To not be sure what to do

[kappadelta]

My 3 year old just started nursery and she got a place in one attached to a local 'good' primary school.

My 9 year old attends a school out of catchment so I applied for a transfer to this local primary. It hasn't come through yet so I am juggling.

I wasn't aware but this primary has just had it's ofsted inspection and today it's been published as inadequate.

I can not afford to commute to the out of area school 3 times a day 5 times a week nor do I have the time.

I am worried about transferring my 9 year old who does have anxiety issues to this school now.

Any advice would be appreciated.

A LOT of schools come out as inadequate. Personally I think the new inspection criteria are not very useful indicators of learning experience. (Really I think they're actually stopping inspectors from SEEING what goes on).
Having a local school is a bonus. When the report is issued you can see where they have failed (and usually it's down to statistics not directly teaching) which may help your thinking?

Look at it another way , the school will get better
It will have money thrown at it and be strictly monitored

You could always allocate some money you're not spending on the travelling for when you need it when your dcs are older for tuition.

If they have suddenly gone downhill there will be under the microscope, expect an improvement in a year or two.

I would not worry about the Ofsted report if you are otherwise happy with the school.

Ofsted is a flawed system (being very polite there). If there are problems with the teaching or safety, they will have to now be put right - which can only be good for parents and pupils.

I pick schools based on what I see & friends' recommendations rather than Ofsted reports.

Three times? Why?

I assumed once for start of day, once for a nursery class pick-up & once at the end of the day gentle.

OFSTED verdicts have little meaning at the moment. Gut instincts count for much more. I know schools that have gone from outstanding to special measures in two years. The only thing that had changed was the inspection criteria. I've known worse schools get better outcomes.

My children's nursery got panned over a simple issue that was easy to resolve. My children are very happy and well cared for there, anc that's the key part.

so when was the ofsted? In the last couple of weeks of term? when it's all end of term events/sports days/new teacher taster sessions etc and kids and staff all knackered and on their knees??

seriously, take it from me, Ofsted is very hit and miss. There are crap ofsted inspectors just like there are crap GPs/teachers/policemen. The criteria keep changing and some of the inspectors are jobsworths who like the idea of having power.

our superb primary was deemed inadequate. It was far from. We (the parents) complained en masse. the next inspection less than a year on was good with some excellent. the previous report was like a total joke you would not have recognised the school at all. those ofsted inspectors were out to look mean and fail a school. all the surrounding headteachers were absolutely gobsmacked, of all the schools, it was ours that failed.

aside from all that, whatever the reasons for the poor report, they will now get lots of outside support to address any genuine issues they do have, so I would not worry unduly about a report. Gut feeling is much more important.