Is anyone else feeing wobbly about their DC starting school in September?!

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

If so, come and join me!

DS1 starts this year and I am feeling nervous about it. He is a really lovely boy, but lacks confidence with his peers and struggles to join in. I am worried that he's going to be lonely!

He's been going to pre-school every morning for the past year, which has helped a bit, but not as much as I hoped it would.

Anyone else?!

[Iggly]

Yes because he's my pfb. And I'm in two minds about the school. And I'll be working so not there for him most of the week. That bit really kills me.

[Smartiepants79]

Yes, yes, yes.
My baby is only 4 next week and I wish she didn't have to go!
And I'm fed up of other friends whose kids are only weeks older complaining about how they wish their children could go as they are so 'ready' for school.
My girl is confident and bright and will be fine at school, I still wish she wasn't going this year though.

[strawberryshoes]

Feel exactly the same! Not worried about academic learning, but DD is socially immature and I am so worried she will be lonely. She is going to turn 4 on the 30th Aug so really really young in the year. In a class of 14 (great ratio teacher to kids!) which really limits options for friends and some of the girls in her year are already really cliquey from preschool. Argh, really stressing about it, will probably be fine! Right?!

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

:(

I am a SAHM, which I struggle with for a lot of reasons - but I guess it is one less thing to worry about for now.

What is the school like? Why are you in two minds about it? I found it quite a daunting process - there is so much information out there now to digest and then compare across different schools. I hope it all works out ok for you.

[Nagasaki]

I'm having equal moments of excitement and intense wobbliness too. DS is my one and only and I feel like this signifies the end of his reliance on me (although I know he still needs me!)

They're just so smmmaaaalllllll!!!

[Magpiemystery]

My dd has just turned 4, they'll be fine. The way I'm looking at it is its only 6 hours approximately and we can have quality time after school.

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

They are too small! I wish he could do half days for another year!
I know I could hold him back until he turns 5, but I think he would struggle more to join in part of the way through the year when friendship groups are more established.

We are in a similar situation strawberryshoes. We moved to quite a small village and lots of the children have known each other since toddler group. DS1 has been to pre-school with a lot of them, but only really played with two girls who are going to different schools (typical!)

[Sirzy]

DS is really excited and can't wait. I know it will do him the world of good. But at the same time he still seems so young for his age (even though he is at the older end) his speech is still delayed, his social skills aren't the best and I just worry he won't speak up.

The school is great though. I have already had 2 lengthy meetings with them to get a care plan in for his asthma so that side of things at least I am happy with

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

I am also irrationally worried about DS1's ability to use the toilet at school! He didn't ever go to the loo at pre-school (even on the odd occasion when he stayed for a full day). Surely he wont be able to hold it in for 6.5 hours every day?!

(He didn't have any accidents by the way, he just didn't want to use the toilet because he didn't like the noise of the hand dryers and he was worried about using the soap dispenser. Did I mention that he is a sensitive wee soul?!)

[hazeyjane]

I am very wobbly!

Ds is disabled, with global developmental delay, no speech at all, physical and health problems.

He is starting in a special needs unit within a mainstream school. We have had a long build up and lots of meetings, but I know it will be hard (it took 3 whole terms before he managed to go to preschool on his own).

However, the progress he has made at preschool has been huge and the unit and school are lovely, so it will all be positive. It is so much more stressful than when my dds started school though.

After all the stress of statements and transition meetings, I have yet to buy any school uniform!

[Enjoyingmycoffee1981]

Oh I hear you OP! My stomach is churning at the thought of my August born boy starting.

The school is outstanding on every level. The results are formidably impressive. And yet I want to hear more about how caring the teachers are, and I am not getting that vibe at all. Thirty in a class. I worry that my sensitive boy will be swallowed up. Fortunately he will only be going 8.45 to 12 for at least the fist term.

I am focusing on making sure that everything is sorted in terms of uniform, labelling, practising opening his snack box, lid on water bottle, getting dressed etc. But it is all more for me if I'm honest.

[Sirzy]

a term of half days? Is that your choice or norm for the school?

[Enjoyingmycoffee1981]

The school suggested that summer borns do half days initially. Can do it up to the third term if we like. I think a term will ease him in perfectly. He will come back, have lunch and home with me and his sister, and then have a fun and relaxing afternoon with us. Much better than full on from the outset for a just turned four year old.

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

That sounds wonderful coffee. I wish DS1 could do this!

[LingDiLong]

I feel torn! My 3rd and last child starts full time in september and although she is very sociable and confident she took a while to settle into the school nursery which really took me by surprise. She was peeled off me screaming and crying for the first couple of weeks although she did then grow to love it. I really don't know which way full time school will go, she's excited about it but I'm anxious about her freaking out again! I am glad her older siblings will be going in with her in the morning (we don't take them to their classrooms they have to go in the gate alone).

[Iggly]

The school is taking reception kids for only the second year. Ds's teacher didn't impress me much. Pur preschool warned that the teacher would have to be careful in how they try and teach him - he's stubborn! Plus he doesn't know anyone - most of his friends are going to the same school which we didn't get into.

I bet you that most, if not all of us will find that it turns out fine.