Preparing Your Child with Special Needs for a New School Year

Start Planning Now — Not in August

The best time to prepare for the school year is weeks before it starts. For children with IEPs, sensory needs, or behavioral challenges, early preparation can make the difference between a smooth transition and a rough September.

Step 1: Review Your Child's IEP or 504 Plan

If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, request a copy and review it:

• Are the goals still relevant?
• Were last year's accommodations effective?
• Do you need to request changes or additions?
• Has your child made progress that changes their needs?

Pro tip: Request an IEP meeting before school starts if you need to make changes. You have the right to request a meeting at any time.

Step 2: Communicate with the New Teacher

Don't assume information transfers smoothly between school years. Proactively reach out to your child's new teacher with:

• A brief summary of your child's strengths and challenges
• What strategies work best (and what doesn't)
• Sensory needs or triggers
• Communication preferences (daily notes, email, app)
• Your contact information and availability

Consider creating a one-page student snapshot — a simple document that gives the teacher everything they need to know at a glance.

Step 3: Practice the New Routine

For children who struggle with transitions, practice the new routine before school starts:

• Drive to the school together and walk the route
• Practice the morning routine (wake up, get dressed, eat, leave)
• Visit the classroom if the school allows it
• Read social stories about starting school
• Use a visual schedule showing the daily routine

Visual Schedule Tips:

• Use pictures or icons your child recognizes
• Include transitions ("first breakfast, then shoes, then car")
• Post it where your child can see it independently
• Practice with it for at least a week before school starts

Step 4: Address Sensory Needs

School environments can be overwhelming. Talk with your OT about:

• Noise: Cafeteria, assemblies, fire drills — does your child need noise-reducing headphones?
• Seating: Wobble cushions, resistance bands on chair legs, or preferential seating
• Sensory breaks: Can your child access a calm corner or movement break?
• Clothing: Tags, seams, and textures — sort out uniforms or school clothes now
• Cafeteria: Food textures, smells, social dynamics during lunch

Step 5: Build Social Skills Before Day One

If your child struggles socially, summer is the time to practice:

• Arrange playdates with future classmates
• Practice greetings, turn-taking, and conversation starters
• Role-play common school scenarios (raising hand, asking for help, joining a group)
• Work with your speech or ABA therapist on specific social goals

Step 6: Prepare for the Emotional Side

Starting a new school year brings big feelings — for you and your child:

For your child:

• Validate their feelings: "It's okay to feel nervous about new things"
• Focus on what they're excited about
• Create a "worry box" — write down worries and put them in a box to "hold" them
• Establish a goodbye routine that's quick and consistent

For you:

• Connect with other parents of children with special needs
• Write down your concerns and questions for the teacher
• Remember: you are your child's best advocate
• It's okay to feel anxious too

How Therapy Supports School Success

Your child's therapy team can help with back-to-school preparation:

Therapy	How It Helps
Speech	Social communication scripts, vocabulary for school contexts, self-advocacy phrases
OT	Sensory strategies for the classroom, handwriting prep, self-regulation tools
PT	Navigating the school environment, playground skills, endurance for long days
ABA	Transition strategies, behavioral support plans, social skills practice

Ask your therapist to share relevant strategies with your child's teacher — with your permission, we can provide school-friendly summaries.

The First Week Survival Guide

1. Keep afternoons low-key — school is exhausting, especially at first
2. Expect some regression — behaviors may increase as your child adjusts
3. Check in daily — not just "how was school?" but specific questions
4. Stay connected with the teacher — early communication prevents problems
5. Be patient — adjustment takes 2–4 weeks for most children

📋 Schedule a back-to-school therapy session | 📞 (719) 598-5555

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WellCare & Nurture works closely with Colorado Springs schools to support children's success in the classroom.