Would you move your child’s school 2 weeks into reception?

[Shf1234]

Here is some backstory…

We didn’t get any of our top 4 primary choices and couldn’t get one prior to starting to school.

Our son has started reception at a large Catholic primary school (we are not Catholic), he seems happy but we personally don’t like the feel of the school for a few reasons. It’s not got the ‘local primary’ feel we wanted for our son, we aren’t Catholic so he’ll be having Catholic education that is not what we believe, it’s also on a busy main road just to name a few of the reasons.

There is a place at a local village school 5 minutes drive away which has places. It’s smaller and not Catholic. We are going to view it in a couple of days but if we like it we may consider moving our son there.

What would you do in this situation?

If you like it, absolutely move him!! I was on the waiting list for a primary school and got a place, but this was after a full school year and my daughter was very happy where she was, so I turned it down. But not even at your first half term, absolutely move them!

How near is the one he’s in, to your home?

I would maybe move him.

The school he’s currently in is a 25 min walk, we have been driving half way and walking the final 10 mins

I’d definitely move him if you like the new school. But I’d hate my child to be at a Catholic school getting a religious education

Yes I would definitely move him

Yeah, I think it's fine to move your dc when it's only been two weeks.

My dcs go to Catholic school, which we are fine with and it was our first choice as it is probably the best primary in our town. But one mum did end up moving her dc as she wasn't happy with her dc having a Catholic education and just got put there as her first choice was really oversubscribed and out of catchment. She was quite churchy but not Catholic, so think that conflict upset her.

Fwiw though, my dcs school is really multicultural and mainly not Catholic.

We moved my dd after the first term of reception. Her old school was 25 mins walk and new one 8 mins. Made my life so much better having a short distance to walk! And years on so happy we switched. Our switch though, was because it was a bilingual school and first choice. Not bc distance. But it was a major plus being closer to us.

I would definitely move

How come a place has come up at a school close by yet you didn't get it when you applied?

Moving him should be fine. At that stage he'll resettle quickly. I k ow 2 or 3 who have done it and not had any regrets.

I would be very wary of a Catholic education as a non-Catholic.

So this school isn’t in our town, it’s a village outside and not walkable which is what we wanted. But looks like no chance of getting in any of our top 4. So when looking recently I saw this village school had places.

defo move

Move, there’s always a fair amount of school movement in this term for reasons like this

I'd move too

Definitely move.

I am quite cautious and so on basis the child was happy and I had no major concerns I would probably leave then for the first term. I wouldn't be too worried about the catholic element. I went to a catholic primary (taught by Nuns) and was not catholic. Bigger primaries can often have better after school clubs/facilities.

I realise I might be responding too late and you may have already made a decision, but: Yes! Move your child to the school you think is best for them when it becomes available. Two weeks is not a massive length of time to a child who is 4 or 5 years old. They will make new friends and settle in and you can do lots to help that process!