Changing my DDs school after 6 months in reception

[Toomanychoices123]

This is a long one so please bear with me!

My DD started reception in sept and from day for has cried at drop off. The school has tried various things, I’ve tried various things but nothing has worked and she just says she misses me. She also tells me that the other children are mean to her and she doesn’t feel she has any friends. The school have said she’s fine and plays with others, is shy, but is making progress etc. I feel like we are all going around in circles. They see one thing and I hear another.

I have found another, smaller school a bit further from where we live, around 15 min drive. It’s only 1 class per year and a village school as opposed to her school now that’s 2 form entry and in a built up area. I hope that she’ll settle but I’m terrified of changing her and still having the same issues. Anyone been in this situation or can offer some advice? I’ve lost so much sleep over this and cannot see the wood for the trees anymore.

Thank you @IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls it’s good to know that I’m not the only one and that highly sensitive children can be ok in the end. Juts stressful in the midst of it all. @Rosula yes I did contact the GP and school nurse but they said it is the school that refers

@fedupallthisrubbish I did wonder and it is so hard to stick to your guns when everybody around you is saying otherwise but I’m going to see how the new term goes and I really hope this is the turning point we need. Thank you. @TizerorFizz have been doing meet ups with a couple of friends but DC is not really that interested in anyone other than 1 other girl in her class who is also very quiet. I think if she has a friend that she can be close with then you’re right that it might help things a little.

That’s a start! Gives a reason to go to school.

She may suit year 1 we’ll be wise it is less about playing with friends (learning through play) and the start of KS1.

I know you’ve read lots of books with her, have you tried The Invisible String? It’s a good one.

I still wouldn’t rule out ASD. Just keep it there as a possibility in the background.

Hi OP,

I'm in a similar position, any updates on how your DD is getting on this school year? Are you glad you didn't move school?

@Ruthjames1998 hello, I had completely forgotten about this post! It really did help give me loads of advice. I did apply to another school and got a place, a smaller village school but we decided not to take the place as I really didn’t think it would make any difference. She continued to be anxious into year one and the school put more things into place to try and help, it didn’t, and she was saying she felt sick on the way to school, having nightmares, so a couple of weeks ago I decided to home educate her. It was a very difficult decision. One that I battled with for a long time. I’m still finding my feet and scared I’ve made a bad choice but she said to me the other day, completely out of the blue, ‘mummy, my life was so hard before’ and I asked her why. She said, ‘because I had to cry every day, now I’m just so free’ I was blown away to be honest. She’s much happier, carefree and her confidence is growing. I really feel like for us, this was the right decision, albeit a difficult one and I appreciate, not right for many. Im hopeful it won’t be forever and that’s the beauty of it, if it doent work out for whatever reason, we can try a different school again. I’m so sorry to hear that you are in a similar situation, can I ask a bit more about your DC?