To move schools or not?

[MRSJWRTWR]

I wonder if you would be kind enough to offer me some opinions on the following, I've got pros and cons going round and round in my head.

DS2 is 5 and in Y1 at a large (3 form intake) primary school. This is the school is DS1 attended. He did well, achieving level 5 in most of his (L3 in writing) Y6 SATs and got into a good, local independent school.

DS2 is a happy, confident boy who appears to enjoy school. At his last parents evening his teacher said that he was always very alert and involved (with lots of opinions!) on everything that was going on. The only area where he was below average was in his writing or 'recording' as she called it. This is exactly the same as his brother who, on the advice of the learning support dept at his new school, has visited an occupational therapist and is undergoing vision therapy for 'tracking' problems. When he was at this school I was constantly advised of how bad his writing and spelling was but was told it was a 'boy' problem.

DS2 is in a class of 29 with 3 or 4 particularly rowdy children. This doesnt appear to bother him particularly, he never complains about it and has a good group of friends. He has one friend he has had since attending the nursery at the school and they are practically joined at the hip. Both of them play with other children but at the end of the day prefer each others company over anyone elses.

There is a prep school attached to DS1's school which has a very good reputation. One form per year with an average of about 15 per class. He would also have access to the same learning support that DS1 has. The occupational therapist says that DS2 is a little too young just yet to make a definate diagnosis but feels that my concerns are justified about him.

From a practical point of view it would make sense for us, in that one school to drop off and pick up at, schools hols match and its on the way to work for me so would be able to fit in another hour or so at work.

DH thinks its a great idea, as does DS1 who has been into the school a couple of times.

I'm not convinced yet. I like the idea (as I did with DS1) of them going to the local school, certainly for primary education but am worried that I would pass on this 'opportunity' for him because I am being 'sentimental' (as DH says) I am due to go in and see his current teacher again about his progress next term plus we will go to an open day at the prep school in May.

Any thoughts please?

For me it would depend on how certain you are that he will go on to the secondary school there - if you are certain you are going to send him there, and if the school will accept him, then I can see the logic of moving him now. Also assuming that most of the 15 will go onto the secondary level, and there are enough boys for friends in the class.

If you think there is a possiblity he could only be there for a year and a term, it might be disruptive with less gain. Indigobell is probably your best bet for advice on tracking problems. I doubt that you would need to wait until secondary level, and you might be able to divert the funds you would save from fees into an independent specialist.

Thank you for your reply.

If we moved him the intention would be for him to go onto the senior school along with most of his class. If he stays at his current primary school he would need to take an entrance exam plus interview to get in. DS1 managed this fine but it isnt clear just yet how well DS2 will do academically.

I need to find out what the ratio of girls to boys would be at this school. Its all very well moaning about large class/year sizes but at lease there is a large pool of children to draw friends from.

So is he more or less guaranteed a place if he goes now, but less likely if he stays put? If so I would maybe bite the bullet now, as long as you are sure about the admissions criteria, and as long as there will be a few boys he can get to know, maybe younger siblings of your older ds?

Do maybe pm indiobell, she is often on this board as she knows loads about tracking issues and possible solutions, as that is something you could start on now.

Just seen this thread :)

Tracking issues can be fixed at any age - and absolutely should be fixed earlier rather than later.

Also strange that the OT wants to wait to assess him for other physical problems that are causing writing problems.

My only caveat is that there are different ways to treat tracking problems - and they're not all equal. The best way is with software that you use every day - but very few optometrists recommend this.

Where in the country are you? Who and how is treating the tracking problem?

Do you think an OT might help DS2? does he sit in an odd way, or complain writing hurts?

Sounds like the primary school badly let down DS1 by not teaching him to write - there's no way I'd let them fail me twice.

Just a quick post to say that my DS- 8 has problems with tracking and his peripheral vision and has been seeing a behavioural optmetrist. As far as I know, it is only this type of optometrist who can "fix" these problems. He has made a lot of progress but there is still a way to go yet. We are in SE London and the nearest Beh. Opt that I know of is ours based in North London.

Would really recommend that ds2 gets checked out sooner rather than later re tracking issues.

Happy to answer any qs I can.