Moving DD to Little St Helens

[Angeleyesmum]

My DD got a place in Little St Helens at 3+. While I a very proud of her and have for obvious reasons accepted the place, I cant help but feel nervous and anxious about her settling into the school. She has been with her current montessori since she was about 10 mths old and is so well settled here. Any other Little St Helens mums out there who are able to shed light on how they ensure that DDs are settled in properly and that their personalities are not dampened or adversely impacted in any way?

I assume you are talking about LSH in Northwood? If so, please don't worry, lots of friends have had their DDs at the school since 3+ and both the girls and the parents have survived! They are very experienced at helping the girls adapt to school life - and the parents for that matter too. You'll all be fine.

Aww thanks, Sportsmum! Yes I was talking about LSH in Northwood. Keep on thinking the move may be too much for DD as she is still young. I guess cos I am one of the very few mums moving her daughter out at 3+, I feel I may be pushing her. Heart over head situation!

Well speaking from several perspectives, I am an Old Girl of St Helen's, I have DD1 there in Yr4, DD2 starting Reception in September (we only moved back to the UK in autumn and Nursery was full), and will be applying for DD3 to try for a place in Nursery for Sept 2012!

The pastoral care is amazing throughout the school, your DD will settle in no problem.

Did you go to the meeting in Feb for people who were holding offers for Nursery and Reception? I may have seen you there, lol! I thought they did a good job of explaining everything. All the girls will be new, so in it together so to speak. I guess some will know each other from before, but try not to worry too much (easier said than done)!

I have never had a Little Saint or been a Little Saint, but I can tell you that DD1 settled into Year 4 really easily and that was mid-term too so really weird timing. DD2 can't wait to go even though she knows nobody there!

I'll probably see you there at some point then!

Stikmatix - thanks! its really good to get some perspective from mothers who have been through this before and whose DDs are in the school already. Unfortunately I missed the session in Feb (I was on hols ....) so quite a few unanswered questions :-( !! Did they explain the process of how they settle the DDs? Also do you know if they have breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday camps for the DDs? Working mother and all that.....

Hope to see you at school too - nice to have a "familiar" face there :-)

It was a good session in Feb, obviously, I had already accepted the place but went anyway to see if I got any extra useful info.

Here are a few bits:

Settling in - there will be a "moving up" session in June some time when all girls (old and new) go for a couple of hours to see their new classroom, meet their new teacher and classmates. This applies even to Nursery when all girls are new. When they start in Sept, there are a certain number of half-days to help settle in - I can't remember how many for Nursery, as DD2 is going to Reception, so only has 2 half-days before the first full day, you'd need to ask.

Breakfast club is from Year 1 onwards, but after-school club (they call it day boarding) is from Nursery, I think it runs until 18.00 and is a fiver a day. I haven't used it yet. They did say that they don't recommend putting Nursery girls into after-school club as it's too tiring, but honestly, if you're a working parent what on earth do you do otherwise - when we were living abroad DD1 had to take school bus from 3 years old as I was working too, and didn't get back until 17.00, she was fine!

I think they have Camp Beaumont at St Helen's most holidays, but as far as I know, no holiday club run by the school.

Your DD is going to love it! i have posted this on the open forum as I think it's useful info for anyone considering St Helen's. Feel free to message me Angeleyesmum anytime if you want any info or chat!