Siblings at different primary schools...|?

[emy72]

Hi,
we have just recently moved to a small rural village. Our DD1 is in reception at a very large state city primary, where she is really thriving as it suits her character. My son though is an august born, very young and very quiet child, who prefers his own company and needs a lot of support/hates noise, etc...I wonder whether he would thrive more at our village school, very small, faith, state. Does anyone have experience of having 2 kids at 2 different schools? We also have 2 younger kids - are we mad to even consider this....they would eventually end up at the same secondary.
Any advice would be great!!!
emy

I nanny for a large family where the kids are all at different schools and it's a nightmare to be honest. The logistics of pick ups and all the extra things schools seem to want you to do, uniforms and if they have holidays at different times make it a managerial pain. I think in the effort to recognise each child as an individual (different schools) they all get short changed if I'm honest. If you have a way of co-ordinating it then great but be careful as it quickly becomes overwhelming. Roll on when they';re old enough to board.

I know a family where the DC are at different schools because of availability (or lack of) of places.

AFAIK it is a real nightmare - logistically, the mum (or dad) has to be in two places at once twice a day.

I would say for that reason alone it is a very bad idea.

Also there are issues about clashes with Christmas fairs and shows, sports days etc. Plus you would have to go to two of everything, shell out twice for raffle tickets etc, buy two different uniforms (no chance of passing on) etc etc. If you have a child atschool you maybe already know just how much there is going on - now double it and place it at two different venues! aaaargh!

My dd is at a largish, city type primary. She is a very introverted type but is happy there.

The important thing is that the teachers know not to make her join in things she's not comfortable with. Also, being quiet and not joining in doesn't necessarily mean that you are unhappy.

My dd (once home) talks about school enthusiastically but we know that she is more of an observer.

Luckily, the school is such a mix of people that her 'social' disability doesn't make her stand out and the teachers are able to cope with all sorts.

The next dd to go there is very extrovert..the type you might describe as being lead-astray-able. We will see how she gets on...

My dcs are at different schools, but they are only 10 minutes apart. To be honest I'm not sure that it is that much more hellish than having 2 children who are into different activities and are therefore heading in opposite directions anyway. Putting our younger son into a different school has made a HUGE difference to him. Plus he doesn't live under his brother's shadow/reputation.

Apart from commuting time, it is odd getting used to the way another school operates, and you have to be careful about making assumptions.

Sod that for a game of soldiers - it's hard enough to coordinate kids going to the same places at different times, never mind dealing with kids going to different places at the same times!

You have no choice where I live as village school goes up to end of yr 3 and then move on to local town primary. We're in our 4 th year of different primaries and have had reltively few problems. No clashes of events at all.

There is a school bus (about to be withdrwan though) which picks up children in the village and then around town. I don't drive so this is a lifesaver.

Do you know anyone else in the village who has children at the city state? Then you could help out with lifts.

I have 4 children - each going to a different place in the morning!!