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Original poster

Moving from state to private - what if we want to go back?

41 replies

Jenny79 · 12/02/2014 14:15

We are moving our son from a state school to private after the term holidays. He is currently in Reception. The state school he attends does not have any after school care facilities and there are no good quality childminders in my area. Due to this, I had to resign from work to manage the school run. We really like the private school as it will cover our son's school and childcare needs but worry if he will settle in this late in the year.

So I am wondering; if we move him out of the state school, what happens if we want to move him back again? Obviously that would only be the case should he become absolutely uncomfortable at the private school (so much that his behavior ended up warrantying removal). Is the position we are leaving behind kept open for some time or do we have to re-apply to the council for a state school position; and would we receive a position in the same school we left or would we risk ending up in any other school in our borough?

If anyone out there has experience on this subject, kindly advise!

OP posts:

Homebirthquestion · 12/02/2014 14:39

Your place will be given to someone on the waiting list or new to the area and you'll only be able to go back if they haven't managed to fill it.

Could you not employ a before/ after school nanny? It might be cheaper.

I wouldn't worry too much about him settling. They usually do, especially this early on in his school life.

TalkinPeace · 12/02/2014 14:51

His place will be filled the day after he leaves probably.
You would have to reapply from scratch : and do not forget the notice period to the private school ...

alicelooksinthelookingglass · 12/02/2014 14:52

As a teacher I'd say you are possibly coming at this from the wrong angle.
Choosing a school is a major decision and not one that should revolve around your job and childcare- in my honest opinion. Schools are not 'child minders'- they are there to educate your child and how they do this varies hugely.

You appear to be putting your job ahead of his educational needs unless of course you have given great consideration to the schools and prefer the private one for other reasons apart from a longer school day.

If you want to revert to the state system it will depend on whether a place is available- the same as for private schools.

Why can't you stick with the state school and employ an after school nanny for a couple of hours? That would surely be cheaper than £10K or more a year for school fees for the next few years.

Original poster

Jenny79 · 12/02/2014 16:22

Thank you to those who responded on point. I will check with the school whether the current Reception class has a waiting list.

alice if all schools could educate children equally, I would have agreed with you. Sadly, the standards vary and the private school we want our ds to join is doing far better than the state school. But our reasons are irrelevant (and therefore most of your answer is off-point) as the question was procedural.

OP posts:

eatyourveg · 12/02/2014 17:17

some years ago a girl at dc's primary left to go to an indie and half a term later came back - not sure there would be spaces to go back to these days though and you do risk ending up in whichever school has a place

tiggytape · 12/02/2014 18:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alicelooksinthelookingglass · 12/02/2014 18:57

OP- people can only respond to what you tell them.

Your post seemed to say that you have changed schools because it suited your hours of work. There was nothing- zilch- about it being a better school. If it was so wonderful then why did you not look at it in the first place and plump for it then?

I'm sorry if you felt this not the point of your post but your post did give the impression of not really thinking through your choice of school very carefully, or considering the implications of changing schools again. And asking on a forum is not the best way- far better to ask your LEA and the school in question.

Original poster

Jenny79 · 12/02/2014 19:07

alice your second post reminds me even more of my 4y old. He sometimes feels the impulse to open his mouth and say something just for the sake of it. I hope he grows out of it soon. it's understandable at his age but annoying as you grow older. I have not asked for personal opinions just for factual responses from anyone with experience on the subject.

tiggytape thank you, that sums it up nicely.

My query has been answered thank you all.

OP posts:

jessjessjess · 12/02/2014 19:09

If you didn't want opinions on your reasons, why did you include them in your post?

alicelooksinthelookingglass · 12/02/2014 19:12

I think I've touched a nerve then.

Unfortunately, on a public forum you will get responses that are maybe not what you want to read.

I don't know about your 4 year old saying things for the sake of it, but you seem more than capable of making major decisions then changing your mind not having really thought things through- such as whether your job allows you to fit in the school run.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 12/02/2014 19:14

Good lord, let's hope that the new school teaches him some manners. He clearly isn't going to learn them from you OP!

WhoWasThatMaskedWoman · 12/02/2014 19:17

Welcome to MN OP. Posters will always unpick the issues surrounding the question you asked - it's just the MN way. Sometimes it's actually really useful and gives you a completely different perspective; sometimes it's tooth-grindingly irrelevant. But it is the way it is, once a thread is started it belongs to everyone, not just you.

SapphireMoon · 12/02/2014 19:35

Ooh passive aggressive smileys op...
What Alibaba said was perfectly relevant given the information you gave.
You are being somewhat prickly.

alicelooksinthelookingglass · 12/02/2014 19:42

Yes, I did include this proviso in my first post:

unless of course you have given great consideration to the schools and prefer the private one for other reasons apart from a longer school day.

You seem to act first ( in real life and on a forum) then engage brain later.
A habit you should have left behind, as an adult.

SapphireMoon · 12/02/2014 21:37

Sorry, think I meant Alice in my post who is being given rather a hard time by the op...
Sure she can cope.. insert

Original poster

Jenny79 · 12/02/2014 21:38

alice I didn't ask for your life story, thanks.

OP posts:

WhoWasThatMaskedWoman · 12/02/2014 21:44

OP, have you considered getting your own blog, where you can vet all comments and have total control over everything that appears? It may be more suited to your personality.

MrsSteptoe · 12/02/2014 21:49

your second post reminds me even more of my 4y old

Odd, that. Yours have increasingly reminded me of a stroppy teenager.

Pooka · 12/02/2014 21:57

Blimey op.

Bit snippy in your responses. Are you ok? and passive aggressive :)

Coconutty · 12/02/2014 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BrianTheMole · 12/02/2014 21:59

Alices posts don't remind me of a 4 year old at all. Your responses to her however, are extremely childish.

TalkinPeace · 12/02/2014 22:05

OP
You wanted to be told that place would be held open.
It wont.
End of.

Chopchopbusybusy · 12/02/2014 22:07

Shockingly rude response from the OP.
The answer to your question is blindingly obvious. The place will not be kept open. HTH

Rabbitcar · 12/02/2014 23:01

Gosh OP, there is really no need to be so rude to people who are trying to help you. Occasionally posters can be difficult on MN, but they certainly haven't been on this thread. Honestly, your behaviour is much worse than my teen.

whendidyoulast · 12/02/2014 23:46

'Choosing a school is a major decision and not one that should revolve around your job and childcare- in my honest opinion. Schools are not 'child minders'- they are there to educate your child and how they do this varies hugely.'

Think this is patronising in the extreme.

No indication that the OP felt of school as 'childcare'.

It's also perfectly reasonable in this day and age for parents to expect decent schools to provide decent before and after school care. And tt hat doesn't mean you don't value or understand what education is for.

I speak as a teacher by the way before you start.

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