What a New School Year Means to Us

After a long summer of ups and downs, I’ll be honest: I was counting down the days until school started again. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the time we got to spend together as a family, but by the end of the holidays, Devan’s meltdowns were becoming a daily occurrence. The lack of structure, the long days… it all added up. I knew what we all needed most was to get back into a routine, to have those predictable school days that bring calm and stability for everyone.

So when the first day of term rolled around, I felt equal parts hopeful and anxious. Would the transition be rough? Would we face tears, resistance, and outbursts? Or would the kids settle back in with ease?

To my surprise (and relief), these first few days have been nothing short of wonderful. Both of the kids have come home saying school was “great.” Devan told me proudly that his teacher explained "how Year 2 works", and he seemed so reassured by having that clear structure set out for him. Alyssa was beaming when she told me she got to "superhero"  on their class reward system, and they’ve both loved being reunited with their friends. They’ve gone to school happily each morning and come home happy each afternoon.

As a SEN parent, I don’t take this for granted. Transitions are tough - new teachers, new routines, new expectations. So I braced myself this year for a rocky, bumpy start. But instead, what I got was the gift of a smooth transition, of children who felt excited rather than overwhelmed.

And that’s what a new school year really means for us. It’s not about new pencils, unmarked shirts, or shiny shoes.; it’s about new chances. A fresh start. The opportunity for my children to step into another year of growth, resilience, and learning - and for me, as their mum, to remember that they’re capable of more than I sometimes expect.

Of course, there will still be challenges ahead. There always are. But right now, in this moment, I’m holding onto the joy of these first few days - the smiles, the stories from the classroom, the excitement that spills out of them at pick-up. These are the moments that give me hope for the year ahead.

So if you’re starting this school year feeling nervous about how your child will handle it, I want you to know this: sometimes, they surprise us. Sometimes, they walk into the new year with confidence we didn’t see coming. And sometimes, just sometimes, the fresh start is exactly what we all needed.