Practical advice for parents Liz Murphy, Head of Student Support Services June 2013

What can you do to help through the transitions ahead? Making the most of Open Days What happens when Preparing for transition Supporting your son/daughter

Open Days Best to try to visit before application is made Heavy focus on reputation/subject/grades/entry requirements Also important to look at finance, accommodation etc Equally important is location / environment / size / City vs Campus Do they feel at home? Will it meet their social needs? How does it compare to what they have now? Social factors can be equally important

What happens when? Brief – further detailed info from Admissions presentation Applications through UCAS from September Check they have researched subject and grade requirements Offer support, but don’t try to take over! Early applications don’t always mean early decisions - Competitive programmes / uni’s may wait till all applications received Provide reassurance and support when they panic If they don’t get offers from first choices, help them think about alternatives - post offer visits to other uni’s or retry next year? Have they completed Finance and Accommodation applications?

Preparing for Transition Most students receive ‘confirmation’ decision in August Accommodation will not normally be allocated until then Help them to prepare for independence - Living on a budget - Feeding themselves (if self-catered) - Doing their own laundry Make sure they have financial arrangements in place Be clear about what support you can offer Rehearse different scenarios - What would you do if…..?

The Big Move... First weeks can be hectic – don’t expect too much contact Freshers’ Week allows them to make friends Homesickness is normal – many experience it in first term We are here to support students - Residence Life Team - Personal Tutors - Student Support Services - Students’ Guild Advice Unit - Voice - Estate Patrol and Night Patrol If you are really worried you can contact Student Support Services – BUT confidentiality is important

What do we need from parents? Your role is very important to us We recognise your interest in the investment your son / daughter is making in their future We want to engage parents so that they can tell us how we can best respond to their needs We are reviewing and updating information for parents in dedicated section on the web We would appreciate your comments and feedback