School Choice now panicking I have done the wrong thing by my DS

[crazedupmom]

Hi

My DS is due to start Junior school September this year.
I have sent in my form for my preference but am now having serious doubts about it.

The primary school my son currently attends only goes from reception to year 2.
They do however have a juniors just across the road where most of the children move up to but you do have to apply for a place there.

I used to live within walking distance of the school my DS attends but then I moved house and am now actually out of the catchment area for his school and the juniors.

The school I have put my son's name down for is within walking distance to where I live now, so I would save on petrol and I am struggling with petrol costS at the moment.

I also think it would be healthy to have a walk to school every day for us both.
I have also figured that it would be nice for my son to have his school friends in the area where we live more of a chance to get together with them perhaps.

However my DS has alot of friends at his current school and he is quite popular and he has known some of them since nursery.

The majority of them will be going to the juniors that is tied in with his school.

I am now feeling like a selfish so and so for even contemplating on taking him away from his friends and atm I feel awful about it and dread September coming.

I am now seriously thinking about trying to get him into the juniors near his current school.
However as I said I am now out of the catchment area so where would I stand on that one anyway.

Ds and I have just moved and he's changed school. At his old school there were very few of his classmates living locally whereas at the new place there are at least half a dozen on our road! Like yours, my ds had lots of friends at his old school but, after 4 weeks, has made lots of new friends!! Does he know anyone at the new school?

We got our ds into a a school in a different area, which was fine at first , but teh lack of local friends was starting to become an issue . we've just moved to walking distance to the school and it's great - so much easier, friends after school etc.

He'll make friends at the new place , and in the longer term will be much better, so try to grit your teeth!

i used to really worry about changes for my oldest (8 now) but he;s always proven me wring and adjusted much better than I expected - they seem to handle it better than we think.

good luck - i think you've done the right thing!

Hi
mogsO

No not a soul.
I know that there is a couple or so children who live much further up in our street that go there but my ds has never had the opportunity to get to know them.

Not a soul at his current school live in our area they all live near the school.

My DP thinks he will make friends easily at the new school but I am thinking that alot of the children at the new school will already know each other as they will maybe have been there from nursery and moved up together.

Ds didn't know a soul either and has just had his first playdate today!! I'm so proud!!! He is very sociable and one thing that I never had to worry about when making the choice to move. I am also quite sociable but finding it really hard to strike up a convo with any of the mums at school.

Thats great my DS is also very sociable.

I try to be sociable but I don't find it easy I am a shy introvert always have been.

I am dreading having to take him to the new school as I am completely useless at making conversation and shy away from it.

I can't face the thought of standing on the playground every day looking like a freak with no one to talk to.

I am crap at making conversation but once I've spoken to someone once you can't shut me up!! I have, in 4 weeks, spoken to one other parent and that's because ds wanted a playdate with her ds. Hopefully, in another 4 weeks I'll have been brave enough to talk to at least another one or two!!

mogsO

Its good that you are alright once you have taken that first step and spoken to someone.

My problem is more ongoing I can talk to someone one day and still find it difficult to talk to them again especially if its at the school and they are already with a group of moms chatting away.

My DS has got me arranging playdates atm and I hate it having to go up to moms I barely speak to and asking if their DS would like to come to our house after school and play with my DS.

I force myself to do it for My ds sake.
I have never made a friend out of any of these moms, my own fault as I shy away from talking to them again.

Be brave! Or, get ds to arrange his playdates!!

He'll be fine.

I changed schools in year 3 to somewhere I knew no one. I can't even remember any of the friends I had at my first school. It will be the same for your son, he will soon settle in.