Which primary school should I choose?

[MissPrincessPoppy]

I'm in a real dilemmah and am hoping someone may be able to help! My DS is due to start at a local school in Sept but we previously started in the nursery (part of the school) and didn't get on with it so moved DS to a playgroup instead. It felt too formal for a 3 yr old, low staff numbers & it felt difficult to get some concerns taken on board. But the school does have a good local reputation / Ofsted plus having met the Reception teachers they seem friendly & approachable. Dilemmah is that we went on a waiting list as were unsure when we got our allocation & have now been offered a place for the other school. This one seems more friendly & has very good early years reputation but its about 4 miles away. I'm not sure now whether I should give the first school another chance or go with the other but sacrifice local friends / community. Help!

School nurseries are very different from smaller settings. All the schools near us have 45 - 60 children in nursery and ratios of 1-12 to 1-15 etc. If your DC is summer born you may have found this too much for them. Reception classes are much smaller. Go and view both with fresh eyes?

To me 4 miles is a huge distance, but we are in an urban area where catchments are less than 0.5 mile. I love the fact that all my 2 DC friends are within walking / scooter distance.

Thanks for reply. The school nursery had max 30 and ratio of 1:10 to 1:15 which sounds like that fits with your experience. I guess I had hoped for greater adult support to allow for a more nurturing experience within a nursery whether school or not. It did seem too much in numbers and structure for DC at the time. In some ways it would be great to have a fresh start somewhere else but would equally love friends close by.

Personally if all things are otherwise equal I would always pick the nearest school. It is so much better to be closer to school friends and also just logistically being closer to school.

I guess that is the prob that I feel one is more nurturing especially in the early years which I am judging from the nursery experience of the other and the general feel when looking around but its the one that is furthest away! I know I can't have everything so am still torn. Also may be DC will benefit more from friends close by and not as nurturing an environment vs opposite.

I would book another visit to the closest school and try and speak with parents who use it. My DD is going to find having only 30 in a class very small after 18mths in school nursery with 45 in the class - although all activities are done in small groups, according to interest and level. Ask them how they ensure they meet the needs of individual children. It may be much more tailored than you think. Being able to walk there is a huge benefit and soooo many less hours in the car. Friends close around is great for loads of reasons

I would say seperate the nursery from school - its a totally seperate thing and run very differently.

Phone both schools ASAP and ask to come in and have a look around.
Talk to local parents if you know any - read the school websites, study the ofsted reports.

Now you will have to travel morning and afternoon to the school for the next 7 years - are you ok with this being 4 miles away.

It will be much more difficult for her to see friends if she isnt at the local school - you will need to arrange this and drive.