Transition from Primary to Secondary School: How to Support Pupils with Learning Differences

The move from Primary School to High School is a big step for every child. New teachers, new routines, heavier workloads, and different friendship groups. For some, it brings excitement, new opportunities, and the thrill of independence. For others, especially children with learning differences and difficulties, it can feel overwhelming, confusing, and even frightening.

At Japari School, one of the best assisted learning schools in Johannesburg, we understand how important it is to prepare both children and families for this change. With the right support, pupils can develop the confidence, independence, and resilience they need to thrive in their new environment. With the right preparation, what could be a daunting leap becomes a manageable and even inspiring step into the future.

This blog will guide parents through practical steps to smooth the shift, focusing on:

• Why the transition matters so much for pupils with learning differences.
• Building organisational and study skills to cope with more demanding academic expectations
• Practical ways parents and teachers can smooth the shift in academic expectations, social dynamics, and independence.
• How collaboration between parents, teachers, and mentors helps children thrive.

Why This Transition Matters

For many children, the shift from primary to high school marks the first real test of independence. Pupils are expected to:

• Manage homework across multiple subjects all on their own. Learn to have multiple teachers and not just one main teacher.
• Move between classrooms and teachers and adjust to new subjects quickly and keep up.
• Adjust to larger, busier environments. Especially if moving to a private school with new rules in each classroom.
• Take more responsibility for their learning.
• Navigate changing social groups where friendships may change. 

For learners with ADHD, dyslexia, sensory differences, or other learning needs, these changes can be overwhelming. Without preparation, children may feel anxious, isolated, or academically behind. With preparation, however, this transition becomes an opportunity for growth.

For children with ADHD, dyslexia, auditory processing difficulties, or anxiety, these changes can present extra challenges:

• Struggling to remember timetables or assignments.
• Feeling anxious in large, noisy spaces.
• Worrying about explaining their learning needs to new teachers.
• Finding it harder to cope with shifting friendship dynamics.

Read our blog on how to build emotional resilience for anxiety: From Anxiety to Confidence: Strategies for Building Emotional Resilience

You may also enjoy our related article: Learning Through Play: Creative Activities During School Breaks, which shows how early skills like collaboration and problem-solving are developed before big milestones like the high school transition.

Organisational and Study Skills

One of the biggest challenges pupils face is keeping organised. Instead of a single class teacher, pupils suddenly need to juggle multiple teachers, subjects, and expectations.

Practical Steps for Parents & Schools

1. Teach Timetable Skills
   • Encourage your child to use a planner or diary to track homework and tests.
   • Colour-code subjects for easy organisation.
   • Encourage your child to pin a calendar in their room or study so they know what they need to still do. 
2. Bag Packing Routine
   • Create a checklist for daily essentials (books, stationery, homework, sports kit).
   • Encourage packing the night before to avoid morning stress.
3. Homework Systems
   • Use a diary or planner where pupils can record assignments.
   • Break large projects into smaller steps with mini-deadlines.
4. Break Down Tasks
   • Show how to split projects into smaller chunks with deadlines.
   • Use checklists for daily and weekly tasks.
5. Study Skills
   • Encourage active revision strategies such as mind maps, flashcards, or verbal recall.
   • Teach note-taking and summarising skills gradually.
   • Encourage regular short study sessions rather than last-minute cramming.
6. Home-School Consistency
   • Teachers and parents should use the same strategies so children aren’t overwhelmed by different systems.
     We explored a similar theme in Harnessing Technology to Support Neurodiverse Learners where tools like apps and reminders can reinforce organisation and memory.

Encouraging Independence

High school requires pupils to speak up for themselves and not have their parents or fellow pupils speak for them. For neurodiverse learners, this is vital. Pupils should know how to explain their learning needs to teachers and ask for help when they feel overwhelmed.

Building Independence Skills

• Role-play scenarios at home, such as asking a teacher for extra time.
  
• Teach phrases like: “I learn better if I…” or “Can you explain that again, please?”
  
• Encourage children to attend meetings about their progress, so they practise sharing their thoughts in a safe environment.

Self-advocacy and independence doesn’t happen overnight, but by gradually encouraging independence, pupils grow in confidence.

At Japari, we teach pupils how to express their needs respectfully and confidently, ensuring they feel empowered rather than ashamed of asking for support.

Collaborating with Teachers, Counsellors, and Peer Mentors

The most successful transitions happen when home and school work together. At Japari School, collaboration is central to everything we do. Parents and teachers need to understand what kind of learning style a child has and play to their strengths. 

How Collaboration Works

1. Teachers
   • Provide differentiated teaching to meet individual needs.
   • Offer feedback not only on academics but also on emotional resilience.
   • Regular feedback helps not only children understand what needs to be done, but also parents at home. These parent-teacher meet-ups are very important.
     
2. School Counsellors
   • Help pupils manage anxiety about the transition.
   • Provide coping strategies for stress, friendships, and new routines.
   • Japari School offers on-site professional support for emotional health, anxiety management, and resilience.
3. Peer Mentors
   • Pairing older pupils with younger ones can ease nerves. Especially if they are showing them around the school or mentoring them. Younger children are able to interact with older pupils and learn from them.
   • Mentors can guide them through school rules, social spaces, and expectations.

For a deeper look at how emotional health supports learning, see our article: From Anxiety to Confidence: Strategies for Building Emotional Resilience.

Social and Emotional Skills

Beyond academics, moving to high school changes social dynamics. Friendships may shift, peer pressure increases, and pupils must learn to navigate a more complex social environment.

Supporting Social Growth

• Encourage participation in sports, clubs, or cultural activities to make new friends.
• Practise social problem-solving through role-play.
• Remind children that friendship groups often shift in high school, and that’s normal.

At Japari, structured play and group activities are used to foster empathy, cooperation, and social confidence.

Balancing Independence with Support

Parents often ask: “How much help is too much?”

The key is gradual independence:

• In primary school, parents may check homework daily. Checking on their progress and assisting them where they can.
• By high school, pupils should be encouraged to track deadlines themselves, with occasional parental check-ins.
• Support should move from doing for the child, to doing with the child, to encouraging them to do it on their own.

Case Study: Sarah’s Transition

Sarah (name changed for privacy reasons) was a Japari pupil with dyslexia who worried about starting high school. She often said: “I’ll never keep up.”

Here’s how we supported her:

• Teachers worked on her study and organisational skills during her Intermediate and Senior phase year of primary.
• Counsellors practised role-play scenarios to help her speak up for herself.
• Parents used checklists and routines at home.
• She was paired with a supportive peer mentor in her first high school term.

By the end of her Grade 8 year, Sarah had not only kept up but thrived, becoming a confident advocate for herself.

Practical Checklist for Parents

Before your child starts high school, help them practise:

• Using a timetable and keeping it updated.
• Packing their school bag the night before.
• Following a morning and evening routine.
• Organising homework into folders.
• Communicating with adults when they’re stuck.

Japari School’s Role

At Japari, our commitment goes beyond academics. As one of South Africa’s best assisted learning schools, we:

• Provide small classes with personalised support.
• Integrate therapies on-site, from speech to occupational support.
• Teach life skills and resilience alongside academics.
• Prepare pupils and parents for the step into high school with guidance and structured support.

Our goal is for every pupil to enter high school confident, capable, and resilient.

Conclusion

The transition from Primary to High School is a big step, but with preparation, pupils with learning differences and difficulties can not only adapt, they can thrive. With strong organisational skills, collaboration between parents and teachers, and emotional support, children build the foundations for long-term success at high school and beyond.

At Japari School, we partner with parents to ensure that no learner is left behind, and every child feels ready to embrace the next stage of their journey.

Contact us for more information on how we can better prepare your child for high school and a mainstream setting.

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