DD moving from infants to middle school - help me feel positive

[BirdyBedtime]

Our town has an infants (nursery-P3) and a middle school (P4-7).

DD is moving to the middle school after the summer and I'm feeling really negative about it for a number of reasons (none of which are about teaching/learning) but things like the building (pretty old and grotty in comparison to the infants), confusion around class organisation, other policies which differ from the infants, etc.

I know that these are things that don't really matter as long as she is taught well and learns but I just can't help feeling 'meh' about the school before she starts and I know that's not the right attitude, and really don't want her to pick up on it.

It's not helped by the fact that DS is starting P1 and I'm really excited by that as I've had such a positive relationship with the infants school.

When we relocated our DS was in P1. The primary he began in was no more than 5-10 years'old, very bright, open, modern. The next school he went to was way older and waiting for the bell to ring standing outside, I honestly wondered what we'd chosen. But the school had heart if not sparkling paintwork, the teachers and support staff were excellent. Try and stay positive. Is part of it fearing she is getting bigger, time is flying past?

Give DD's new school a chance. Don't judge a book by its cover. Any opportunity you have to pitch in and offer help will be a chance to acclimatise. Her classmates may have older siblings so talk to their parents, get feedback.

I felt similar about the infant school my dd1 went into Even though it was similar in style it seemed so big and noisy compared to the " small (2 year intake so bigger than the small primary we moved to years later ) I wasn't sure about the head teacher and not keen on the teacher she was due to have.

The school was amazing the head was fab and whilst I never warmed to the teacher dd1 had in Y3 dd1 liked her and the teacher didn't make me feel she did anything wrong she and I were just different personalities. I think it is so much easier to be enthusiastic about the infant stages as they are cute and excited about school by year 3/4 upward (as I had this with 2ndary schools too) it is less exciting the kids and we know what to expect so less to feel enthused about.

Doesn't mean you wont end up enjoying the school

I think you're both right - there is definitely a bit of sadness at leaving behind the infant stage and knowing that when she leaves the new school she'll be growing up fast. I've had mixed feedback from other parents with older siblings which I think is contributing to my feelings - but the school is due to have a new head so maybe their experiences won't be repeated. I am going to try and ignore aesthetics/minor issues and concentrate on the education/teaching.