How much easier my life would be if I just sent my DD to the local state primary

Well the flip side is she will learn to be more self-motivated, and learn to study independently because she is less closely supervised during class. Also, the classes have TAs so it's not a complete desert in terms of support. If she is bright she will thrive anyway.

I'd move her if a space becomes available. And I say that as someone whose child went to a private primary from 3 to 11, with a car commute. My reasons would be:

You are paying a load of money AND creating stress for yourself. The whole reason we used private primary was to take the stress off (guaranteed place, guaranteed wraparound, guaranteed holiday clubs). Plus we were commuting to work afterwards.

It doesn't sound like those factors apply to you particularly (although do check wraparound at the local school before committing). Secondary is a long way off. The linked one might suit her. But it might not.

My additional reason would be that class sizes of 15 may not be viable. DD's primary was capped at 22 and they always had a waiting list except in year 3 when the nearby public school admissions started.

Have you looked at their accounts?

I would absolutely prefer the local school. Walking to school is such a good way to start the day and it's great to be part of the local community. It sound alike it will be less stressful for her too.

However if you don't get home until late don't you need the childcare?

Have you checked what the actual class sizes are in the state primary currently rather than just what their advertised maximum intake per year is?

Most village schools I know (and I'm involved with a few) are really struggling with pupil numbers at the moment even in the historically popular villages. Several close to us have drawn up a memorandum of understanding that they won't try and poach from each other.

Reception intake next year into ours is currently predicted to be 5 -10 children, normally it's between 10-15. This September it was 8.

But how would you manage to get to state school pick up ? They finish around 3 pm, even after school clubs rarely go as late as wrap round care at private schools do ?
Does you state primary have a breakfast club that starts early enough for you to get her there and back to office in time ?
One of the many factors I thought of when choosing private education from nursery onwards was...I needed food consistent wrap round care with no bun fight to get a place each term in after school clubs.
Does you school run mini busses ? Could you get to a pick up point easier than all the way to school?
I used to do a 1.45 HR round trip to get girls to school...I actually liked the time in the car with them ..chatting , singing to fave CDs etc.

She's so young she'd be fine to move now as friendships are more flexible.go and visit the local school first though

i wouldn’t choose private for various reasons, but if you have; your reason for struggling with it seems a bit silly. You basically find The 30 min drive stressful?

All parents with school kids have to factor in shorter school day and wrap around care with their work arrangements. It’s hard but just a logistical challenge that would need solving regardless. Driving to school is pretty grim and horrible for the environment so I wouldn’t fancy that either. I would always choose an option that could be managed by foot or bike.

Shes young enough to move her if you’re now wishing she was more local but if she’s happy then could you move within walking distance to the school?

Similar situation to me. Private preschool a short drive away that became a 60 minute round trip in morning traffic. Sent to local good state primary and that has been perfectly fine. Mornings and evenings much easier, other parents MUCH nicer. Money saved from fees goes on music, sport etc.

The question is whether your child will adjust to moving midway through a term after making other friends. Generally they do but that's what would hold me back from switching.

Our two started at a primary school, about half an hour away in rush hour. We had to move them in year 2 and reception (they moved in January) for other reasons, but it did make a big difference to our day being able to leave at about 8.40 to walk them (or do the 5 min drive) instead of 8 (the private school started at 8.30). By year 5/6 they could walk home themselves too.

Dd is very friend orientated and had settled well into the private school, but she settled in really quickly at the state school too. We kept in touch with her old friends. Ds struggled, and took about 6 weeks to settle, but he was same with the old school too!

Fifteen in a class means an average of four minutes per child, thirty means two minutes per child. However as virtually everything is adult led realistically 1:1 time with the teacher will be minimal in both. I really wouldn’t stress over class sizes too much.

She did

How would your dad feel about leaving her friends?
This does play a factor in how well she will settle in a new school .

I’ve always said about state primary and private secondary when it really matters.
I think it’s good to learn to mix with more kids and learn to handle friendships/ conflict etc in a bigger pool at primary. I think it’s sets them up more for real life.

I wouldn't struggle in every other way to send her there, as I really don't think it makes a enough of a positive difference to most children.

But then I also don't think half an hour's commute constitutes a particularly high level of stress.

I put my older one in private primary but that was because he has severe SEN and was being completely failed by the porimary. The HT said to us 'face it, he's a bit weird'. Then she realised what she said and clamped her hand to her mouth and went white. Fucking unprofessional.

If the state primary is good then I would go there until secondary,. We did not have that as an option I was prepared to put up with.

I'm all for reducing stress so I'd move her and then get a nanny who can stay late to do pick ups so getting back on time wasn't an issue

We used to live an hour away from DS prep school, so I absolutely feel your pain. If it goes all the way through then you are committing to this till she’s 18. We wanted to move DS a few years ago but he was so settled and happy, we ended up moving closer instead. If you are going to make a decision then I would do it sooner rather than later, also, bare in mind, the school day will likely get longer as she gets older with clubs etc, and it can be just as exhausting for them. DS was exhausted before we moved, it felt like we were trapped in a routine and not really thriving!

Depends. Weigh up the pros and cons for each school and what works for your family. Mine all go to state schools. 3 in the same primary and one in secondary. I leave at 7:45 and get home about 9:10. We are only 15 minute drive away. But by the time I have got to the first school, then driven to the second, found somewhere to park and then dropped and come back it's a long morning. I also work full time although from home. I could move the younger ones to a closer primary but would still need to drive further for secondary, so no point moving the others!

So weigh up the pros and cons then go from there.

This is so not worth it. I'd move her to the state one closer. Private school in primary is such a waste of money. I'm sure she'd rather mum and dad were less stressed, had more money to spend on fun stuff and had friends she could walk to in the future. Just my view.

Sorry, my mistake. Still too young to be consulted though - and the perfect age to change after the summer holidays.

We sent our 4 to private from age 4 but if I had my time again Im not sure I’d bother with primary age, certainly not before 7 and probably not before 11. If you have a supportive home life I’m just not sure it makes much of a difference.