June 2013 - the thread that lasts us a while

[Sunbeam18]

Starting our new one!

[NoWordForFluffy]

Checking in!

We got out first place school. Hope everyone else was lucky!

[Biscuitswithtea]

Thanks for the new thread Sunbeam.

Phew for school news, hope everyone else gets the places they want.

[AutoCat]

Thank you!

[Raeside]

Thanks Sunbeam!

I've just checked online and there's no info available at all till we get an email 'in the evening'.....

[Sunbeam18]

Great news that you got your place, Fluffy!! Good luck to everyone else. Scotland here so ours is next year!

[BeanCalledPickle]

Rae why did you apply?!?

[AutoCat]

First place offered and accepted!

[Raeside]

Bean - for interest and potential savings!!

[BeanCalledPickle]

First choice offered and accepted:)

[SunnyL]

I got all worried reading your posts so went looking for an ofsted report or something to let me know if the primary is any good. Anyway read the annual report and got bored - it seems perfectly nice. So I quizzed other mums today to see if any of them had read it - seems we're all massively laid back in this village Not exactly tiger moms!

[BeanCalledPickle]

I think if you live somewhere where there is just the local school that everyone goes to and that's that then you probably don't worry! Or analyse! One of the nursery mums writes a blog and posted this which I thought was possibly taking it too far

[BeanCalledPickle]

www.luckythings.co.uk/uncategorized/dealing-with-the-primary-school-application-results/

[NoWordForFluffy]

I haven't really read the Ofsted reports in great detail, it has to be said.

I know that an outstanding school will have to be very good to get that rating, but equally that report on our school is 7 years' old now, so not current at all.

I went more on how I felt when I looked round than the report!

But yes, if you've only one school to choose from, and you've not heard awful things about it (which you would in a village) then don't waste your time!

[NoWordForFluffy]

That link appears to be for very sensitive people! Some of the advice is very odd if you're not of a sensitive nature!

Give yourself time and space?! Couldn't really take it seriously!

[AutoCat]

No Ofsted here (but I was confused for a second at first as there's a school with the same name elsewhere - not with good results!), there's a different inspection body and on the last report I read they put schools into letter categories. Ours was is in the highest band A (highest rating). I think they've changed to colours now. The last I read a few months ago was that the only thing our school could improve on was that it should now share its good practice with other schools!

However despite the official reports I think that I've mainly based my opinion on the school on reputation. It has a great reputation so I knew I wanted DD to go there before I even looked up any reports!

[NoWordForFluffy]

I've got a friend with 2 kids in the school and she really rates it. I think personal recommendations are invaluable.

[AutoCat]

Definitely, we know lots with children at the school (many of DD's nursery friends have siblings there, through toddler group etc) and they couldn't speak more highly of it.

We know from DD's time at the nursery that the head is lovely and is very approachable, getting involved with the children on a daily basis (he's been in DD's class and I see him interacting with children in the playground). They like parents to get involved and there's been a lovely feel from the events that we've attended. It all adds up.

[BeanCalledPickle]

I know! Seriously if I'd been that worried I think I would have turned to the gin which doesn't even get a mention:) I do agree with her though that they will likely be fine wherever they go. And in any event the children of engaged interested parents tend to do well regardless.

[AutoCat]

Totally agree with that.

[SunnyL]

That article was probably written for my brother and his wife -
they've put their kid into private school in Cambridge because apparently there are no good schools in Cambridge. I've tried to point out that he went to a bog standard school and still ended up with a PhD from Cambridge - he thinks that his academic prowess was stunted by my parents not striving enough though.

[Biscuitswithtea]

Eh??! That's insane Sunny!

I haven't even looked at our local school reports. We have a choice of one. So much of a child's learning at this age comes from outwith primary school time anyway.

am in denial about secondary schooling though

[NoWordForFluffy]

I definitely agree with you there, Bean.

[Biscuitswithtea]

Arrrgh! DS has come home from nursery in pants and trousers that he has pee-ed in and it's been left to dry. He smells like a old man 🙁

I am going to have to phone them tomorrow aren't I?

[SunnyL]

Oh biscuits that's really making me sad. A wee boy walking around so long the wee dries. Have you got moisturiser or anything for him? I found when they weren't changing our fabric nappies enough their skin got really bad.

Poor wee sausage tho

[Biscuitswithtea]

We do. We have coconut butter nappy cream which smells much nicer

I asked him if he used the toilet at nursery today and he said he forgot. I hope he doesn't mean that he didn't use it all day - otherwise that means he will have got wet multiple times 🙁🙁
He came home in the same pants and trousers, and there are no parcels in his bag so they definitely haven't changed him.

Poor poor little scone 🙁