can changing a child's school (around yr 2) ever be damaging

[vannah]

to the child?

Although our child is only 2, we may need to put him in the local (not very good) school until we can afford independent which would probably be at the end of year 2.
I've never really considered the option of a private school, but the schools around our house are either outstanding catholic and church of england (we are neither) and then there is one local primary that would worry me if I sent my child/ren there.

I used to teach across the primary age range, and can recall some of the new children that would arrive and settle in quite well but I always recall looking out for them for the rest of the year, as they often seemed to remain slightly 'left out' in the playground. But then my memory is pretty hopeless since having two babies..

Now as a parent I am on the other side and wonder how your child has coped with a school change at this sort of age, positive or negative. And if negative - did it affect the child in the long term?

thankyou

We moved ds at the end of yr 1 last year and he's settled fine at the new school. It was a house move, so we had little choice, but the school couldn't have been more lovely with him when he started and two full terms on he's completely settled and has plenty of friends. I made sure in the first term that I knew who he was friendly with and we had plenty of friends home for tea, plus they all play in the playground for a while after school so I was careful to let him stay and do that (even if I froze waiting for him).

I'm not kidding myself that it was exactly easy for him, but I think you know your own child and you handle it accordingly to make it as easy as possible - with ds, he is basically confident but a bit of a worrier, so we knew that he would fret about the new school all summer if he was starting in the autumn term. So we moved him three weeks before the end of term and he had some settling in time before the holidays. Then when he went back in the September it felt normal for him to be there. I think their memories are pretty short at this age tbh.

thankyou for that mrsfp - some good tips there should we decide to do it...

Hi we changed my Ds1 (yr 4) and DS2 (yr 2) from September last year to an independant. I was really worried but both now have settled in really well. DS2 was the most unsettled as he really loved his old school and had lots of friends. I would say that they will settle in anywhere though and although it can be quite hard at first it usually does come good. Kids are very adaptable and I would rather change them at this age then when they are much older.
I think it has been harder for me as the new mums are not so friendly as at the older school. But that is my problem.
Good luck.
XX

I moved school at the end of what is now year 1 with no problems. I had to move secondary schools in year 9 which was a lot harder.

god I can't stand it when people do this

sorry but the idea of 'using' state until you can afford private infuriates me

We changed DD from Catholic to CofE - we are Catholic but local village school is CofE - and she was fine - it is always good being the new girl in school as everyone wants to be your friend.

Only thing I would be worried about would be the differenc between what your child had learnt and the level they are on at the independant school.

I would also say if you are struggling to pay for one child to go to private school then makes it almost impossible to have more kids as they would need to be schooled the same! - One of our reasons for not doing so was that we could easily afford for DD to go but would be tight if we also sent DS - schools near us are fab though so no need to!

My dd's school has children going in and out all of the time (military area) and the children seem to cope well. It is also good and spotting where the children have academic difficulties and brings them up to speed quite quickly.

I moved schools quite frequntly when i was young due to job moves and the like and I like to think it wasn't bad for me. In a way the end of YR 2 is a good one as the curriculum changes in all schools and it is quite a common time so you'd probably find she won't be the only one. A lot of places have Infant and Junior schools too so again she won't be the only one.
We're thinking about moving home and moving the DC is a big concern but in the short run it might be a bit unsettling long term they almost certainly won't remember a lot.

I read somewhere that it is not so much the events that happen in a child's life that are damaging, but the way that these events are handled.

How about Home educating until you can afford the independent school? Avoids the possible problems a change of school might have...and means you don't have to settle for an education that you aren't happy with.

thankyou for these replies everyone, really helps us.
terramum DH were just talking about that this afternoon, and I havent a clue about it. Will browse through the board and read up more...