Feel for you op also doing dreaded school application.
I have 1 in school already and heres the problems we faced.
Dd1 had done nursery sinnce she was 11months very happy and confident had lots mates.
She started preschool term after 3rd birthday picked small preschool same site as smallish/well med sized primary.
At preschool she had lots of mates.
we looked t primary next door main feeder school was 45intake so split classes 15odd ones based out dob so 30 r kids in reception and oldest 15 in r1 with 15youngest year 1s sue to where dd1s dob feb she wasent going to be a in split class so dident let that concern us too much
the head was nice, osfted good 10mins walk, lovely grounds and facilities next to preschool for dd2.
we chose school 1 22of her little mates joined her fro prescool so the remailing 23 were new to school from other preschools.
reception a few of her mates at preschool were older so different class.
was job share which dident thrill me but dd 1 seemed happy,
cue year 1 the split her best freind was younger 15 and instead being in year 1 class with her she was in r1 that freindship never recovered was lost. A lot of people in her class were cliquey so she knew them but they paired of and dd got caught in freindship triangle.
she also struggledin class and did not seem as confident.
we tried to get her additional help and explain problems dd was having but no joy.
The school was dowgraded ofsted can change very quickly so dont rely on that alone.
Only school in area had spaces was very small village school 20per year mixed classes apart from reception which stand alone.
husband was worried about freindship pool but he dident have to be boys and girls mixed more unlike old school. she has some close freinds from year 2 this year as was mixed year 1 /2class last year and confidence has boosted, academically shes flying, lots extra curricular. they dot have huge outdoor space or ict suite but they make most of everything they have.
She gets 1 to one help twice week with ta for last year.
they celebrate no academic things, the schools better socio and ethinic mix despte being coe shes learnt so much more.
downside is its 1.2miles way sometimes upto hours walk or 15min drive.
we ended up disrupting dd2s preschool shes on her 2nd preschool to be nearer dd1s new school.
dd2 and dd3 currently have no sibling link at eldest school which worries and upsets me.
There are days im tired its wet and col but moment i get to school path and look at the school feel happy and so lucky dd1 goes there. she comes out happy and chatty other day no tears like there used to be. its liek one little family really special and unique be gutted if younger 2 dont go there.
But I do realise that my younger 2different personalitys and dd2 probably be ok in bigger school shes adapted well to her 2nd preschoolbut doing loads of tours nothing can compare to small school eldest goes to only next week entire school is off to pantomine all 140 of them and in ks2 playground she mixes with the years 4, 5 and 6 so find the year groups mingle more than bugger schools who tend to stci to their year group.
put the one you like best 1st.
Im have mad selection but i know i be happy if dd2 went to either of my 3choices,