Change school for y2 dilemma

[Tuilipcity]

My DD is in Y1 in and infant school where she is very happy and has a lovely friendship circle. The junior school is a very different type of school in size and culture.
My DS year 4 was at the same infants but we changed to another local junior school after 6 months in Y3 due to various issues at the school. This was absolutely the right decision fortunately.

We now have to consider now whether to move my daughter to the school we prefer and where my son is to start in year 2 as they have a space in Sept or to keep her in with her friends to join in a school we dislike.

We.absolutely prefer my DSs school and see few positives in the other school however I am concerned about disrupting her unnecessarily and that she may find it hard to break into established friendship groups in the new school. Keeping her with her friends is really my main reason for considering not moving her.

The schools are close by and logistics are not an issue.
DD wants to be with her brother but also naturally wants to stay with her friends. Ultimately she trusts us to make the right decision and would go along with it which makes it worse!

If anyone has any wisdom to share I would be grateful!

I would move her now. At that age the friendship groups are much less set in stone. If the school is that bad you'll only want to move her later when friendships are more established.

Thank you. Yes I think this is the main reason for doing it now. The other school is poorly regarded by current parents who I am friends with. Despite this I suppose I am concerned about disrupting her potentially unnecessarily when she may be fine at the school, different personality etc.

Honestly I think she'll slot into the new school fine at this age. There have been a few new kids in DC's school and they've found their feet within a week or two. I would choose the school you think she'll do best at and not worry about the disruption.

This could be my town! If there is a space for year 2 I would move her now as there might be more applications next year with the same sibling link and you might not get a place.

Thank you for your replies. Its so helpful to hear others views as I am going round in circles in my head!

I second PP. She'll be absolutely fine moving in Y2. I think up to Y3 it's not so bad to move school. Y4 and above the friendship groups become more difficult to move into (still usually fine for most kids - just more potential for teething problems)

I would move her now. At her age, she will most probably have no difficulty in easily adjusting. I would also want to take the place whilst it is available, as there may not be one available should you want to move her in the future.
As DS is already at the school, could you engineer any play dates over the summer with any classmates who also have siblings going into Year 2? It might make it a little easier for her if she can recognise some familiar faces on the first day.

Thank you it's reassuring to hear the views on the friendships. Yes my son has a couple of friends with same age siblings, also girls so I could definitely do that.
Interesting everybody thinks go for a move rather than keep her as she is.

We are moving our rising yr3, we moved last year so practically it is better to move her. At first she was very against the idea but has come round to it,

I would move her, life is easier with them in the same school.

Yes whilst logistics aren't a major issue as school quite close by.. nevertheless having them both in the same school would be the easier option for me practically! We have decided to go for it. Thanks all x

I think the thing is she is going to have to move schools anyway because she is at separate infant and junior schools and as you found with your son even though friendship groups might be the same the whole atmosphere is likely to be different. Moving her to your preferred school will be fine and I am sure she will make new friends. It is better to move for the beginning of the school year than half way through I think too.