MOVING MY 6 YEAR OLD TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL

[HAYLEYMAI]

HI WE MOVED HOUSE LAST YEAR AND MY 6YEAR OLD LOVES THE SCHOOL THAT HE IS AT. I SAID TO HIM ABOUT MOVING SCHOOL AND HE SAID HE LIKES THE ONE HE IS AT AND HAS MADE LOTS OF FRIENDS. THERE IS A BETTER SCHOOL UP THE ROAD THAT TAKES 10 MINUTES TO WALK THE OTHER SCHOOL TAKES 15 MINUTES TO DRIVE. WE ARE OUT OF THE CATCHMENT AREA FOR THE SCHOOL UP THE ROAD BUT I KNOW SOMEONE IS LEAVING THERE SOON. DO YOU THINK IT IS SELFISH OF ME TO PUT MY SONS NAME DOWN AS I KNOW THAT IF HE IS IN THE SCHOOL MY DAUGHTER SHOULD GET IN. THEY BOTH WENT TO THE PRE-SCHOOL SO THEY KNOW CHILDREN WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THE SCHOOL. I RECIEVED A LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL MY SON IS AT AT THE MOMENT AND IT IS A RELIGIOUS FORM TO FILL IN FOR MY DAUGHTERS APPLICATION WHICH MAKES IT WORSE AS IF I DONT TRY TO MOVE MY SON I DONT KNOW IF MY DAUGHTER WILL GET INTO HIS SCHOOL ANYWAY.

PLEASE HELP DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!

[Runoutofideas]

I would apply for the school which you feel best suits your family circumstances. At 6 I feel your son is too young to have much control over where he goes to school. He is bound to prefer his current one as he knows everyone and knows how it works - change is scary. You, however, can see the whole picture and are the person who should decide what is best for both your son and daughter.

Do you know if you would be top of the waiting list at the new school though - just because someone is leaving does not necessarily mean that the space would be yours as there may be a waiting list.... If your daughter gets a place at the nearer school would your son go top of the list as a sibling? How likely is she to get a reception place there? - presumably more likely there than at the one which is 15 mins drive away, or would she get in there as a sibling?

[HAYLEYMAI]

MY DAUGHTER GOES TO THE PRE SCHOOL UP THE ROAD AND THE LADY IN THE PRE SCHOOL THINKS SHE MIGHT HAVE A GOOD CHANCE FROM THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE ATTENDED PRE-SCHOOL THAT YEAR AS THAT IS A GOOD PRE SCHOOL AND MOST CHILDREN GO THERE IF GOING TO THE SCHOOL. ALSO IN OTHER YEARS CHILDREN FROM ABOUT 2 MILES HAVE GOT IN.

IN MY SONS SCHOOL I THINK HAVING A SIBLING IS HIGH UP BUT LIVING IN THE AREA IS HIGHER AS HE GOT IN WHEN WE LIVED THERE. THE AREA IS RATHER LARGE AND I KNOW OF ALOT OF CHILDREN WHO ARE APPLYING!!

MY SON IS QUITE OUTGOING AND WHEN HE WENT TO THE SCHOOL HIS FIRST DAY HE WAS INTRODUCING HIMSELF TO OTHER CHILDREN.

I JUST FEEL BAD BECAUSE I COULD TAKE HIM AWAY FROM A SCHOOL AND FRIENDS HE LOVES AND THEN NOT SETTLE IN THE OTHER ONE THEN I WOULD BE STUCK FOR WHAT TO DO WITH BOTH CHILDREN!!!

I HAVE SENT HIS APPLICATION IN AND ARE WAITING TO HEAR.

[Teresa250]

Hi,

I have been in the same situation this week as we just had confirmation my little one was offered a place in the school 5 mins walk away after a years wait. We have really struggled with what to do for the best as currently drive 15 mins too. My other little one would also start next year the eldest is in yr 1 and happy with lots of friends whereas although she knows a couple at the new school from nursery I worry how she would find it. Have to admit that we could not justify moving her and possibly upsetting her and have decided, with very mixed emotions, to leave her.

It is so hard to know what to do. Wish you the best.

[time4bed]

I changed my son's school a year ago because I thought it would be "better" for him.

He was happy, and very popular amongst his peers, but I was unhappy with certain aspects of the school so took the place that was available at another school.

According to the powers that be it is a higher achieving school, I'm just not so sure my son is as happy there, he still talks about his old school every day, and I must admit he is finding it hard to "fit in" an established year group.

Not sure if better school means happier child, and feel a harsh lesson has been learnt,

To be honest unless your child is struggling and/or very unhappy don't do it, leave them where they are, its been one of the hardest things I've ever done and have regretted it quite a few times since.

[lovecheese]

HayleyMai, why are you shouting

[HAYLEYMAI]

Hi, what does capital letters mean shouting i am rubbish on computers didnt know that but worked it out!!

sorry for shouting.

also the thing is that if i dont put him into the school up the road then when they go to secondry school he wont know anyone there. as the secondry school that the other school goes to is catchment school and we are out of the catchment where as the one up the road they all go to the same school so he wont need to meet new friends!

[muddyangels123]

I moved my Ds2 when he was at the end of year 1 as he was very shy and just not fitting in. I worried if it was wrong, moving him to a new school as the school was 6 miles away and he would go on the school bus.
It was the best thing ever.
He came out of his shell and now at 14 he still has the same friends he made there.
My DD is now at the school and loves it.
I think not every school is suited to every child.