Moving from private to state? Is it the right move?

[PurplePickledPlums]

Last year DC didn't get a state school place anywhere near our house despite their being 6 primaries within a mile. We weren't happy with the school they offered and went private assuming we'd sit on the waitlist until a place came up locally. We can just about afford the fees by not contributing to pensions etc. Now in Year 1 a place has become available and we went for a tour. The head described how woefully underfunded they are and how there will be no TA in the class past Christmas leaving them with a 30:1 ratio. He said he really didn't know what else they would cut if they need to cut further. The building was badly in need of repair. But the kids seemed happy and the staff caring. DC has autism but not badly enough to warrant an EHCP with funding which basically means there will be no help. So now we have our place and I find myself wondering if it's the right thing to do?

I would stay private if you can afford it. 30:1 would be the deciding factor for me.

Sit tight until another place comes up.

Perhaps he was trying to dissuade you from moving your son. What support is he receiving currently?

Are you crazy? If the head is openly complaining about underfunding what hope is there if your DC receiving a decent education there? If you have money to spend, spend it now rather than waiting for problems to manifest in senior school and trying to use tutors to compensate.

Unless you have already given notice before the start of this term, you will have to pay fees until Easter anyway.

Do you have a specific special scenario set up with the independent school about fees and notice? Because if a state school place you want comes up between January and Easter, you will be paying fees until the end of the academic year (and does a state school place offer expire after a certain period of time so it can be offered to someone else?)

It's really not easy to switch and not lose out, and that's just logistically rather than anything academic.

DC managing fine in the current school with small group help for social skills. No 1:1 but it's a class of 17 with a teacher and a TA. There will be no way to lose out on fees of at least a term if not two. I can't see how that can be avoided.

I was a bit taken aback that the head spent so much time talking about the lack of funding..maybe he was just trying to put us off?

DH pushing hard for us to make the switch but the private school won't hold the place even though we've paid for it. 🙄 If it doesn't work I don't know what we will do as they're really isn't anywhere else for us to go.

Can you talk to parents with kids at the primary school? They'll give you a wider view of the school and you'll soon work out if they're happy with it. Ask for another tour too - go back to him with particular questions. Did you meet the class teacher of the class he'd be in - could you ask to meet them? It would seem fair enough as your son has a special need.

Have you spoken to the SENCO at the potential school?
Also bear in mind private fees will go up as dc goes up through the school some independent schools manage out pupils once they hit juniors..
children with special needs but not on EHCP do have funding attatched to them but the money isn't ring fenced for them and there is no leagal redress if things aren't being provided.
Many state schools have considerable experience with autism but how they function is very individual.

I would keep him where he is. It may well be true, but I wouldn't be overly impressed if a Head on a tour round the school was going on about funding cuts.
Why is your DH keen to make the move? Purely from a financial point of view, or something else?

Stick where you are for now. Re visit other schools in your area and identify the ones that you would move him for. Make certain you remain on the waiting lists for these schools.

I suspect the head wanted to make it clear to you what you would be getting yourself into should you decide that DS should go there rather than have to deal with complaints afterwards.

We always thought we would use the local state schools. We wanted to be a part of the community in that way. DH is keen because of the financial aspect to lose the fees. Also the private school head is truly one of the most dreadful people I've come across. It was mentioned several times that parents are asked to make contributions to the school because they are so lacking in funds. Perhaps they pushed the budget issue so hard figuring we would contribute more? We've also gone to see a really lovely lovely country prep that someone recommended and more and more I think it might be time we leave London as I just can't square the circle for schooling.

I've just removed my autistic but no EHCP child from a private school because as he got older & went through the school their lack of support for him was dreadful.

The head was incompetent & his head of year basically punished him for being autistic.

His new school is underfunded, far less facilities but he's so much happier.

AlexanderHamilton is your DC in secondary? My concern with the underfunded school is the high ratio. He's so small still I think he'd just be swallowed up in the crowd. He needs someone to help him with social skills.

Yes he is in secondary.

Reception Year of his private school was wonderful & he really benefitted from the small class sizes. Year 1 was a nightmare. A teacher who expected him to be able to sit quietly & learn the whole day (we didn't know he was autistic back then)

As he got older he became less and less able to cope with the pressure in thecirivate school despite being academically able.

I would move the children to the state school. They are all terribly underfunded so no other state school will be better.

However, it sounds like an awful stretch for you to carry on paying the fees. Things like pensions are very important and the school fees will only go up and not down which might make it a life of penny pinching and misery for everyone. I wouldn't worry about losing a term or two of fees either - it's still cheaper than forking out for them for many years to come.

With the money you save of school fees, you could look at spending some of it in investing in your children otherwise.