Joanna Fortune: My daughter is dreading starting secondary school 

"...listen with an open and empathic ear, provide nurture and support, and get her engaged in activities beyond her typical school peer group this summer so she has experiences of entering new groups and developing new connections..."

Pic: iStock

My daughter is starting secondary school in September, and she’s dreading it. She didn’t get a place in the same school as her friends, so the transition is difficult. It took her four years to settle into primary school because she is naturally anxious. What can I do to reassure her?

This reads as though you are both dreading the change and no wonder given that she has previously struggled to adjust to a school.