What would you do?

[SmallShips]

Had a thread on here this week about my DC's failing school (ofsted level 4 - across the board).

DD is in the lovely, lovely preschool attached to the failing school and is due to start in Sept and DS is in Y1, he has an IEP for some speech and language issues but is enjoying school, the teachers he has at the minute are great with him but he doesn't seem to have forged any strong friendships, although he is invited to parties, sleepovers and play dates. DD is very smart and has made some good friends at preschool, all of whom will be going up to the failing school.

I went to view another local school yesterday, DS loved it, I really liked it and think it might be a really good option for him, but I'm struggling with my sentimental attachment to their current school and especially the preschool which is ridiculous, but DD adores the staff and so do I, the thought of telling them that she and DD2 will no longer be attending is making me want to cry!

Pros of new school are:

• Bigger, more opportunity for DS to make friends.
• More facilities and after school clubs.
• Is currently moving to a bigger site which will be home to the base of SEN for the area. (Good for DS as they'll have a speech and language therapist on site)
• Not a failing school.

What if they don't cope well with moving schools? What if it's out of the frying pan and into the fire?

Well, you must want to change schools, otherwise you wouldn't have bothered going to see the alternatives. And if you ds loves the school, I don't think you have much to lose.

I mean this in a nice way - but the nursery and teachers won't be that attached to your children.

I think you did the right thing not to panic and pull you son out. BUT if you've found a good local school that can take both your kids (and it sounds like you have) then I think I would take it. In YR and Y2 I don't think they will have any problems making new friends and you avoid the issue of living with a school undergoing massive change. I think you said in your old thread that the teachers for the next couple of years for you DS were OK but YR not so great. In these circs go for the new school.

"I mean this in a nice way - but the nursery and teachers won't be that attached to your children."

I know and I'm not a soppy person in general! I'm going to see the preschool on the site of the other school on Monday, hopefully DD1 will love it and it will stop my irrational emotions! She'll only be there for the summer term anyway.

There is only a term of pre-school left so couldn't you have your dd finish off pre-school at the old school and then just have the one change of starting the new school in September rather then changing pre-school and then again up to reception? I know that by changing her now she would have the chance to make friends who will be going up to reception with her but honestly at this age they make friends so quickly that it could be better just to have the one change in September.
Is it possible to change them both over in September rather then moving your ds now with so little of the year left to run?

Thanks for the responses so far.

They only have one space left for DS, so unsure if he'd be able to start in September.

I have thought about leaving DD where she is but the schools are too far away from each other to get them both there in time.

That's a shame, I would probably just move them both then, if you have gone to the bother of looking at other schools, taking your ds to see it then I think probably in your heart you have already made the decision to move them.
Both my children have speech and language problems (dd who is almost 7 and Y2 and just 4 ds off to school in September, speech issues are for different reasons, I guess I was just destined to spend my life with speech therapists lol!) and I don't think you can over estimate the positive effect of having knowledgeable staff and having therapists available in school. Speech problems can have knock on effects in parts of education you would never have even thought of. If I were in your situation I would probably go for it. Remember you would be saying goodbye to the pre-school staff in July anyway. However much you like their current teachers it would be all change come September anyway and your first loyalty has to be to your children and what is best for them x

I think given what you've said the most sensible thing is to move them both straightaway and get them settled into their new environments. Does the school definitely have a place for DD in YR in Sept as well as the preschool?

A place for DD in R is no problem, not sure about the preschool but I suppose if I need to I can put DD in breakfast club and after school club at her current preschool to get DS to and from school.