In year transfer

[puddingandsun]

Trying to decide if I should move my son to our nearest school, which he didn't get into in Sept. He's in reception. The school has been rated as inadequate in October but parents are very happy with it.
My lo's current school seems to try harder academically and appear a bit better on paper but I don't feel his new teacher seems much potential in him and also there's a boy in his class who's constantly teasing him...

How do I decide? What questions do I ask? Also once offered a in-year transfer place can I not accept; will I have time to prepare my son for the change if I do accept it...

Any help will be so appreciated.

His current school doesn't seem to be right for him but I'm scared if I move him back (he went to nursery at our nearest) it might be worse- he'll find it hard to adapt and will feel isolated, there are differences in the teaching etc.

Your first question is whether there’s a space for him. If the nearest school didn’t have a place for your child in September, it’s unlikely they’ve got one now, so you may need to appeal to get a place. If it’s an infant class size appeal, you’re very unlikely to win.

Thank you for replying!
Yes- I should've mentioned. Our nearest school now has vacancies and since finding out I've been trying to decide what would be best for my son.

What was your preference back in when you applied and what was your reasoning? Do these reasons still apply?

I agree that Ofsted ratings aren’t the most important thing here, especially as you have first hand experience of both.

By now you should have a good idea of the ethos of the current school and presumably you have the same for the closer school from when you used the nursery there. Does one school “fit” better?

I’d be reluctant to move on the basis of one teacher, especially as you’re 2/3rd of the way through the year and I assume they wouldn’t have that teacher again. They might be the one-off teacher you don’t click with at all.

I wouldn’t worry about the moving itself, children are so young and adaptable as well as being inherently nice to each other. In terms of the academic side, if you moved quickly you could have a chat with new teacher about any gaps (for example if they used different phonics schemes) and make sure you can catch up over summer.

Thank you!
My main reason for choosing the first school was its proximity really. It's a small, friendly-looking school. Although it has to be said, I didn't really manage to make friends with the mums last year, neither did my son while he was at nursery.
But he was calmer and liked his teachers.
Now he is often angry, coming home with pent up feelings. I don't know if it's just his character and he will find it difficult at any school or it's this school and some of the kids in his class. They don't seem to be big on emotional + social support.

I have literally just done an in term transfer this week.
I requested a move in September but it was full, so I replied a couple of weeks ago on the off chance and got a space. I only gad three days notice to tell old school (and my DC!) before Easter holidays.
Both schools are outstanding based on fisted reports from about a million years ago but both would still be at least "good".

I wouldn't change school for teasing or for not gelling with the teacher. IMO this could happen in any year in any school.

For me, the decision was based on distance, having moved house last summer. We are on our third day of being able to walk to school and I absolutely love it. It's a wonderful way to start the day. I'm hoping in the summer they'll be able to play on the local park with school friends rather than living a 19 minute drive away

Sorry for typos 😂
*reapplied
*Ofsted

Why was the school rated inadequate? And what is being done to improve the situation?

The school was marked inadequate because of 'poor leadership'. They've changed the headteacher.

We have just agreed an in year transfer for my ds in reception. We got our first choice when we initially applied but I was struggling with various things at the time and chose predominantly on practicality and it just isn't the right fit. We applied through our LA to transfer to the new school and after discussions with the school have decided he will move at the end of July for transition to new class and then start properly in year 1 in September.

Start date in Sept sounds good. Good luck to your lo.

Every day there's something that doesn't feel right at my lo's current school. Someone pushed him, someone took his grapes, someone told him not to play with them, someone didn't share toys, the TA 'grumbled' at him... There's nothing on his Tapestry record since December and he hasn't been given a superstar during the spring term (with the exception of one day when they had a substitute teacher). Not sure how to communicate my worries to the school as all things seem a little minor + not sure they are preventable things. But I know my child is capable and I'd love him to thrive at his school. It doesn't feel like he's in the right place for him.

Anyway, I called today our nearest school to check re vacancies and the admin said there aren't any.

However the council website says there are...

Now which one would be more reliable and up-to-date info?