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Original poster

Pre school Nursery - George Watsons. Advice Needed

24 replies

veenrass · 19/02/2014 20:10

Hi, My little girl is due to start school Aug 16 and we have applied for George Watsons only, as I prefer co-ed schools ( I also have a little boy who will start school Aug 17 )and prefer the one campus to George Heriots being spread over a few sites. Any views/ experiences of watsons v heriots v edinburgh academy? Does anyone know what the entry assessment consists of? She is very bright and I wouldn't have concerns about her ability but the lack of spaces. Neither myself or Dh went to private schools so she won't get priority on that account.

If I put her in the pre school nursery for 1 year starting Aug 15 she would be guaranteed a space in P1. I have to get in quick though as you have to apply by end of April this year. Although I feel that 5 full days 9-3pm is quite a long time. Anyone got any experience of this, how did your children cope? My dd is in private nursery 2 full days a week at the moment. I have considered just the morning nursery 9-11:45 but seems no time at all, By the time I would be travelling from corstorphine to colinton. Also plan to have another baby in summer next year so will have newborn and toddler to transport along with dd!!

I could keep her in the nursery she is in, but then risk her not getting a place in p1, and don't as yet have her name down for any other back up schools. Anyone been faced with the decision and what did you do?

OP posts:

emma12344 · 19/02/2014 21:05

I hear from many that Corstorphine Primary is a really fabulous school and much sought after. Why not send her there and save yourself that awful drive?

Eman83 · 19/02/2014 21:19

My child does 4 full days and one half day at the moment but cone August in GH he will do 5 full days. So fat he is coping well. I do a long drive as well and it's fine. Pm me if you have any
More questions

Original poster

veenrass · 19/02/2014 21:25

Thanks for you comments. I would happily send them to corstorphine, although we are in catchment to Craigmount (where both myself and Dh went) really don't want to send them there. Also don't want to send to corstorphine and then uproot from all their friends and send to private school in p7 or s1. We want them to settle and progress in one school.

Eman83 do you know how the places are allocated for pre-school? First come first served? As we have not yet applied! When did you apply and what are your experiences of GH so far?

OP posts:

GrooveeCar · 19/02/2014 21:28

My niece started at watsons in P6. Her mum said that if they had the money their youngest would have gone at nursery. But he'll wait til P6 too and their middle one won't get a place before P7. They wish they had moved sooner and been more on the ball.

I know it takes me 20 minutes in the morning to travel there from Corstorphine. It's not really that far. And so would be doable for morning only nursery. Its amazing what you can do in that short period of time, once you get bum into gear.

You wouldn't register for state schools until November this year anyway. But if you want private you will need to make a decision pretty soon.

GrooveeCar · 19/02/2014 21:35

Sorry, just realised you said August 16, so it would be November 15 for registration.

Have you considered Clifton Hall? A number of my brownies go there and seem very happy. When I work at Newbridge I am at work in about 8 minutes. As you would be against the traffic once passed Gogar it would cut down travelling too.

Original poster

veenrass · 19/02/2014 21:42

Thanks for your comment. I know what you mean about what you can get done in a short space of time! Suppose I just need to decide, hoping we have not missed out as if it is first come first served we will more than likely not get a space. It was really more to guarantee a space in P1 more than anything as the cost for 5 full days wouldn't cost much more than 2 days private nursery, but the facilities in the pre-school do look amazing!

OP posts:

Original poster

veenrass · 19/02/2014 21:45

She will start Aug 16 for primary 1 but Aug 15 for preschool nursery. I think cut off for applications for nursery is April this year.
I actually work in west Lothian so Clifton hall could be an option, nevertheless really considered it as not heard much about it.

OP posts:

Chrysanthemum5 · 20/02/2014 10:33

My DCs go to Watsons. DC1 moved there in P2, we were top of the waiting list but they only have 2-3 places per year to offer so that's something to bear in mind. In P7 they have a whole new class so that's a big entry point. Entry to P1 and P2 is just a chat with the head of the lower primary. Entry from P3 upwards is a written test.

DC2 then went to the nursery at Watsons. Originally I thought 5 days per week would be too much (she had previously done 3 days at nursery), however the children all seemed fine with it. It's quite laid-back. Entry to P1 was automatic (unless they felt your child would benefit from deferral).

Neither DH or I went to a private school, and we had no links to the school - but it's been fine. It's very friendly.

Having said that, I think you need to consider your commute, and work out what's best from that point of view. It can be hellish getting across town in the mornings, especially if you've then got to drive on to work.

Original poster

veenrass · 20/02/2014 17:20

Thanks Chrysanthemum5! Do you know how the places are allocated for the nursery? Is it first come first served? Also when did you apply as we are approaching the cut off (April) and although have applied for p1, haven't yet for nursery. Do you think we will be able to edit our existing application ( sent in summer last year) to now opt for nursery so that we are higher up the list?
can't believe there is only space for 2-3 per year, do all the other children come direct from nursery?

OP posts:

Chrysanthemum5 · 20/02/2014 19:04

Sorry I wasn't clear in P1 they take in about 24-30 children who were not in the nursery (basing that on the number in dc2's year). Between P2-P6 there are usually only a few spaces depending on whether any children have left. I don't know how they allocate spaces in P1 to children who were not in the nursery, but they certainly don't all have a link to the school.

When dc1 had his chat to get in to P2 it was a 20 minute chat where they did a jigsaw and read a book.

If you want to change your application I'd just give them a call I've always found the staff helpful and friendly.

Chrysanthemum5 · 20/02/2014 19:07

Forgot to say we were last minute with dc1's application for P2. He didn't originally get in as they only had a couple of spaces which went to families who were looking to place several children in the school. But he was top of the waiting list and we were offered a place when another child left.

For DC 2 again we were last minute but she obviously had a sibling at the school which I think helped.

Feel free to pm if you have questions.

catdil · 20/02/2014 19:16

Stewart Melvilles is coed for nursery and primary and then back coed for s6.

Eman83 · 21/02/2014 10:52

We are at Ea at the moment and move to GH in August.
Had his name down when he was only a few days old as it's first corn first served basis and I was lucky to get a place.

scarlettsmummy2 · 21/02/2014 11:00

I know you prefer co ed, but my daughter is at St George's and it is genuinely fabulous! Really close to costorphine and small classes and really friendly atmosphere. Their nursery is great too. If not- I would say definitely try and start at nursery age, it makes the transition to P1 much easier as friendships are already formed.

I8haggis4T · 19/03/2014 11:53

I would agree with scarlettsmummy2 after seeing my friend's girl come out of her shell in an all girl environment. She said the difference is that the girls are not showing off/ being nastly to one another as it had been when there were boys in her class. It really depends on the individual girl.

I8haggis4T · 19/03/2014 11:56

I should have added that it was not St George's my friend's daughter was at so I could not comment on this individual school.

Serena2015 · 07/03/2015 21:03

Hello

I realise I am very dated adding to this thread. However I came across it and was hoping for some advise.

We are thinking of sending our kids to GW. If we go down the pre-school root my son would start next year. He currently attends a local private nursery. I wondered if anyone would recommend any private nurseries in edinburgh that may have kids likely to be going on to GW or GH so he might be likely to make some little friends before starting?

Also are there any updated opinions on GW or GH?

Neither myself or my husband went to private school so all new for us!

Thank you ??

Eman83 · 08/03/2015 08:37

Hello

Both are such great schools. My 3 children are at gh despite having most of my family attend gw, I just preffereed GH mainly because of size.
A lot of people on here would probably agree in regards to both of them being great schools, it all comes down to preference in the end.
I think there will be a mix of children attending private nurseries and local nurseries before starting at their school. I would only say if your doing p1 entry do assesments for more than one school just to be on the safe side. I knew of one girl who only put her sons name down for one school p1 entry and didn't get a place, and also was not offered the waiting list which has left her in a bit of a pickle situation.

Eman83 · 08/03/2015 08:38

What year would your son start?

Sametime · 09/03/2015 04:03

I think the private schools in Edinburgh are fairly similar and I went on gut feel/location on which to apply to.

I'm presuming that you already have your child down for pre-school at both as I know with EA, we put ours down (admittedly for entry at 3) aged 1 and did not get a place. I really liked GW as well, but crossing town for pick-up and drop off was not going to work. We were put off GH also by location as we are on the north side.

We were not sure whether our DS would know anyone when he starts, but slowly people seem to be dropping into conversation that their child is starting at x school in nursery, so you may well find if you start mentioning it at nursery to other parents, they are happy to respond.

Eman83 · 09/03/2015 20:25

Ea are usually very good at getting through their waiting list. Have you thought of mary erskine/Stewart Melville?

Serena2015 · 09/03/2015 23:21

Thank you for all the information!

My son would start pre-school year next year.

We are going to have a look at esme in a couple of weeks. However we are not local to edinburgh and it would definitely be the most difficult for us to get to. GW would be the right end of town for us. However I did find the size a little dawnting but on the other hand they seem to offer the whole package!

Such a difficult decision!

Does anyone happen to know if any of the schools has more of a mixture than another, of kids attending from various different types of family backgrounds? (Hope that makes sense) :)

Eman83 · 10/03/2015 06:33

GH is based on a foundation of fatherless children. It has a lot of children from mixed backgrounds and really well balanced. I would say that gw is similar, a lot of various backgrounds.
Did you get a plCe for preschool 2016 yet? Or for gw are they offered in May?

Sametime · 10/03/2015 13:59

We have an offer for esme for August 15 so DS will be starting there. I'm so looking forward to it. The school were fab when we looked round and have heard so many great things from other parents. It's so nice to know that unless we make changes we basically have school sorted until he goes to uni.

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