As your child prepares to take the big step into secondary school, you may already be thinking about how they’ll handle the new challenges – from navigating friendships to dealing with older students or travelling independently.

To help with this transition, Redbridge Council has created Step into Secondary – a practical, easy-to-use resource designed to boost your child’s confidence and support their wellbeing. This summer term, Step into Secondary is being made available to all Year 6 families across Redbridge. It’s designed for you to use at home together with your child and offers clear, supportive guidance to help them stay safe, build resilience, and start secondary school with confidence.

The resource is simple to access: you can either view it online or print it at home. Exploring six scenarios with the help of conversation starter questions, children learn how to approach tricky situations that they might encounter at secondary school.

The resource has been developed and tested in close cooperation with Year 6 parents, school staff, and local students. Families who’ve already used it said it helped start valuable conversations – and made their children feel more ready for Year 7.