Reception

[Amy8]

The VAT increase is worrying me, I've been fixated on private hence moving DD to the private nursery attached to the prep school - she's very geared up and excited for the transition to reception and loves all her little friends moving up with her , teachers are amazing and the provision like swimming, music, languages a big plus... as well as small class size.

But on the off chance of seeing if she would get into a good state I did a late application, she didn't get my first choice but got second - a catholic school, she's not a catholic and school has a lot of focus around catholic teachings . The school has larger classes but otherwise lovely facilities and a "good" rated community school.

Has anyone else done a late application and now torn ?

What was your long term plan when you enrolled her in private? Was it to do prep and then grammar or was the intention private all the way? It is very overwhelming to think about what fees will look like in y13 when you are just starting reception, especially when you have to think about the compounding impact of VAT and inflation. I try to think about it in terms of key transition points - we can comfortably fund dc to the end of primary so I can commit to that. We may need to consider state options for secondary (which I would do anyways as a matter of course), but so much can change financially and policy-wise in 6 years that it is impossible to have a water tight plan.

I wouldn’t encourage anyone to go private if it places them in financial strain. If it definitely is not doable with VAT, then I would pull her now and start in the catholic school if it looks good. If it is more general long-term uncertainty then I would be more on the fence given you are probably on the hook for at least one term’s fees if you give notice now

Thanks for responding to this now becoming tiresome debate even in my friends group!

I can comfortable afford primary to be honest ..the plan is 11+ but I could also do secondary if we had to, I always knew I had the financial option , it means an adjustment to lifestyle in that is have to continue working in a senior role rather than thinking about starting to take it easy (not that I know what for), it's a lovely independent and I'm torturing myself by going to look at the catholic , but I might !

I just know it doesn't offer the whole experience I was after - especially if she doesn't do well academically, I wanted her to be given other options - music the arts and at least expose her to these interests early on

Have you considered the catholic aspect of things and does it matter to you? How many church services / assemblies / praying happens each week and are you happy with this amount?

tbh in your situation I’d probably stick with where she is.

But on the off chance of seeing if she would get into a good state I did a late application

This doesn’t seem like a wise thing to have done.

I’d start private if I were you and stay on the waitlist for the non-Catholic first choice. There’s usually a fair amount of movement in in school places now-Sept, and then you can make a decision with an offer in hand. Though you’ll be paying a term’s fees in notice most likely.