It can seem overwhelming. It takes up five days a week and there are all the pressures of schoolwork, homework, making friends and taking exams. It can seem scary.

But we all have bad days (even if we don’t show it!) and on the whole, education is great with lots of new experiences and new friends.

Below we have provided advice for dealing with the tough bits and handling the odd bad day so you can focus on the good ones.

Struggling with the work?

You might take a lot of subjects and it can be daunting to have to get through the whole day AND your homework in the evening too.

Homework can be a big challenge, especially as you have to motivate yourself to do it when you’re not in the classroom. Sometimes, there’s no quiet place to work either, and there are so many distractions whether it’s your TV, phone, parents, brother or sister or your friends.

And sometimes it seems to take too long – so long that you don’t feel you’ve got time for anything fun.

That’s all normal – nobody wants to do homework! But if you’re struggling, raise it with a teacher you trust.

They would rather you talked to them about it than fall behind or say you simply didn’t do it – if you raise it early they’ll be able to help you find a solution.

Coping in lessons

Studying and lessons are all part of going to school or college. However, they can be worrying and stressful sometimes, but talking about it helps.

There’s a lot to understand at school and college. It’s normal to feel confused sometimes – it’s all part of learning.

Not understanding something about your work doesn’t mean you’re stupid. If you’re unsure about something, there are things you can do:

Talk your teacher – They might be able to explain things differently, arrange extra lessons or give you support.

Ask a brother, sister or friend – If an older brother or sister has learnt something before you, they might be able to answer your questions.

Talk to your parents or carers – Your parents or carers might be able help you get more support, or explain things if you’re struggling. If you’re worried about telling them, you could try writing your worries down

Find information online – There are lots of free resources online to help you learn. But it’s important to make sure what you’re looking at is accurate. If you’re not sure try asking your teacher or another trusted adult.

Talk to your doctor – Speak to a doctor for their advice on coping with stress if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Alternatively, ask your teacher or Senco about your SEN Support Plan to see what extra help it says your school or college should be giving you.

Other people to talk to