Moving from GS to CP at a new school - friendless!

[SausagePark]

Hi, I need advice for my son who is 5 and currently in Maternelle Grand Section. We move house to a different town in May so he is due to move schools. I was going to wait until September and make the big change for him then, but someone suggested moving him in May, so that he has chance to make friends with the other kids in GS who might potentially move with him up to CP. I hear it's harder to make friends in CP as lots of them are very settled and tend to cling togethe more. At the very least there would be familiar faces in the playground. I really don't know the best thing to do, I worry he would be friendless in September having left his best mates behind at the old school.

[SausagePark]

Sorry, posted before I finished. Anyway, I would welcome advice from anyone. We're in France (forgot to mention that).

[BoboChic]

I think that you should leave him where he is until September. Lots of DC move schools between GS and CP - he won't be the only one - and it will be much easier for your DS to break into a new group in CP than at the end of GS when no one will be making any attempt at making new friends.

[SausagePark]

Appreciate that Bobochic thankyou :)

[BoboChic]

CP teachers work very hard at making the class gel. I'm sure that the GS teacher will just want an easy ride by May

[pimmsy]

The 1st, the 8th and the 25th of May are férié anyway so there is only one full week in May.

As Bobo says, lots of new kids will arrive in September, if you are worried could you try to get him into the centre aéré at the new school for a week during the holidays ?

[SausagePark]

Hi BoboChic & pimmsy, that is a very good point there are lots of holidays in May, and as we'd be moving mid May he'd only be there fully throughout June. You're probably right about the GS teachers wanting a smooth ride that time of year.

[SausagePark]

Plus, sorry I keep posting, that is a really good idea about the Centre de Loisirs, I shall sort that out i the new town instead of the old town. He normally goes for a week or 10 days in Summer so he might be able to meet some new pals there. Really appreciate your thoughts.

[BoboChic]

Ask away! The transition to CP is so hyped up (IMO) that it's easy to overthink it. IMVHO it's much more straightforward than many people seem or want to believe

[SausagePark]

I'm so glad you said that I actually have been really worrying about it since a friend told me how hard it was for her kid. My son makes friends fairly easily, I'm sure he'll manage. I might go to the Mairie tomorrow and ask if there's a chance we can have a look at the school before September. Thanks so much :)

[BoboChic]

The French go in for the most almighty making of mountains about CP. We have had three DC go to CP and it's always the year (with CM2) where schools put their most experienced teachers. It will be fine

[pimmsy]

Another though, if you are still worried, see if you can sign up to the FCPE (or even PEEP) as soon as you can and maybe if you're avaliable let the teacher know as soon as you can that you could accompany school trips, or even intervene in class from time to time or lend books if they are doing any English. This should help you meet parents, which in turn will help your son meet children.

Bon Courage!

[SausagePark]

Great idea pimmsy. Thanks for the reassurance Bohochic. I think I have made a decision :)

[lemonapple]

Unless it's a tiny school with one classe per year, the French schools usually deliberately mix the class make up year on year to avoid cliques, deemed to make teaching easier. I think you may have some unnecessary fears about this one, they are just 6/7 year olds not teenagers.

Good luck for the removals !