Should we withdraw DS from private prep

[PaddingtonFromPeru]

Year 1 DS seems to be at the lowest end of his class academically. This is very evident from looking at the work on the walls, where he classmates can all write a page of nicely spaced, neat, well spelt writing, wherea DShas written 2 mostly illegible lines, all bunched together. He also got "emerging" for all the academic subjects in EYFS. Also on Level 4 ORT, whereas most classmates on a higher level.
I feel we're wasting our money as he evidently isn't academically inclined at the moment, and he'd be better off in the local primary, which is also very good. He could then go private later. WWYD?

If you suspect he has SEN I would be asking some very searching questions of his current school. Many private schools-particularly highly academic ones do not have a good record with SEN.

Dd, also summer born, just started year 1 at an academic but very caring private school.

Was established in all areas at end of reception, is ORT level 3. Handwriting starting to become correctly spaced, but she would struggle with 2 full sentences, some letters back to front etc. Doing well with spellings so far. Number work is great and she is a very sociable child.

School are happy, I'm happy but trying to progress her reading a bit, not sure phonics have helped one bit.

When I see other children's work some are better, some worse and it's generally the older children doing better, they are 9-10 months older.

I'm sure by the end of year 2 the age gap won't be there, but now as summer children have only just turned 5 it is still evident.

mouldy, you're right he might, but it sounded like the OP's school was more of an academic place, so not as wide a cohort possible as at a normal primary school.

If you can afford the prep and he is happy, I don't think it's a great message to move him because he isn't showing signs of academic promise. What kind of message does that give? If money is an issue and he was unhappy, then yes.

I think you would be right to move him. I was moved from private to state at age 8 and it was the best thing that could have happened to me.