Social story topics
Social story: Starting at a new school
A new school means new everything: a gate, a playground, a teacher, a bell that sounds different, toilets in a different place, children who already know each other. For autistic and neurodivergent students there is no familiar anchor, and the unknowns pile up long before the first day.
This story walks through the first day in order, from the gate to home time, with the names and places that will matter. Build it with the family, who know what the student will worry about, and read it in the weeks before, at the school if a visit is possible, and again on the first morning.
A sample story
My First Day at New School
- 1First, I walk through the new school gate.
- 2The new school has new rooms, new sounds, and new people.
- 3My new teacher knows starting a new school can feel scary.
- 4I unzip my backpack and take out my pencil case.
- 5I am at my new school, and I feel proud and brave.
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
Make this story for your student
The situation is filled in. Add a name and what they love, then click Make it — the first one is free.
Free to try · no card needed.
Tips for using it
- Build the story together with the family and the new school so the details are right.
- Visit the school and take photos of the gate, the room and the toilets to look at alongside the story.
- Keep reading it through the first week, not only the first day.
Common questions
Who should write this one, home or school?
Either, but the best stories are written together. The family knows the worries; the school knows the routines. One of you generates it and both can edit the lines.
How long before the start should we begin?
Three to four weeks for a big move, read every few days. If the move is sudden, start the day you know and read it daily.
Can it name a buddy or a helper?
Yes. A named adult and, if the school has one, a named buddy give the student a face to look for on the first morning.