...to re-enroll DD in her old school?

[cadburytiffin]

I switched DD to a different primary school after reception as it's in a more convenient location - 5 min away vs 30 min - but it's been a week and I'm not so sure!

Her old school was quite small, everyone knew everyone and if there was a new student/parent they would be introduced. Lots of play dates and birthday parties and school events. It was just really welcoming and nice.

This school is very big, DD says she still doesn't know anyone's name because she hasn't been told. Parents are just in and out in a huge crowd to collect their kids and chatting in lots of groups of 2 or 3, not really an easy time to chat or introduce myself. I did ask someone if there was a class messaging group and was told 'I don't know' in not a very friendly way.

I went a bit early and saw some of the parents drinking in the pub next door and tried to kind of smile at them but they blanked me.

DD was crying saying she wanted to go back to her old school, and when I told them she was leaving I got so many messages from parents...I know it's only been a week but WIBU to ignore the 2 hour round trip journey and apply for her to go back after Christmas?

DH thinks now we've moved her she should stay where she is, but I know friends who have employed the same logic and made their kids unnecessarily miserable. But I'm also meant to go back to work and the shorter commute would be really helpful. Gah I don't know.

I get it. It is so hard sometimes trying to do the best for your DC.

I think you need to give it a little time. Its the first week back. Everyone is trying to get back in the school routine.

But having given it some time and you feel your DD was better off in the other school-see if you can send her back. Only you can make this call, not us. Good luck

Against the tide but having experienced the good of a small school and the major problems of a big one, switch her quickly. She was happy in the old school, there are issues with the new one and some red flags you’re seeing already. In a year a miserable, stressed child will be far more inconvenient than a commute <3

You placed her in her old school for her best interest and removed her for your best interest so I'm not surprised she is upset!!

It isn't easy. I put my child in a school 1 hours drive away (it was closer than you think but terrible traffic). Was a tough year but the school was so much better than the local ones to me. We moved to the area now it's 5 minutes.

Although I do agree that only a week has passed, but for the sake of a 30 minute commute I would place her back in her old school where she will have better social interaction and better academic chances. Suck up the commute and give your child the best chance

A. 30 minutes walk for a 4 year old is what a mile and a half, hardly a massive distance away.

However, you've moved her now and given that you need to appeal to get into that school in the first place it is highly, highly unlikely that you will simply be able to move her back.

You can ask to.go on the waiting list but as you are out of catchment then you may never, ever get to the top of the list.

So moving back may simply not be an option, ever.

There must have been other reasons that you moved her, other than the distance. You could walk her to original school and then cycle back in five minutes.

If she was happy and you like the school, why did you move her?