WWYD - school dilemma

[Thee90]

So we are facing a dilemma

Our son is due to start school next year. Where we live we have narrowed it down to 2 possible schools…

Due to the pandemic our son has been through a lot of changes for someone so young. 2 countries, 5 houses, 2 daycares.

The daycare he is in now is connected literally to the first school choice. So to go to that school would be less of a change for him, he even uses the school gym at daycare. So is familiar with the building, smell and vibe. The school seems really solid and we were very happy with it when we visited. However, It is big with big groups and seems a bit more corporate than school2

School 2 is probably better suited for him. It’s smaller, quainter, smaller groups, less corporate and we just feel will suit him better..

Should we send him to the first school so he doesn’t have to suffer yet another big change and the school is still good.

Or put him though yet another change for the longer term benefit of the school we feel is a better match for his character?

Second school, children are very adaptable to change at this age and you want to go with the school that best suits him

Give him a taster day at both and ask him

Definitely go with the school that suits him best.

School will be a big change anyway even if he does know the building etc.

Why is the first choice school the first choice if the second one is better suited to him? Just because of the pre-school.or is there another reason it's first choice?

Is school 1 or 2 your catchment school or are both? If shool 2 is out of your catchment I would personally go with 1

Don't do this. There is no way a four year old can make this decision based on a taster day at each one.

Just remember you want a school for when he is 10 as well as 5. Will the small school give enough opportunities when he is older?

Second school.

You’re gaining 7 years’ of a better school fit for the ‘cost’ of potentially a couple of weeks upset.

@Peacendkindness

There's no such thing as a taster day at state school. They may have an open day though

If you genuinely can’t choose and think that they are equally viable options I would take him to both and let him choose.

Even as children change is easier to manage when you have control, and it will significantly help the process. Even if the reasoning for choosing is poor because he is too young, both choices are equally good.

Only do this if you are 100 percent sure that you are happy with either and open to accepting his decision. If you have a secret favourite go for that instead!