The new school year arrives faster than anyone expects. One moment you are enjoying the final days of summer by the lake, the next you are hunting for a missing shoe ten minutes before the school run. A little preparation now means August runs far more smoothly, for you and for your child.
Whether your child is starting at a new school for the first time or simply moving up a year, here are the steps to get ready before term begins.
Start with the essentials that take the longest to arrange. Check your child's class placement, confirm transport arrangements and make sure any outstanding paperwork is in order. Schools typically need updated medical forms, emergency contact details and sometimes proof of address before term starts.
If you are new to the area, confirm exactly where to go on the first morning and how the drop-off and pick-up process works. A trial run of the route in the week before term saves a lot of stress on day one. You can find useful information for enrolled families on the parent essentials page.
Uniform shops and stationery suppliers get busy in late August. Leave this until the last moment and you may find sizes have sold out or queues are long. Check sizing well before term, since growing children often need a size up from last year.
Make a simple list covering uniform, sports kit, stationery and any specific equipment your child's year group needs. Tick things off as you go rather than trying to do it all in one trip.
Summer routines and school routines rarely match. In the final week of the holidays, start gradually shifting bedtimes and wake-up times back towards term time. This small adjustment makes the first week of school far less of a shock, particularly for younger children who struggle with abrupt changes to their day.
For teenagers who are starting a new school , the routine reset needs more thought. Our guide to summer routine tips for teenagers has practical advice on sleep, language preparation and getting mentally ready for a new environment.
A short, calm conversation about what the new term looks like helps children feel prepared rather than caught off guard. Mention any changes in a matter-of-fact way: a new teacher, a new classroom, a new subject, a new school altogether. Framing these as interesting rather than daunting can help your child approach the transition with a positive attitude.
For children starting at a new school, looking at photos of the campus or talking through the daily schedule in advance can ease first-day nerves considerably. Our article on helping your child settle into a new school has more practical advice on this.
Popular clubs and sports teams fill up quickly once term begins. Decide early which extracurricular activities your child wants to continue or try for the first time, and get them registered before the first week if possible.
Build in some unstructured time at home too, particularly in the first few weeks of term. Children need time to decompress after a full school day, and rushing straight from school to activity to homework every evening makes the start of term exhausting.
If your child is moving into a bilingual or international school setting for the first time, a little extra preparation helps their first week feel more familiar. Simple steps like practising a few phrases in French, reading through the school's welcome information together or looking at the campus facilities all add up in making the experience easier.
Children who arrive knowing what to expect settle in faster. The first few days in a new language environment can feel intense. Knowing what the daily structure looks like removes one layer of uncertainty.
Preparing a boarding student for the new term involves a different kind of planning. Packing, pastoral check-ins, communication plans and the emotional side of a child returning to boarding after eight weeks at home all need attention. Our dedicated guide to going back to school for boarding students covers this in full.
At Collège Champittet, our admissions and pastoral teams work with families well before term begins. New students are introduced to school life through a careful induction process, supported by house parents, form tutors and a dedicated pastoral and wellbeing team that includes a psychologist and school nurse.
Our bilingual programmes in preschool and primary are built around a gradual, confidence-first approach to French and English. Children are not dropped into a bilingual environment and expected to swim. They are guided into it, with experienced teachers who understand what the first weeks feel like.
For families relocating to the Lausanne area, our admissions team can help you navigate enrolment, transport options and what to expect across the first weeks of term.
Get in touch with our admissions team to start planning your child's September, or book a visit to our Pully campus before term begins.
When does the school year start in Switzerland?
Most schools in the Lausanne and Vaud region begin the new academic year in late August, though exact dates vary by school. Check the school calendar for confirmed term dates.
What documents do I need to enrol my child in a Swiss international school?
Requirements vary, but schools typically ask for previous school reports, identification documents, proof of address and medical information. Contact the Champittet admissions team for a complete list specific to our enrolment process.
How can I help my child adjust to a bilingual school environment?
Building familiarity with basic phrases in the second language before term starts, alongside a calm and honest conversation about what to expect, helps most children settle in more quickly. Find out more about our bilingual approach on our website.
