Tips for anyone who stammers who's about to move from primary to secondary school.
Have you just started secondary school, or High School? Or are you about to start? It can be scary for everyone, but especially so if you stammer. There's new people to meet, more teachers and new situations where you might have to speak.
Here are some tips that might help you.
- Find your support network. Have any of your friends from primary school started at your new school too? Who helps you already? Find out if there's a ‘Student Welfare' place you can go if you need help. It might be called 'Pupil Support' or 'Pastoral Care'.
- Join clubs or do activities that you're interested in. This can help you meet people into the same things as you. Look at noticeboards or ask at reception for what's going on.
- Focus on what you're good at. It can be easy to feel low if you're worried about something. Try and focus on things about yourself that make you feel good. What skills do you have?
- Make time for things you love doing. This can help with how you feel about things. Try and fit them in after school and homework.
- Use your problem-solving skills and stretch your comfort zones. Lots of things about secondary school might seem confusing. Try and see it as a new adventure, a new challenge to get stuck into.
- Volunteer to do things. Are there any opportunities for helping out somewhere? This can help build your confidence. Ask your tutor or someone at reception.
Getting support with stammering
If it feels right for you, speak to your teacher about your stammer. They'll want you to feel happy at school, so they should be glad that you're sharing it with them.
Explain to them how things can be hard for you. Things like answering the register, or when teachers ask you a question in class. Or reading aloud and doing presentations. Let them know if they can change things to make it easier for you.
Show them our Guide For Teachers page. Or download one of our leaflets for teachers and share it with them. These are full of things that teachers can do to help you.
You might not feel comfortable telling a teacher or tutor. If so, you could ask your parent to speak to them. Or, if you have a speech & language therapist, you could ask them. Another option is to find the Student Welfare department. Their job is to support you if you're worried about something. Ask someone at reception for details.
Other ideas for support
- Notice what teachers and friends do that really help. This can give you an idea of things people can do to support you.
- Talk to your parents and friends outside of school about how you're feeling. Talking about things that are worrying you can really help.
- Or you can contact us for support. Start a webchat or call our free helpline on 0808 802 0002. Or email us anytime at help@stamma.org
Things to keep in mind
- It's okay to stammer. Lots of people stammer and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
- It's also okay if you don't always feel good about stammering. You might have days where you feel confident and others where you feel low. Don't be scared to ask for help if you need it.
- Try and be positive. There are lots of new exciting opportunities ahead.
- Everyone is probably anxious about going to a new school. It's normal to feel like that.
- Try and be brave. Having a stammer doesn't have to stop you from doing what you want to do. But be kind to yourself. If you're not feeling brave, that's okay.
- The more you do, the more comfortable you will become. This can help you feel confident.
Helpful links & resources
Watch the video Moving Up! The Transition to Secondary School. It's from the Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families. They've also got these helpful worksheets.
See Childline's page on Building confidence and self-esteem. There you can read about ways to build your confidence.
Take a look at Jake's video on going to secondary school. It was created by Barnsley NHS Speech & Language Therapy.
Take a look at our page Stammering At School. It's got a section on how to tell people about your stammer. There's also information on what to if you're being teased or bullied.
Download a 'Find Your Feet' resource pack from YoungMinds. They've also got a video where Year 7s talk about how they have coped with moving to secondary school.
For parents
- See our Help if Your Child Stammers page.
Our information
This page was written by STAMMA Helpline volunteers Jess and Sue. They are both speech & language therapists who have worked with young people who stammer in primary and secondary schools.
Find out How We Produce Our Information.
What did you think of this page? Give us your feedback, we'd love to hear from you.
