Moving DC to private school in summer term, how to tell her teacher

[Lolathepartygirl]

DD is moving to a girls prep school in summer term. We've told her current state school on her taster day that we were thinking of moving her in Year 1, however it looks like she'll fall behind the girls at the prep school who are already ahead with writing and maths so moving her in Reception will ensure she'll catch up before Year 1.

Would I have to approach her current teacher to let her know in advance? Or do I just email the school office (which I'm going to do anyway) and let them deal with it?

When she came back from her taster day, her teachers asked her a few things about her day at the private school and seem to make a big deal out of it.

Anyone has any experience?

Yes they do @Tirednest but my point is that there is a wide range of ability at that age (some of the summer borns have yet to find their feet.) One of my DC (autumn born) took to reading like a duck to water & whizzed through the bookbands. Another of my DC (summer born) was much slower with phonics. Guess which ended up with a love of reading and writing with amazing comprehension skills?

Sometimes parents of children just starting out in school worry unduly, it can be a case of the tortoise and the hare. If they are happy and in a stimulating environment they will be learning! Reception in EYFS is supposed to be play based (for goodness sake they are only a term and a half into their education, they often start to ramp up the reading and writing from this point in reception year.)

I'd do what @ItsNotReallyChaos suggested. Summer term is lots of fun and a lovely term to start in a new school. She'll love it.
Education isn't a marathon, but I think most people don't quite realise the extent of need in most state school classrooms at the moment. My nephew is your daughter's age and if we had the money, my sister would be doing the same.

I don’t see the issue here . I’d think it was nice her teacher showed an interest in her taster day and I would tell the school now - as others have said there might be another child waiting

This would be unnecessarily rude as the next teacher will already have been working on plans for the coming year based on who is in the class, and somewhere a family without a place at that school won't know one will be available..

OP choose your private school, but don't worry that any child needs to be able to do writing and maths in reception. They don't.

Thank you, that is reassuring to hear we are doing the right thing.

Hold on. I thought teachers wouldn't care.

Tbh I have a feeling you can just let the council know, no need to email the school at all.

they seemed to make a big deal out of DD's taster day and asked her lots of questions about the kids and the teachers there.

Probably sussing it out in case a vacancy comes up.

@Tirednest I think it's downright rude not to inform the school unless there has been some horrific incident the OP hasn't mentioned. It's good manners to give notice as you would with a job (and you wouldn't always air any grievances why you are leaving jobs either.) It will also allow the staff and children to say goodbye to the child and vice versa. It's already been stated what a hard time staff in state schools may be having without making their lives even more complicated with children just disappearing from the class without a word of thanks or goodbye!

Thank you everyone.

We are not moving DD necessarily for the academics, although this school happens to be quite academic (not a hothouse). However the girls at the prep are ahead of DD with writing in particular. So since we've chosen this school for her it would be nice to start Y1 without much struggle.

Another issue at her current school is a girl with suspected SEN who latched onto DD and is very disruptive to the point that the teachers have to constantly separate them. She is not allowing other kids to play with DD (she 'hisses' at them and pushes them saying DD is her best friend). DD made a few with friends when she started Reception but now she's 'not allowed' to play with anyone. I think the teachers are doing their best from what they told me, but in my opinion it's getting worse. It's a stress that DD shouldn't be dealing with. It's a long story, but I think moving schools is the only option for us. I'm hoping a private school will be doing more to ensure this won't happen.

The council passes it on. As many people have said the school won't care, I don't see what the problem is.

We just emailed our local authority education department and said we no longer required the school place and gave the the details of the new school. They delt with the rest of the technical stuff.

An email to the office and chat with the teacher would be courteous along with an announcement on the class Whatsapp (or whatever you use) so the other families know that you're leaving. You don't have to explain your decision and it's not personal against any of them.

That's actually not true. Things like being read books and good language skills lead to better academic attainment. Pushing academic skills before 7, however, actually had the opposite effect.

That’s because that is what teachers of small children do . Just email the school and tell them her leaving date , nobody will be in the slightest bit affronted that you’ve chosen a different provision for your child .

This ^

It's just common courtesy. The teacher is unlikely to take it personally that your daughter is leaving, and it's nice she asked questions about the visit 🙂

You're over thinking this.

Teachers are well used to pupils leaving throughout the school year. (parental illness, new job, new home, new carer) and don't take it as any kind of reflection on themselves or the school. They have no more interest in the child's new school than in their new home or the parents new job.

@Tirednest look comparatively to the Scandinavian and German systems when the age where formal education begins is much older than ours in the UK at just 4 years old

Anyway it seems the OP is moving her DC due to social issues more than academic. I hope she gets on well in her next school.

I wrote to the school stating the last date they would attend and that was that. I didn't even have another place (house move, couldn't apply until contracts exchanged) and the school had no issues at all

Your poor DD. I hope she settles quickly and doesn't remember much of this situation. It sounds like you're doing it for the right reasons and she's very lucky to have parents that are in a position that allows them to do this. I'm sure it wasn't an easy choice.

However the girls at the prep are ahead of DD with writing in particular.

All of them? Did you ask to be shown the work of the slower developers in the class? Or were you impressed by being shown the work of the most advanced?

Children age 4 develop at very different rates (in writing, number, vocabulary, bottom wiping, lego building) ; so in the new school there will be some girls ahead of DD's numeracy literacy and writing and others similar or less advanced. No doubt the same is true in her current class.

Thank you so much. Indeed it has not been an easy choice, we've agonised over it for a while. But I think she'll be in a much better place from every point of view.

Not sure whether it's all of them. They said there are different abilities in the class but apparently DD couldn't quite write a whole sentence without support. I know she can write simple sentences, but maybe she's not done so well on her taster day.

In any case, we are happy with her moving in the summer term and based on some of the replies on here we are doing the right thing. Even if she struggles to settle, which I don't think will be the case, she should be nice and ready for Y1.

I appreciate everyone's reply x

Not read the thread, but just email the school office the week before and let them know when her last date will be and the name of the new school. If you have any admissions meetings before the start date let the current school know too so they can code it appropriately. You don't need to give any explaination as it's obvious! You can say, "we are now in a position to send her to X and she will be starting in the summer term" if you really wanted to say something. Good luck.

I think you're overlooking the fact that your dd will probably tell her teacher, unless you're not planning to tell her either!

The teachers assumes she's leaving in Y1, not Reception. I told DD she's leaving but she's not quite sure when.

The teacher is unlikely to say anything other than 'thanks for letting me know - hope it goes well'. It is not hard for private schools to offer better provision when they have tiny classes, kids with engaged parents, extra resources and few children with SEN or behavioural challenges. Why on earth would she be offended? Take any private school teacher and put them into a state school. They would have the same issues. You are paying to be away from the problems of the state sector.