Delay in starting new primary....

[secretsquirrel1]

Bit of background........

Big move happening (170 miles) in July/Aug.

I have a new job but unable to hand in my notice until my references are studied (prospective bosses are both on A/L until next Tues). So realistically, that isn't going to happen until the end of next week at earliest.

I have to give 3/12 notice; if I get the official letter by next Fri (11th) then we will be too late for DD (8) to start school on July 2nd - this would be my preferred plan for the following reason....

The school she is going to is very different, it's about 1/4 the size of what she has now, and they join years together (1&2, 3&4, 5&6) so the Head was suggesting a July start so she would be in the most appropriate class for Sept. and would also make some friends before starting properly in Sept.

But I can't see this happening with all the delays.....unless my boss allows me to leave earlier than 3/12 - not sure yet if that is an option. Very annoying because all paperwork has been received today - but with the BH & people being on A/L until next Tues it's all being delayed by another week.

Has anyone experienced the same sort of delay in starting a primary with a similar setup (mixed year classes), and if so, were your DCs affected by not starting in July?

Having posted this, I bet I'll find I can leave earlier than I think!

Would be very grateful for any advice. Thank you.

I think that a September start wouldn't be a problem. I would have thought that September was a popular time to start at new school- new teacher, new year, new term...
Meeting people in July might help meeting people who you could hang out with in the summer holidays but I wouldn't say that it was a deal breaker.

"they join years together (1&2, 3&4, 5&6) so the Head was suggesting a July start so she would be in the most appropriate class for Sept"

Is this a state school? Just asking as am surprised that they are agreeing to hold a place for so long?

Personally I would have thought that starting at the end of term is a bit strange, especially as July just tends to have the fun activities. If it is a small school, then there is only one class for her to join presumably, so whether she starts in July or September won't change that. The making friends issue is a point, but equally there will be other ways in which to make friends in the locality, and if this is a local school then she may make some friends from there anyway. Or you could see if the PTA do anything over the summer where she could meet some children. When ds2 changed school the class met up over the holiday in a local park, and he was invited along, so he even had party invites before starting school.

As for being held to 3 months notice, to be honest unless your position is one which must be covered without any break, then you may fid that you won't be held to it.

My son is in a mixed year class and the children don't care when the new starters start.

Thanks for your replies so far.

Ladymuck, it's a state school. I was also told by the Head that I have only a month from the date a place is offered by the EA/Council so he was advising to call them end of May so she could start in July. Purely his take on it (he has 5 kids and they moved them into new schools in July which helped them - he also said that there was research to back this)

Contacting the PTA is an excellent idea - didn't think of that!