I am in New Zealand, so school system works differently to the UK, but need a bit of advice as to what to do.... My daughter started school a month ago aged 5 (the standard age to start here). The way it works here is that if you are in zone for a school they have to take you, no matter when you want to start, or you can apply to go into a ballot for an out of zone school. My DD was all set to go to our in zone school, which seemed very nice when we went around, but then we applied to a school out of zone, from a recommendation, and knowing it was supposed to have a very good arts programme, not thinking we would get a place, and then we did. Her preschool was of the opinion that it was the better school to go to, and we really value music etc in schools, so we decided after much discussion to go with the out of zone. DD wasn't too happy with the choice, but we thought we knew what was best....
Anyway, since she's started I've not been too impressed with the school, there has not been any feedback, no newsletters, nothing on the class website to say what they've been doing, all things that the in zone school has. It's also in a very wealthy area (and we are not!) and I feel a bit out of place, the parents seem nice enough, but it is very cliquey. I also have to drive to it, whereas I can walk to the other, and I hadn't realised until now how important to me that actually was. Despite my misgivings I'd never say anything to DD and have been really hoping she'd enjoy it. However, the first few days she cried and said she didn't want to go, she keeps telling me it's boring, which I thought was just her being a 5 year old... But last week she came home crying saying some of the girls were being nasty to her, and today she came home and said she is lonely as no one plays with her and she wants to go to the other school instead. Is this normal for a 5 year old? She just doesn't seem her normal happy self and it is breaking my heart.
She has asked me to have a look at the other school (which she could go to anytime we wanted), what should I do? Do I say no and hope it's just her settling in, or do I let her spend an afternoon at the other school to show her that all schools have to do writing etc and to stop her wondering if the other one is better?
Sorry for the long rant, but being on the other side of the world to family and friends can make it difficult to have anyone to bounce these things off, and DH works really long hours... Just helps to write it all down to be honest :)