Would you send your child to a new school?

[Tea1Sugar]

Dd1 is in nursery at a new school. Only opened sept 12 so there's only nursery-year 1 at the moment. We chose it as it's on our door step and tbh wasn't particularly concerned about academic standards of nursery. She's now got a place there for reception in September but what concerns me is it hadn't yet had an ofsted so there's nothing on paper to actually judge it. I'm a primary teacher myself at another local school which she's on the waiting list for so maybe this is making me question it more. Wwyd?

Bump

Have you looked round the new school to see what it's like? how does it compare to the same years at the primary you teach at? I think I'd be pretty nervous about a new school too.

Look round it get a feel for yourself. Ofsted is not the be all and end all.
Ofsted is a lot to do with paperwork, if I'm honest I'd sooner they spent more time engaging with children not ticking boxes and filing paperwork. But that's just my skewed views. I chose the 'good' school not 'outstanding' as it seemed more nurturing and supportive of individuals.
Best thing to do is have a look and gauge it for yourself

Socially I would be a bit iffy if my child would be in one of the top 2 years (big fish in a tiny pond for 7 years).
But yours will be like an infant school when she is in yR, she will always have at least 2 older years to look up to so should be OK.

Otherwise? You are probably in a much better place to know the issues than I am.

I don't think it's too bad in your case. There will be two years above him which is all there will be in my DS's infants' school (YR to Y2) when he starts in September. Think of it as having a full infants cohort and anything beyond that is a bonus. I think it would be a harder decision if your DC was going to be in the very first year.

Have you actually looked round? What are the buildings / playground like? What are the staff like? Do the kids seem happy? Are current Y1 and reception classes reasonably full? Is there work on the walls and lots of cool toys for reception?

I think if you're a teacher you're in a good place to say whether it's a good school I think.

Thanks for the replies. It's a 2 form entry, brand new building not a lot of outdoor space although there are plans to buy the local field, building is on 3 floors, all the modcons, kids use iPads. It's head's first headship but deputy is quite respected in the borough (my head told me). Not sure about current reception being full but as an idea, morning nursery there's 25 and afternoon nursery only 18.

There are always a lot less in school nursery so those numbers sound fine. Our school never quite fills 45 ft and 45 PT nursery places but gets 400 odd applicants for reception. To me it sounds lovely - teachers who will want the school to succeed, parents who will too, local and easy transition . I would jump at it - oftsted is only a tiny insight into a school. Look round it too - vital to making a final decision

yes - I did my ds is in reception at a brand new 1 form entry free school. dd will be starting reception in September. there are currently 30 children in the school. it is excellent, follows the national curriculum, employs experienced fully trained teachers and feels very much like a private school at the moment. everyone knows each other, helps each other out with childcare and drop offs pick ups etc.
I cant sing praises high enough.

BUT it was a gamble when we applied last year. the building wasn't finished, teacher hadn't been employed yet, no Ofsted (apart from the pre opening which came out as excellent)

now the building is finished, everything is brand new - teachers are wanting the school to succeed, parents are involved and want the school to do well too. The reception class are progressing very well and are all exceeding targets etc. all in all its a very happy place to be and i feel very lucky that my ds got in last year.

Ofsted is a snapshot of a school over a couple of days.

Our school got outstanding last time, and is now due a review. It has a new head who is changing lots of things as it certainly isn't outstanding now, and not long back would have got needs improvement probably.

So people looking at review will think its outstanding when its not. (OH is a govenor so knows what's happening).

If you are happy with the school and how the staff treat the children, I would give it a go, you can always move at a later date if you really want.

Is it not really about the quality of teaching in the school? You have some time to evaluate this as she is young and then move if it not good enough. You would be in a good position to judge this. They may pick up children in YR. Nursery figures are not a particularly good guide regarding school intake as many people use child minders and full time nurseries. Their children will appear in YR.