anyone else moved dc's primary school mid year in Year 4 or above?

[olala]

I'm about to do this. and know ds, year 4, is going to seriously object as his mates are at the old school etc.

any ideas on how to soften the blow?

I'm thinking bribery? but what?!

I'm thinking mature explanation, but I think by the time I even start speaking he'll already be very cross with me!

Help! could others tell me what they have done with their DCs to make this an easier process for the DCs?

Thanks

I need to move my dc's are we are moving house, one is in y4 and the other in reception but I am trying to commute until the end of the school year. I would be interested in the replies you get as I was just about to start a similar thread

but even if you move your dc so he starts at the start of year 5 - its still a minefield isn't it!
YEs, I hope we get some good tips also!

shameless bump

I moved DS1 (near end of Y5) and DS2 (near end of Y1). It was particularly difficult for DS1 who started pulling his hair out whilst seeming to be fine about the whole thing. There is nothing much you can do to compensate for the loss of familiar places and friends. You can explain why you have to move and a child in Y4 may understand some of what you are telling them, a younger child would not.
Of course, in the end, both of them settled down but it was difficult for both of them to break into new friendship groups. The new schools were not particularly helpful either - hopefully you will be treated more sympathetically.

olala - what are the reasons you are changing schools - are they ones your ds can understand or appreciate? It may take several goes, but it would be good if your ds could at least understand why, even if he doesn't like it.
How about offers of ways of keeping in contact with old friends?
What about going to activites where children at the new school already go, so he can make some friends in advance?
Best of luck...

We moved ds1 year 4 and ds2 year 1 in january of this year. I was worried about the effect it would have on both of them but I was more worried about ds1, he is quieter and more sensitive than ds2 and I was worried about him making new friends and settling in etc etc. They have both settled really well ds1 settled much more quickly than i thought he would. They moved to a smaller school and i think that helped them.

I think the sooner you can tell him he's moving the better. We did have a few tears and dealt with them at the time. Within 3 weeks of telling our boys we had moved house and they were in a new school!

They have done really well and |I am very proud of them both.

Hope it all works out ok for you. When are you going to move?

we're moving them as the current school is so awful,. and we have moved house so i takes a while longer ot get there. not far enough for it to be ridiculous to take them there though - if it was decent we'd stay. Its hard explaining to ds that the school we have sent him to for years, and that his friends will stay in, is not good enough for him. What will this show him about the kids he is leaving behind i wonder?
I am thinking about buying him the Virtually Indestructible REmote Control Aeroplane from the science museum ( he has wanted it for some time now!) as a shameless bribe / blow softner. Is this wrong?!
ps - i am half working on some very important dox for court tmrw and half doing this. I am aware this is very bad of me! Hand up all the MNers who are meant to be working but are actually MNing!

We moved our Y5 boy when he went into Y6 and he has never been happier. He loves the new school.

My Ds2 is in Reception but he has autism so I want to keep him there tbh. Will be hard when dd starts and I will be commuting for years but worried how the change will affect him. Ds1 will be ok, he is a funny friendly little boy and very intelligent.

olala - very interestd in this as we are considering moving DS1 at the end of y5 - ie a year earlier than his friends, and we are expecting serious objections from him. However - as I made a crap choice of university (against parental advice) based on proximity to a boyfriend I had chucked before the end of the first term, I think it is up to the parents to be more assertive and to make the decision for the child. (BTW I know the analogy not perfect, but may parents were very lissez faire,a dn I wish they had been more prescriptive)
We have held out against a playstation, but that is the softener on the cards - blatant bribery, but for the long-term good...

Yes, due to house moving we did this earlier this year, son was mid 2nd term of year 4. It has been tremendously successful as the school is very friendly and caring. He rings and e-mails friends from the previous school very frequently but has made some new ones at the new school.

I figure they can adjust at this age as long as the environment is supportive.