Can you help me feel better about the primary school choice ?

[yoda]

I have a sneaky feeling that i am being overly sensitive and i do have a worrying nature, but i can't bring myself to be happy about the primary school that we have been allocated.

When we first started looking we were looking at driving out of catchment to find a good school for our ds, as there were none in the catchment area that we liked. We really liked A and were happy for this to be our choice, it is a really caring and lovely school which we felt would be ideal - however it is a 12 mile round trip.

Then, a new primary school opened about 10mins walk away, and the possibility of walking to school was dangled. We visited the school and liked it, not as much as A but it was ok.

So we decided to put the local school first and A second - mainly due to us having only one car, and dh (having asthma) having to cycle to work (15mins).

We didn't get the local school (only admitting 15!) but did get A. Now, my dh is happy with A, and i am trying to be. We can appeal, dh doesn't want to, but i am really torn. I just can't seem to get happy with the decision even though A is a really good school. We are on the waiting list for the local school, but induction days at A start in Easter and i will not remove him once he starts.

Whats wrong with me ??? I am going round in circles and not really getting anywhere. I took ds to look at the school yesterday and he was perfectly happy playing in the playground, so i'm sure he will settle - it's just me! Anyone else felt this way - or do i just need a good slap

ps. sorry its so long

What is it about A that you now prefer over local school? Is it just the transport issue? Could you arrange a school run with other local parents?

6 miles is not far really

Are you just feeling wobbly at the thought of sending your baby to school, do you think? It really got to me for a long time after dd started in Reception, and even now I get depressed when she goes back after holidays.

The school sounds lovely, pastoral care is such an important part of a primary school that it's good to know he will be well looked after in that way.

He will be fine, and so will you.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I suppose its not just about the journey, although i feel bad that my dh is being forced full time onto his bike. I was just looking forward to walking ds to school, seeing my dh for lunch (it is feasible with the car) and ds going to school with friends from his nursery. As far as i know no children from his nursery will be going to A.

I think perhaps i am a bit upset at having been turned down, and also that we had 4 months of thinking we were going around the corner.

That's understandable

If you had your heart set on local school you are bound to feel disappointed.

maybe you will get in on waiting list?

If it is a state school and more than two miles then the local authority must provide transport as it was their decision to offer a place there (don't worry about coach travel they are much safer than you driving them) I have done it with all mine from reception onwards

really astronomer ? even if you knowingly applied to it while out of catchment , be it as 2nd choice , and perhaps ignored others which were closer (presumably there was already a catchment area school ebfore the new one) ?

worth looking into though before you get on the treadmill of the school run

I would be tempted to appeal, but that's because having a local school and being part of the community has always been a driving force with us. I really do think it's important, especially in terms of having local friends, doing after-school activities and just general family life and sanity!

You could always say you no longer have the available transport for a 12-mile round trip.

I wouldn't worry about getting a place after induction days have started - it is really common for children to have an induction day or more at one school and then actually start at another, either because appeals have been heard, or the family move house or whatever. The induction days are good for the whole starting school process, this is what a school is like etc. In the same way, some of my own children have had their induction days with one teacher, but had a new one in the Sept, and it doesn't seem to upset them at all.

As for funding for school buses - you must check the rules for this. I know our LEA says funding is available only if the child is attending a designated school for where you live, and the distance is over 2 miles.

If your local school is full, they will only consider funding for the school which is the next nearest if you appeal against the decision not to give you a place at the designated school. (Still with me?!)

If the appeal is rejected, they will then consider funding transport to the next nearest school - although in your case this might not be your school A.

I would also try to find out about the safety of school coaches, certainly where I live I would not let my children use them. Children regularly have to stand, and there have been several cases of children being left behind at home or even at school because of over-crowding. This is an ongoing battle between school, county council and the bus companies.

Thanks for all your replies. Unfortunately school transport is not an option, as it is outside of our catchment area and was one of our preferred choices. Catchment school has just come off of special measures.

I am a bit wobbly about my baby going to school he will only be 4yr 5m - not that young i know, but he still holds my hand when he gets overwhelmed and i am going to worry Nursery was bad enough for me (2 hrs) so school may finish me off completely . Although school A has a lovely induction system and won't take him full time until Jan - and only then if the school and parents agree.

Thanks for all your messages, writing it down has helped me start to clarify what i'll do.