Schools

[Fiveangels]

My ex-partner wants custody of our 2 year old son. Its complex and I won't go into the details here. I just have a simple specific question. i am preparing a statement for a final hearing and am trying to make the case for my son to reside with me and with his 4 half brothers and sisters (from a previous marriage). One of the points I want to make is that if residency is awarded to me he will go to primary school with his 2 older brothers (they are all close in age) and that will be good for him. His father has just one daughter who is 10 years older than our son. And while she loves him, she is obviously much older.
Is there any evidence that going to school with close siblings is beneficial?
Thanks all. Very very jittery here.

Hi. Sorry you are going through this. I don't have specific legal experience or advice but I would have thought anything you can put forward which shows it is in the best interest of your son and maintaining a stable environment should be positive. Has been accompanied your other sons to school? Is he friendly with any other children who would be going to the same school? Surely those types of arguments would be considered. Sorry I don't know enough background to know what the arguments against would be.
Best of luck.

Thankyou Citronella. Yes he does accompany his brothers to school but just one day a week. And yes he has friends here (inc a neighbours son) who will start school with him. However at the moment he goes to nursery where my ex lives (an hour or so away) and which I foolishly agreed to 8 months ago because of the demands of my job - his father had a much more stable, 9-5 job. I now only see my son 8 days per month and it is tearing me apart. I have given up my job, have gone part time on contract (6 days per month) and am now free to look after my son and to ultimately send him to school with no job demands. I am terrified that the judge will decide that the 'status quo' should prevail and that my son should remain residing with his father and go to school an hour away from me. There are 2 years before my son goes to school. I really want to be bringing him up myself in that formative time and not sit by and watch while my ex puts him through nursery.

Not sure but most schools have admission policies that give priority to siblings so presumably acknowledging that it's good for them to be together. Good luck

I hope that as he is so young the courts would award you residency but you can never tell.
I am in the same situation and I'm also terrified.
I see my sons very little, they are 3 and 5. My MIL is currently raising them for my ex.
I hope you do get him back. I strongly believe small children should be with their mothers.

Good luck.