Changing schools - effect on 5 year old

[OfUselessBooks]

I'm in a bit of a mess worrying about my 5 year old and the effect moving house and changing schools will have on him. Has anyone done this?

I've been made redundant...we moved to an expensive area of the country for my job, so we will have to move. Even if I were to find another job here I'm not sure I want to. It makes sense to sell up and go back to where we came from, where we will have a support network and housing is so much cheaper and I can use the payout to fund the move - it could get really hard if we stayed here and I couldn't find a job and ultimately we risk losing our house if we stay.

Two years ago I'd have been thrilled. But my lovely sensitive 5 year old has just settled into the most amazing school. It's across the road and we have a lot of friends here. I'm so worried he will struggle somewhere new and I'm devastated that we will have to say goodbye and so worried about finding a house and school and getting back on our feet again.

Obviously he is off at the moment anyway, so the best thing would be to do it now, rather than wait and lose the opportunity. I can't believe how quickly our lovely lives have changed. He is very shy and I want him to have friends and feel confident and happy. I'm just so scared of getting the decision wrong and really damaging him.

Much better to do it now given that he has been off since March anyway, much better to restart anew in September. Now will also be a good time to apply to get a place in new school (presumably he is YR this year and will be Y1 next year?) - there is so much upheaval at the moment I would expect that a few schools will have a vacancy or two once they are ready for pupils to return, whereas normally all the decent schools are full to their PAN in KS1.

Children are very resilient and adaptable. I had to change schools 3 times before the age of 8 because of my dad's job relocating several times (it settled down after that). Honestly it will be OK, and in a few years time he will just have a few distant memories of his old school but will be happy and settled and will have friends in his new school.

Once such things are allowed again, make sure you sign him up to 2 or 3 out of school activities in the new area to maximise his chances of finding good friends.

Childrens' friendships are quite malleable at that age and settle more from about 7.

Thank you. He is such a lovely little boy. Things keep changing so quickly and the whole redundancy is still sinking in - the rug has truly been pulled from under my feet and our secure life is over. He does have one "best friend" but he doesn't really talk about them much any more. Thank you Yinu for sharing your experience. He is reception going into year 1. It is just the most amazing little school as well - just made outstanding, but not just because of the education, but because they are so good with the kids and it's such a happy place. We were so excited about it all.this time last year. Xx