what would you do ?

[b1uesky]

My 6-year-old Dd has a good chance of being accepted into a music school for gifted children next year. If accepted she will be given over £20,000 scholarship a year, until she is 18.

The school also do very well academically so it would be a fantastic opportunity for her. The problem is the school is over 200 miles away so she would need full boarding.

I was on a music forum awhile back and most parents there said they would make the sacrifice and send their child to this school, if they were given the opportunity.

What would you do if you were in my situation?

b1uesky,
if your dd is that gifted, then I think that you may have a conservative view of what a prep school would do to have your dd as a pupil. It sounds as if you may be on your way to finding a solution, but if not then I would think about starting on the prep school route and seeing where you get.

i would move close enough to the school so she can go as a day child. i would not send her to board at the tender age of 6. at 16 i would. but not before that

Have you spoken to the local Prep ? So many also have bursaries, in addition to scholarships, which are means tested up to 100% fees plus uniform allowance etc, specifically aimed cases like your dd's who could otherwise not take up the opportunity to attend. This is increasingly the case as private shcools have more strict criteria to maintian a charity status. Ring and ask to speak to the Bursar as to what might be available. Go along on an open day or arange to meet the head.

I totally second LIZS - a good prep school will fall over itself to have such a gifted child on it's roll. It reflects well on them. Call them, ask to meet the head and go discuss. what is a bit of embarassment, when it might answer your needs?