Helping Your Autistic Child Move from Primary to Secondary School
The move from the familiar, nurturing environment of Year 6 to the much larger and busier world of Year 7 can feel daunting for any child. For autistic pupils, though, this transition often comes with extra sensory, social, and organisational challenges. As a parent this can feel very stressful, but if you work closely with the new school you can help to make sure you child is as happy and comfortable as possible in their new environment.
With the right preparation and planning—ideally starting well before the summer holidays—you can make this change smoother, calmer, and more predictable for your child.
This is the time to gather information, make connections, and start building a clear picture of what your child will need at secondary school.
Create a Personal Pupil Profile
Think of this as your child’s “at-a-glance guide” for new teachers. Keep it short and practical, highlighting the most important things staff need to know:
- Sensory Needs: Note specific triggers (e.g. fire alarms, crowded corridors, fluorescent lights) and strategies that help your child calm down.
- Communication Style: Describe how your child shows stress or distress, and how they best understand instructions (visual cues, written notes, or verbal explanations).
- Motivators and Interests: Share their special interests—whether that’s trains, coding, or history—so staff can use them to build rapport.
- Safe People: Identify one or two trusted adults your child can go to when they feel overwhelmed.
Make Contact with Key Staff
Ask who the Head of Year 7 and SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) will be, and try to arrange a meeting before the summer holidays. If possible, find out who the Inclusion or Pastoral Lead is as well—having one clear contact person makes a big difference.
Map the Journey
Practice the route to school together, whether it’s by car, bus, or on foot. If they’ll use public transport, visit the bus stop, find the correct entrance, and walk the route several times. Predictability helps reduce anxiety and gives your child a sense of control.
One of the biggest changes in secondary school is moving between classrooms and having different teachers for each subject. Helping your child understand and rehearse this will make a huge difference.
Ask for Extra Transition Visits
Many schools offer a single “Taster Day”, but autistic pupils often benefit from more gradual exposure. Ask if you can arrange quieter, smaller visits where your child can:
- Explore the canteen when it’s empty to find a calm spot.
- Visit the toilets to check for loud hand dryers or other sensory triggers.
- Have a relaxed, one-to-one chat with their new Form Tutor.
Request a Visual Tour
See if the school can provide photos or a short video showing key areas: the entrance, form room, SEN base, science labs, and lunch area. You could watch this together over the summer to build familiarity.
Get a Map and Timetable
Ask for a copy of the school map and a draft timetable once available. Print and laminate them, then colour-code subjects or highlight the order of classrooms for each day. Practising these routes at home helps build confidence.
Practice Using a Locker
If the school uses lockers, buy a similar combination lock to practise with at home. A stuck or jammed locker can be very stressful on the first day, so a bit of rehearsal can make all the difference.
Year 6 Transition Review
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the Year 6 Annual Review must focus specifically on the transition to secondary school.
This meeting should take place before 31 March in Year 6.
It should name the new secondary school and clearly set out any transition support—such as one-to-one help during visits or access to a sensory-safe space.
Set Up a Safe Space and Communication System
Find out where your child can go if they need time out—a designated Quiet Zone or SEN Base.
Agree on how they’ll signal they need to leave class (for example, a coloured card, a hand signal, or a prearranged message). The process should be calm, discreet, and immediate.
Uniform Sensory Adjustments
Uniforms can be a big source of sensory discomfort. While schools must stick to their uniform policies, small adjustments are often possible—especially if included in the EHCP or support plan. Examples include:
- Wearing a soft cotton layer under a school shirt.
- Using specialist trainers if school shoes cause pain or sensory distress.
- Removing a blazer or tie during lessons if needed.
Moving to secondary school will always involve change, but for autistic children, preparation can turn that change from frightening to manageable.
By starting early, keeping communication open, and focusing on structure and predictability, you can give your child the best possible start to this new stage of their education.
Every child is different—but with patience, planning, and the right support, your child can not only cope with secondary school but truly thrive there.
Written by Ben Friedman, Founder of Atypically.
Ben has years of first hand experience as a father of an autistic son and a SEND advocate. All content is thoroughly researched to help parents to be as informed as possible when navigating private assessments and meaningful interventions for their neurodiverse children. Ben also holds a CPD Accredited Certification in the Treatment and Management of Additional Needs Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
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