What DOESN’T need to happen before September- Supporting children and young people returning to school, Alternative Provision or another education setting

Aug 17
6 min read

As the summer holidays begin to draw to a close, September starts creeping into conversations. New uniform. Earlier bedtimes. Timetables. New groups. New tutors. Different buildings. Different journeys. “Getting back into a routine.”

But returning to education doesn't look the same for every young person.

Some will be returning to mainstream or specialist school.
Some will be returning to Alternative Provision.
Some may divide their week between school and another provision.
Some will receive tuition at home or in the community.
Others may be waiting for a suitable placement or receiving a bespoke package of education.
And some home-educated young people will simply be preparing for their usual groups and activities to begin again.

Whatever September looks like, transitions can feel big.

For children and young people who are autistic, have ADHD or other SEND, experience anxiety or EBSA, or have previously had difficult experiences of education, even returning somewhere they like can bring uncertainty.

At Futures, we think it's worth remembering that preparing a young person for September doesn't mean making August look like September.

❌ You don't need to recreate an education day at home

You don't need to suddenly introduce worksheets, formal lessons or a 9am–3pm timetable to “get them ready”.

Whether a young person is returning to school, Alternative Provision, tuition or a combination of settings, learning hasn't disappeared because the timetable has.

Cooking involves maths. Gaming can involve problem solving, literacy, communication and teamwork. Visiting somewhere new develops independence. Art, photography, caring for an animal, helping with shopping, building something or simply becoming curious about a new subject are all opportunities to learn.

And rest has value too.

❌ You don't need to fix their sleep overnight

Summer routines change. Later nights, slower mornings and different meal times are completely understandable. If routine helps your young person, gradually bringing familiar patterns back can make September feel more manageable.

But it doesn't need to happen overnight. Moving bedtime slightly earlier, getting up a little earlier or reintroducing familiar mealtimes can be enough. Small changes are still changes.

❌ You don't need to talk about September every day

We often talk about an upcoming change because we're trying to make it feel predictable. But for an anxious young person, repeatedly hearing: “Not long until you go back…” can actually make the anticipation harder.

If talking about September increases anxiety, it's okay to leave it alone for a while.

When they are ready, rather than concentrating entirely on what's changing, try talking about what will stay the same.

💜 Who will take me?💜 Which adults do I already know?💜 Where will I go when I arrive?💜 Will my tutor still be there?💜 What will I do first?💜 Where can I go if I need some space?💜 What time will I finish?💜 What happens when I get home?

For a young person attending more than one setting, a simple visual week can be particularly helpful:

Monday – SchoolTuesday – FuturesWednesday – Home tuitionThursday – SchoolFriday – Futures

Sometimes knowing where I'm going today is more useful than understanding the whole term.

❌ You don't need to have all the answers

“What group will I be in?”

“Who else will be there?”

“Will I have the same tutor?”

“What if I can't go in?”

“What if it's noisy?”

“What if I don't want to talk?”

“What happens if I need a break?”

Sometimes the answer genuinely is:

“I don't know yet, but we can find out together.”

That's okay.

Write those questions down and ask the school, SENCO, Alternative Provision, tutor or other professional involved. Good transition planning should involve the young person too.

❌ You don't need to force excitement

Not every child is excited about September.

Some might be.
Some might be worried.
Some might tell you they don't care.
Some might refuse to talk about it altogether.
And some young people who have previously struggled in mainstream education may actually be excited about returning to their Alternative Provision while still feeling anxious about the transition.

Both things can be true.

Rather than:

“Don't worry, it'll be fine!”

try:

“I can see you're worried. Is there one thing that would make it feel a little easier?”

Sometimes the answer might be surprisingly small. Knowing who's meeting them at the door. Seeing a photograph of the room. Knowing they don't have to speak when they arrive. Taking a familiar object. Knowing where the toilet is. Having headphones available. Knowing exactly what time they're going home. Small adjustments can make a big difference.

❌ You don't need September to look perfect from Day One

This is perhaps the most important one.

Success doesn't look the same for every young person. For one child, success might be completing their first full day back at school. For another, it might be walking through the door of their Alternative Provision. For another, staying for an hour. Meeting their new tutor. Separating from a parent. Joining a group for the first time. Speaking to another learner. Or simply getting dressed, getting into the car and making the journey.

Those things count.

Alternative Provision isn't simply somewhere a child goes after an exclusion. It can support children and young people who cannot currently access suitable education in school for a range of reasons, and it can sit alongside a school placement as part of a wider package.

In Essex, Alternative Provision packages can include face-to-face tuition, online tuition, vocational provision and re-engagement support. So when we talk about a child “returning to education” this September, we shouldn't automatically assume that means returning to a classroom in a school. Education can look different. And different doesn't mean less.

❌ You don't have to manage it alone

If September is causing significant worry, talk to the professionals around your child.

That might be their:

💜 Teacher💜 SENCO💜 Alternative Provision💜 Tutor💜 Family support worker💜 SEND caseworker💜 Educational psychologist💜 Mental health professional💜 Other trusted adult

For Essex families, Essex SEND IASS provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support around SEND. They also provide specific information about Alternative Provision, EOTAS/EOTIS, attendance and education for children who are unable to access school.

The Essex SEND Local Offer also has information about Alternative Provision and other education options. Essex explains that Alternative Provision may be arranged by a child's school or by Essex County Council, depending on the circumstances.

If you're in Southend, SENDIASS Southend also provides information and advice about Alternative Provision and education otherwise than at school.

Organisations including SNAP, Families InFocus (Essex) and SEND the Right Message can also be valuable sources of support and community for families of children and young people with additional needs.

And importantly, if your child is of compulsory school age and is unable to access suitable education because of illness or other reasons, don't assume that your only options are to continue struggling with the existing arrangement or to electively home educate.

There are circumstances in which schools and local authorities have responsibilities around arranging suitable Alternative Provision. Ask questions, seek independent advice and find out what may apply to your child's individual circumstances.

💜 So what can we do before September?

Keep it simple.

Enjoy what's left of the summer.
Introduce routine gradually if your young person needs it.
Make unfamiliar things a little more familiar.
Show them photographs of the setting if that helps.
Put their week somewhere they can see it.
Find out who will meet them.
Ask what they're worried about rather than assuming.
Make sure they know how they can ask for a break.
Remind them of what will stay the same.
And celebrate the small steps.
At Futures-Essex, we're getting ready for September too.
We're preparing our spaces, resources and activities and thinking carefully about the individual young people who will be walking back through our doors.
Some will arrive ready to get started.
Some will need time to settle back in.
Some will talk non-stop.
Some might not want to talk at all.
Some will walk straight through the door.
For others, reaching that door might be the achievement.
All of those young people are welcome.
We won't measure the success of those first few days by how quickly someone sits at a desk and starts working.
Sometimes the first job is rebuilding familiarity.
Then connection.
Then safety.
And from there, we can begin learning.