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Pros/Cons of leaving DS1 in preschool if no place at attached infants?

7 replies

cb2ndtimer · 27/04/2011 14:37

We are yet to hear of the outcome of our schools application and reading all the horror stories on here I am trying to work out best option if he doesn't get a place at the infants attached to his preschool.
The head mentioned that this year two children have stayed in the preschool until places became available for them in reception (One got in in Jan and the other is still waiting).
DS1 is August born so not yet 4 and absolutely loves his preschool. They do lots of number and letter / phonics / word work so I do feel he would still be pushed there. Although some of his friends are starting reception in Sept, there would also be other children who only started pre school in January who would stay on with him.
We are 1km away from both catchment(3rd choice) and 1st choice school. 2nd choice is 1.2km. All are popular schools but 1st and 2nd would involve a walk along quiet roads where as 3rd choice / catchment involves crossing main streets in town.
So ..... has anyone been in this situation? WWYD?

PS I know that where we were on the waiting list would also make a difference but I will not know that until next Tuesday - hopefully this will all be irrelevant and we will have a place!

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GiddyPickle · 27/04/2011 23:29

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sunnydelight · 28/04/2011 04:56

If you are considering this (which seems a reasonable plan btw, especially as your son is so young) you need to make sure there will still be a place for him at pre-school. I'm not sure when the pre-school places are allocated, but I would have a word with the Head now to see if you will have the choice.

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cb2ndtimer · 28/04/2011 07:46

Thanks for your thoughts giddy and sunny.
Each school has just one class per year.
The head has already indicated that the preschool is undersubscribed for Sept 2011 and she would be able to give DS a place.
Should add that this school has just had approval for a completely new school to be built on a nearby site which is about 200m further away from us.
Before application deadline it looked likely not to go ahead so may have influenced applicants to look elsewhere. Not sure on timescale for starting/completing but has made me wonder when they will start measuring the distances from the new school rather than the old.
Not really sure what plan B would be. There are no schools in our area that I would NOT want DS to go to - it is more about local friendship groups as he gets older (ie being able to visit friends safely) and having a more pleasurable walk to school.

I do recognise that many people have much more complicated issues to deal with regards to school applications - Good luck to you all :)

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cb2ndtimer · 28/04/2011 08:03

Ignore answer about number of classes - just checked again and 1st choice has 2 classes, 2nd choice 1 class and 3rd choice (catchment) has 2 classes in each year.
Not sure if that helps us though - preschool with choice 1 also has 2 classes although 24 in each , not 30. Guessing some local people may not have sent their children to the preschool though.

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GiddyPickle · 28/04/2011 08:13

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Saracen · 28/04/2011 16:26

The fact that your little boy is settled and very happy at his preschool would be the deciding factor for me!

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MrsMoppet · 28/04/2011 16:29

Yes, if he's young for his year group, I would consider leaving him in pre-school too. He doesn't have to start school, legally, until the term after he turns 5 - but then he would go straight into Y1 (unless you are allowed to keep him back a year? - not sure - probably not ...)

Agree that you need a backup plan too.

As you say, hopefully this discussion will have become irrelevant this time next week!

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