What do you wish you'd done differently re: primary school

[Jane7]

That's it really. Just calling on the wisdom of people a bit further down the line than me. Would love to know what people wish they'd done/researched/found out in the year or so before their child started primary school.

nothing. Just pick the schools you like and be realistic about which ones your child will get in to and you'll be fine.

thanks autodidact - glad to hear you don't have any regrets

I wish I'd been able to go to school to pick up more often, but I work full time and had a nanny.

Also, make sure you are absolutely clear about the dates when you have to get forms completed. It is almost a year ahead round here, you have to have the forms completed in mid OCTOBER, for a child starting school the following September. My 3 year old changed day nursery around that time, and I almost missed the deadline; all the pre-schools remind you, if you have siblings at school they remind you, but somehow I got confused.

I was a bit pfb with my 1st going to school - researched all local schools, spoke to loads of people, read all the league tables, was prepared to travel miles for the best school etc etc. We then moved house as dd was due to go into yr 1 and by this point I had relaxed a lot, had another baby, was moving house and had a lot less time on my hands. I visited 2 schools that were local to the new house - I didn't even look at league tables, I just went on gut instinct.

The school was presentable (building, playground etc) the children were happy and said hello to the headteacher in a friendly way and the head knew all of their names.

I think at primary level the most important thing is that they enjoy school and want to go. If they don't enjoy it at this stage you've 'lost' them for secondary school.

probably not read mumsnet

When DS started school we lived in a village with a school in it qnd so he went there. Turns out it is a good school which was nice.

We have recently moved and I have to admit I did have a spreadsheet about where schools were, if they had spaces for DS and DD (starting reception in September), what ofsted reports were like and then with those I visited what they were like.

I am very happy with the one I chose - most of it was on gut feel for me but the practicalities of whether they had places was important as it influenced where exactly we moved.

For me being able to walk to the school is important wheras for others it is less so.

love that you had a spreadsheet, noah. that's brilliant. i think i may follow suit (but don't tell anyone!) also like the idea of not getting too caught up in it nbee84. bit like reading too many books on birth, it can be a negative influence. thanks everyone for posting your comments

Wish I hadn't been so charmed by our small village school (lovely setting, around 100 children on role etc) I thought that DD1 would be in small classes and get lots of attention, -I didn't really think it through enough. In reality, the YEAR GROUPS are small (max 15), but as all the years double up after Reception, all the classes are around 30 with a two year age/ability spread, crammed in v.old, small rooms. Dull teaching, all rather uninvolved part-time teachers - I could go on, but we moved schools PDQ!!

I wish I had sent mine to a local village primary until 7 rather than to a Prep at 4. So much changes before year 3 and social and personal development should take priority over academics. We signed up at 4 because we were afraid our kids would not get in at 7 only to find that lots of kids came into our prep school at 7 and they were all fine. And their parents had saved 3 years of school fees!

I wish I hadn't sent DS1 to school a month after he turned 4.

I wish I hadn't allowed myself to be fobbed off by the "August born boy" thing for years when he wasn't making progress (turned out he's dyslexic).

Basically I wish I had had the money to send all three of mine to a good private school from day 1 - DS1 now ends up with 4 1/2 years of fantastic schooling - luckily just about enough to end up ok-ish but it could have been so much better - whereas DD will hopefully have 13 years! (Just my personal experience in answer to the OP, NOT meant to start yet another private/state debate!).

I completely agree with sunnydelight -- I had to do the same thing with a 4 + 1 boy.

When you get to school, don't force your children to do homework, just reading, spelling and times tables. The rest is worthless.

Very timely question.
DD is leaving primary this week.
I would certainly still have chosen her school. It has been a joy and a great beginning.
If I had my time again, I would worry a lot less, as it all turned out so well.