Opportunities for friendships
Find out about how you and the school can support your child/young person to make friends.
Making friends is often one of the most important things for children and young people when they move to a new school. Some may feel sad about leaving friends behind, while others may feel excited about meeting new people and building new friendships.
Not every child or young person finds it easy to make friends. Some may worry about fitting in, joining established friendship groups or feeling different from their classmates. Others may have experienced bullying at a previous school and may feel anxious about starting somewhere new.
How schools can help
Building friendships takes time. While some children and young people make friends quickly, others need longer to feel comfortable and confident in their new environment. Schools often have ways of helping new pupils make friends. For example, they may be paired with a buddy who can show them around, sit with them at break times or help them learn new routines. Some schools organise activities that encourage pupils to get to know each other, while others give new pupils a special responsibility or role to help them feel included.
How you can help
Feeling that they belong is an important part of settling into a new school. You can support your child/young person by talking to them about their experiences, listening to any worries they may have and encouraging them to take part in activities that interest them. Clubs, sports and other school activities can be a good way to meet people with similar interests and make new friends. You can find out about activities available by visiting the school’s website or by asking a member of staff.
Matilda’s Story
Matilda was 10 years old when she moved to a new primary school. She had been finding school difficult for a while. Some children had been bullying her, and she sometimes found school harder than other children did. At the time, nobody fully understood why she was struggling or what support she needed. Moving schools felt like a chance for things to get better, but it also made her very nervous.
The thing Matilda worried about most was making friends. She was afraid that she would be lonely and that other children would not want to play with her. Many children feel this way when they start a new school.
To help Matilda settle in, the school paired her with a buddy. Her buddy was a friendly and popular pupil who knew lots of children across the school. She showed Matilda around, sat with her at break times and introduced her to different friendship groups.
Having someone to support her in those first few weeks made a big difference. Matilda started to feel more confident and made new friends. As her teachers got to know her better, they began to understand the things she found difficult and how to support her. Over time, Matilda felt happy, included and like she belonged in her new school.
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