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Supporting Your Young Person to Return to School
For many children and young people, returning to school after a break can feel overwhelming. Routines shift over the holidays, emotions run high, and time away from the classroom can make the transition back feel daunting. For those with early life trauma or disrupted attachments, even small changes can stir big feelings, and this is where our foster carers make an enormous difference.
At Compass, we know that every child needs someone in their corner – and every carer needs Compass in theirs. That’s why our Therapeutic Practitioners are here to offer guidance grounded in our therapeutic approach, helping you support your young person with confidence and compassion.
We spoke with Georgia Harley, Therapeutic Practitioner, who shared her insights on what carers can expect and how to create a smooth, supported return to school.
Recognising Early Signs of Difficulty
Some young people may experience challenges as the holidays come to an end. Georgia explains that even short breaks can feel like “forever” to children who rely on routine and predictability. Carers may notice:
- Dysregulated behaviour or heightened emotions
- Disrupted sleep patterns
- Feeling physically unwell or “not quite right”
- Changes in appetite
- Increased anxiety or fear expressed through behaviour
These early signs are a gentle signal that your young person may be finding the return to school tricky. Noticing them early allows you to put support in place before worries escalate.
Preparing in the Days Before School Starts
Small, steady steps can make a big difference. Georgia encourages carers to begin gentle conversations about school a few days beforehand, using the PACE approach to keep discussions warm, playful, and pressure-free.
💫 Talk positively about school – help your young person remember what they enjoyed last term and what they’re looking forward to.
💫 Start routine adjustments gradually – re-establishing bedtime and wake-up patterns can ease the transition, though keeping them consistent through the holidays is also completely fine.
💫 Draw on your support network – Supervising Social Workers, Carer Ambassadors, and your own family network are there to help. You never have to worry alone.
Encouraging your child to recall positive experiences helps reduce anxiety and build confidence about the return.
Creating a Calm, Connected First Morning Back
The first day can feel like a big hurdle. Georgia recommends focusing on co-regulation and emotional safety.
💫 Use PACE to invite your young person to share any worries. Validating their feelings, even if you cannot fix the problem, helps reduce internal stress.
💫 Offer reassurance and remind them of coping strategies they can use at school.
💫 Allow extra time in the morning so no one feels rushed or overwhelmed.
💫 Make space for small comforts: a familiar breakfast, a favourite song in the car, or a transitional object in their bag.
These simple rituals help children feel held, understood, and ready for the day ahead.
Talking About School Worries Without Pressure
Conversations about school can sometimes heighten anxiety, so a gentle approach works best, such as:
- Keeping discussions relaxed and child-led
- Taking a drive or walk past the school to remind them of familiar sights
- Reassuring them that feeling nervous is perfectly normal
- Maintaining empathy above all, showing that you’re beside them every step of the way
Familiarity reduces fear, and the message they need most is: you are safe, and you are supported.
Working with the School as a Team
A strong partnership between carers and school staff helps children feel seen, understood, and supported. During the first few weeks back, consider:
💫 Sharing any observations about your young person’s worries or triggers
💫 Keeping communication open with teachers and pastoral staff
💫 Letting the school know what strategies help your child regulate
💫 Celebrating small wins together
At Compass, our wraparound support, expert therapeutic input, dedicated SSWs, and a community of carers who learn and grow together ensure no carer ever faces these challenges alone.
As Georgia reminds us, every young person is unique. What matters most is tuning in to their individual needs and using the support around you whenever you need it.
Helping Children Return with Confidence
The return to school can be a vulnerable moment, but it is also an opportunity: a chance to strengthen trust, deepen connection, and help a young person believe in their own resilience.
With thoughtful preparation, therapeutic strategies like PACE, and the full Compass Community behind you, you’re helping each young person step into the new term with hope and someone firmly in their corner.
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