Help my child is starting School!

Starting school is a daunting change for parents & their little ones, social stories are a tool you can use to make the transition easier! Read on to find out how…

Social Stories were developed by Carol Gray in the 1990s as a way to help Autistic individuals understand and navigate social situations more effectively.

Today they are used with children with a range of speech & language differences.

Social Stories use simple and concise language along with visual supports to provide clear and concrete information about expectations, routines, and behaviour.

Here’s how you can use a Social Story to support your little one in the transition to nursery/ school this September.

Perspective: write a story for your little one from their perspective (e.g. “I am going to Battersea Primary School”) as opposed to a general perspective (e.g. “children are going to big school in September”)

Length: the story should be brief but should be as specific as possible.

Visual Supports: include specific visual supports relevant to the story (e.g. a drawing of the school, a photo of the school uniform).

Tone: The tone should be encouraging and positive, the aim of the story Is; to reduce anxiety, improve social understanding, and promote positive social skills.

Repetition: read the social story with your little one multiple times in the lead up to going to school (e.g. 1-2 times a week and then every day in the week before school start).

Example social story script (relevant drawings/ photos for each line)…

Emma starts Battersea Primary School!

In a few weeks time I will go to Battersea Primary school.

I will wake up & have my breakfast with Mummy.

I will put on my school uniform.

I will brush my teeth.

I will walk to Battersea Primary School with Mummy.

I will go into the classroom and say hello to Mrs Edwards, my teacher.

I will meet other children, and we will play with new toys together in the classroom.

I will play in the playground and run around with my new friends. I can ask them to play chase.

I will have my lunch at school, Mummy will pack raisons, a cheese sandwich and rice cakes for me to eat.

After lunch Mummy will be in the playground to collect me and walk me home.

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