories that describe a particular situation and outline what the person can expect and how they might respond) can also boost confidence. As we touched on earlier, predictability is essential in helping autistic children feel secure. If this is something your child is finding difficult to process, make sure to communicate this to the schools, as strategies can be included into a transition plan.
What are your top tips for independence and anxiety?
- Break new responsibilities into small, manageable steps (e.g., packing the school bag together the night before, laying out uniform the night before)
- Find positives, talk through something fun that will be happening during the day
- Use checklists, planners or visual supports to build independence and encourage autonomy
- Support anxiety with calming strategies like breathing exercises, sensory tools or predictable routines
- If your child has anxiety, let the school know beforehand what strategies are usually successful and include examples – the more information you provide, the more tailored support the school can offer
What questions should I ask when visiting an autism resource centre (ARC) or mainstream provider?
Ask about:
- How the school supports transitions and daily routines
- Availability of safe spaces and sensory-friendly environments
- What type of training staff receive on autism and how frequently
- How communication between school and home is managed
- What social opportunities and clubs are available to help children integrate
Transitioning to secondary school is a big step, but with preparation, partnership with the school, and the right adjustments, your child can thrive. Remember, you are your child’s best advocate.
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