What this guide covers
- Adjustment includes classroom expression, homework habits and belonging, as well as understanding Cantonese.
- Initiation and Induction Programmes serve different purposes; ask the school or Education Bureau about suitability.
- Build a safe, predictable routine before adding support based on observed needs.
Make the everyday details familiar
A new school can make even small things unfamiliar: when to ask for the toilet, where to find a classroom or who to ask about homework. Before the first day, look at the gate, journey and timetable together and practise asking a teacher for help. Arrange a short visit or a meeting with the class teacher if the school permits it. Listen when your child misses old friends or familiar languages. Rather than promising everything will feel normal in days, make sure they know which adult to approach when something is difficult.
- Prepare a card with parent numbers, allergies and emergency contacts.
- Agree the collection point and what happens if someone is late, then ask your child to explain it back.
Find out which language tasks are difficult
Following a conversation is different from reading a question and writing an answer. Ask the teacher to help pinpoint the difficulty: Cantonese instructions, unfamiliar traditional characters, an English question or putting an answer into words. Practise a few words from actual lessons each day while keeping up reading and conversation in familiar languages. Home need not feel like another test. Let your child explain an idea in a comfortable language first, then gradually work towards the classroom wording.
| Observation | Possible support |
|---|---|
| Knows the answer but is reluctant to speak | Rehearse one question and ask for preparation time |
| Reads slowly but calculates correctly | Break down key words and check whether language is the obstacle |
| Misses homework | Use a visual platform and handbook checklist instead of immediate punishment |
Understanding the two transition programmes
If language or curriculum transition is a concern, ask about the Education Bureau's two programmes. Eligible newly arrived children may take the full-time Initiation Programme before mainstream school; the official programme lasts six months. The Induction Programme can be taken outside school hours after joining mainstream school. Neither is required for every child, and the school itself may offer support. Check eligibility, location, times and subsequent placement with the provider or Bureau, and consider the extra travel before enrolling.
Agree how to follow up with the teacher
At the first conversation with the class teacher, describe your child's strengths, previous learning experience and the two or three things worrying you most. Ask how to contact the school social worker, counselling team and special educational needs coordinator, and agree when to review progress together. Keep notes of specific situations and approaches already tried so you can ask what support at home would help. Not every conversation needs to be about rankings, and private difficulties should stay out of parent-group discussions.
- Confirm parent platforms, the language of notices and emergency contact numbers.
- Involve your child in one small goal, such as greeting a classmate this week.
Leave time for friends and rest
Settling in needs room for friends and rest. Start with an activity your child wants to attend and whose rules are clear. Going regularly may make friendships easier than joining many classes at once. Leave some daily conversation free of grades and listen to what felt enjoyable or upsetting. If travelling and tutoring are crowding out sleep, adjust the schedule before adding more. Some contact with old friends can provide familiarity during the move; those relationships need not be cut off.
- For peer conflict, hear the full account before checking the response with school.
- Report persistent exclusion, bullying or unsafe situations promptly and keep factual records.
When to ask for more help
If your child persistently refuses school, cannot sleep, often feels physically unwell, has marked mood changes or shows a clear decline in learning, avoid dismissing it as laziness or poor sociability. Talk with school support staff and an appropriate healthcare professional. Seek urgent help for immediate danger to personal safety. For more ordinary adjustment difficulties, set a small goal and review it after two or three weeks. Changing only a few things at a time makes it easier to see what is helping.
Frequently asked questions
Must children learn Cantonese before enrolling?
Do not treat Cantonese as a universal admission requirement. Explain actual abilities to the school and ask about suitable places and support.
Does the Induction Programme require leaving the current school?
The Education Bureau states that children entering mainstream schools directly may attend outside school hours. Check individual sessions and eligibility with the provider.
Does wanting to return to the old school mean we chose badly?
It may reflect homesickness and transition. Understand the specific problems, observe their duration and discuss support before deciding whether a change is needed.
Official sources and further reading
This guide draws on the sources below, last checked on 2026-11-13. Before acting, recheck the relevant authority’s current eligibility, fees and annual arrangements.
Education BureauInduction Programme for newly arrived childrenChecked 2026-11-13 · Open official sourceEducation BureauFull-time Initiation Programme for newly arrived childrenChecked 2026-11-13 · Open official sourceEducation BureauSchool placement for newly arrived childrenChecked 2026-11-13 · Open official sourceCheck whether each item is an official requirement, case-specific evidence or an editorial suggestion. Other people’s experiences may help, but decisions on your case remain with Immigration or the relevant authority.
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