to keep DS at prep school and spend a year in Reception class

[tryingtobemarypoppins2]

before moving to Year 1 in local state school? Loved the state school from Year 1 upwards but the recpetion class was really not great.

Would the extra year at his current school (he is in nursery) really help him with the basics and gain more confidence, or am I just making leaving harder for him :(

Can't keep him at prep as it would kill our funds for secondary :(

Send him to the state school for reception - to be honest, reception is mostly playtime and making friends anyway!

He'll make some lovely friends at the state school in reception class, try not to worry!

What was wrong with the reception class in the state school?

Nuts and bolts question: Would you be able to secure a place starting in year 1?

You might want to think about applying for a reception place and deferring; making the switch between schools at Easter.

Whatever you do, do remember to hand in your notice at the private school at the right time (usually a clear term's notice).

I think it is much harder for a child to go into an already established class, I would send him to reception with everyone else - when they start school they are all new - when one child starts mid way through a term he is the "new kid"

It was so dull! Just seemed to be lacking in resources and had teachers paper work everywhere. They didn't have rolling green hills or fun woods :( It's so unfair!

If only all schools had "rolling green hills or fun woods"!

You'll just have to take him on country walks at weekends :)

If it's a popular school you mightn't be able to get a place if you don't get him in from reception. What didn't you like about the state school's reception class?

Really low birth rate this year EdithWeston so should be ok. R/1/2 at the prep is around £500 a month so not a big jump for nursery fees and Early years funding remains until xmas so that really brings down the fee so its so tempting but I am sick of being poor and would love a family holiday.....which sounds so less important I know!!

I just worry he will get bored in a dull reception class after 2 years of having the best time. He spends all his days up trees, drilling nails into wood, dressing up having the best time! He is very lively and I worry he will become naughty........the lad across the road from us is off to the state school and he is VERY sprited....it could all be a nightmare.....I hate all this worry!

Its not a big deal, if hes happy and your happy with that setting for year R ( which is part of teh foundation stage) stay there, apply for a Y1 place at teh school you would like to send him to for Y1.
DS is in a smallish class ( low birth year) and they had 2 children join them at start of Year1. Both seem to have got the hang of the school by now.

I would send him from reception - its mostly play and forming friendships at that age.

No No No -Reception is not only play and friendships. Im a year 1 teacher and would be very upset if children came up to me having only "played and made friends." They need to know letters sounds, simple, addition, subtraction counting, getting dressed for PE, school rules.... the list is endless. Reception is NOT just play. It is a very important year.

Do what you feel is best for you DC op.

he will get bored in a dull reception class after 2 years of having the best time. He spends all his days up trees, drilling nails into wood, dressing up having the best time! He is very lively and I worry he will become naughty

Probably good that he will learn to calm it down a bit in a classroom environment now then, before it comes to real learning.

Good post Orchids.

I would send him from reception - much harder to go into an established class as mentioned already.

Apart from the 'up trees' my ds did all that in a state reception class.

But wont he get get even more upset anyway if you move him in year one to a school where friendship groups are already starting to establish, the children have learnt the things alluded to by Orchids and he suddenly has to stop climbing trees and driving nails into things? Also ifi ts a decent state you'll have difficulty getting him into year one anyway.

DD is in reception and I agree with Orchids. She has learnt to read fluently, write, do maths, use all the computer programmes, covered several topics, knows the school rules and routine, has established v firm friendships AND does an awful lot of playing. In just half a term. And the beauty is that it's all been on a level playing field iyswim. They're all new, they're all being encouraged to play getting to know you games and there's a lot of time put aside for getting them used to their new environment. Wouldn't be nearly so easy, enjoyable or sensible to try and do this in Year 1 with a single pupil.

How big is the primary school you are considering? Ds1's school is a 3 class intake and b/w reception and year 1 the classes are all mixed so not so difficult for a new child to fit in.

TBH if your ds is generally outgoing and sociable and good at making friends then I'd keep him where he is and move him for Y1 - much easier to settle down at nearly 6 than nearly 5. But will you be able to bring yourself to move him the happier and more settled he gets?

I'd do as many others say and move him to the state primary school for Reception.

I've seen children join my DD's school in primary from much cushier maternelles than the one attached/integrated to her primary school, and it hasn't been easy for them.

Send him to reception at the state school if that's where he's going to be long term. He'll care more about the other children than the environment I'm sure of it. It'll be no fun being the new boy in Y1 - fine if you have no choice but you do.

If you're unhappy with the actual teaching then you can give loads of reading / numbers support at home in evenings and weekends. And do more interesting activities too.

Send him for reception, he will be a part of the class and not have to be the new kid - we moved during Y1 and dd was the new kid for a while and I found it harder to get to know the other parents as they had already formed friendships - so I was the new parent! He is going to have to adjust to the new school anyway - better to do it at the start.
With the money you save you can do fun things at weekends and have a great family holiday!!!

Just to put a different spin on this.... What are your state secondary options like- do you have a selective system? Locally here a lot of parents pay for prep with the expectation of a grammar place at 11+ and, for a decently bright child the structure is such that they are "exam ready" in time for 11+ and have coaching at prep school too so get a place .

This wasn't the route we chose as we went state at primary and grammar from 11+ but boy was that a gamble in retrospect- if the kids had been "averagely bright" rather than the little brain boxes they are I think we may not have been so successful in our plan.....in retrospect I may well have done prep to start with...

And you may win the lottery/inherit some money etc!

Or you may find that "brain boxes" or "decently bright" ,your child does just as well at a state secondary,like most of us.

Just to put a different spin on this.... What are your state secondary options like- do you have a selective system? Locally here a lot of parents pay for prep with the expectation of a grammar place at 11+ and, for a decently bright child the structure is such that they are "exam ready" in time for 11+ and have coaching at prep school too so get a place .

This wasn't the route we chose as we went state at primary and grammar from 11+ but boy was that a gamble in retrospect- if the kids had been "averagely bright" rather than the little brain boxes they are I think we may not have been so successful in our plan.....in retrospect I may well have done prep to start with...

And you may win the lottery/inherit some money etc!

No idea why that's duplicated! I agree if you have decent state secondaries that have a good all ability profile I totally agree but round here they are very much aimed at vocational courses- that's just how it is because , rightly or wrongly the top 5% are at grammar school. This means that the other schools just don't, much as they'd like to feel the do, have the time/money to support gifted and talented etc.

OP clearly is already planning for fee paying secondary for what ever reason.

I'll get me coat....