The best time to make a school move

[TrojaninTroy]

We've decided we will almost certainly move schools for DC who is currently in Year 2. We have been unsatisfied with the educational provision for a long time now, which has been made more visible through the two online learning periods, and have been unable to resolve it with senior management despite several conversations with them over the last year.

DC will be heartbroken because the current class is wall to wall lovely and we would be letting go of some really good friendships. I've no doubt that the usual promises to stay in touch will be made, but in reality it's likely they will lose touch in a few weeks or months.

The PTA are already making enquiries about who is likely to want a Class of 2021 Hoodie for their child, and I fear that it will be twisting the knife in if we wait until July to make the move.

Can anyone who has been through the process suggest when would be the best time to make a move? Any insights would be appreciated.

I moved my children during the first lockdown - it was not what we had originally intended but it worked quite well. The kids did not want to move school but after months of no school at all with minimal contact from the teachers they were happy to be going back to any school! Also, because all of the children had had such a long time off and away from each other, there was more opportunities to make new friendships and they settled in well.

This is very difficult because of lockdown. Normally I'd say just get in with it as soon as possible. They make new friends quickly and the new school will get to know your son quickly too.

Now this is not the case at all. It's going to be very difficult. It's going to be a shock to the system, even for the dc who have been at school throughout. Most of the children are going to have to get to know each other again. The staff are going to have to assess to see who has been accessing the home learning and who hasn't as well as deal with the fall out from the mental health side of lockdown.

Your son is going to fare far better in a school he already knows. With adults and children he already has a relationship with.

Have you talked to him about it?

@SavoyCabbage. Thank you for your thoughts. This is my concern too. No we have not talked to him about it yet because it will only unsettle him. He has regular WhatsApp calls with his friends and is very fond of a couple of the girls, in his little boy way.

Do you think it might be better to make the move at the end of Year 2 or even May half term, assuming that everything goes back to normal on 8th March? Or should we wait even longer given nobody really knows how things will pan out going forwards? I don't think I could take yet a third bout of online learning with his current school. I know most parents are probably feeling this way anyway, but the truth is that this school has no policies & lacks accountability, hence the very poor teaching & provision we have seen.

I think after the first lockdown was a good time. The children were going back to school at the 'right' time in the next year up and getting new teachers etc. Also, they weren't getting this amount of work to do as the curriculum was suspended. There was the 'rule of six' so you could meet in parks etc.

For me this lockdown feels much more intense. The weather and the expectation that they are working has made it harder on children.

A lot will depend on your son though.

Is there space at the school you want to move him too? And if you wait, will that space still be there?
Theoretically, over the summer holidays would probably be best. But it depends on school spaces being available.

We are hoping to move ours at Easter, but it's a house move. There might not be school places available... Last time we moved our eldest missed a whole half term, and youngest 2 weeks of school. If you aren't moving it does make it a bit easier.

Sorry, cross posted with you.

The difference in provision between schools is remarkable. After year two is usually a good time to move as it's a change in key stage. Also, it's easier to move when other children will also be new in the class and new routines are being set out.

If the PTA are asking about hoodies does that mean it’s an infant school and that the children would move to a different school from September 2021? Have you already applied for a different school for then?

@SavoyCabbage thank you - you talk such good sense, which is what is required right now!
@MirandaWest, DC is in the pre-prep department of an all-through independent school. It is in a separate building with completely separate staff, hence it will be the end of an era for the Year 2s, hence the hoodies. It is two-form entry and the two groups will be completely mixed up when they go into Year 3. I've probably completely outed myself now, but I don't care. Maybe what I want to do is to 'out' the school. The classroom provision is probably worse than it was in Year 1, and this time round the online provision certainly is too. I am so angry and upset. One way or another, our little boy is going to suffer.

But as to when to make the move, everyone who has replied has helped me to make the decision that September would be best. So thank you to everyone.

So in September they would be due to go into the 'Prep' whether or not they move school? That seems to be a natural time to move.

Based on what you say, I’d move at Easter if moving to another independent. Otherwise I’d love over the summer.

We left an indie at the end of year 2. It's a natural end really, going from pre-prep to prep and I imagine a few other children will be moving on as well.

DD is in Year 5 now and has kept up with quite a few of her friendships, most though have also left the school.

I would move to start fresh in Y3 in September. It’s a natural entry point at prep schools so he may well be joining with others at the same time. It also gives time for (hopefully) a taster day in the summer and gives him nice closure to his time at his current school.

Also, hopefully the risk of further online schooling will be minimal come September. Much better to start face to face than online.

If it's an independent school and you haven't given notice yet, won't you have to pay for the summer term regardless? Unless you really hate the school, the end of Y2 seems a much more natural time to move.

We moved our year 3 son at Xmas and moving his brother now at half term.

I would say move him in summer if you are moving to a prep. Many start at year 3 and it will be a fresh start for him after a natural ending point at the pre-prep division.

Definitely stay until the end of year. Also, get the hoodie for all the leavers events and then it can mysteriously disappear if you think that would be best .