Moving from Year 1

[Taytay87]

I picked a school for my daughter based on the ‘feel’ I got after visiting many schools.
I liked that it had a three form entry with a class size of 20 and other things like swimming on site and therapy animals.
she settled in fairly well at Reception and I didn’t overly question my choice. The school has a bit of a bad reputation but I chose what I felt was right at the time.
Since year 1 I have noticed a big difference in my child’s personality. She is much more subdued and exhausted after school. She’s given up all her clubs and things like dancing which she once enjoyed because she’s too tired.
her class size is at 30 now and although they do swimming once a fortnight, she doesn’t actually enjoy how busy and noisy it gets.
shes never seen the therapy animals either which was one of the things I liked.
she enjoys doing forest school once a fortnight which is nice.

The school seems great at responding to parents when they complain for things such as lack of school trips ect, but are not very proactive at already having things in place.
They haven’t had any school summer or winter fairs this year but still have the school nativity and other Christmas activities in school for the kids.

This current school was actually my second choice and there was another school I liked better that I was on the waiting list for (and still am).
however a space has become available at a smaller local school that I didn’t consider before. I had a look around and I just feel it would be a better and more nurturing setting for her in the long run.

the school doesn’t have a swimming pool but they do have forest school and nice things like that.
They are better suited to SEN children and much more established in that area which is something our child has a possibility of needing in the future. (Awaiting ASD/ADHD assessment).

With all that I have said above, I am wondering if that is enough of a reason to move her? There is nothing overly bad about where she is at, but I think she may do better in this different setting.

when I told her about this option she has been very excited at the prospect of moving to a ‘better school’ and I don’t know if that’s because she’s not keen where she is, or if she’s imagined that a new school would be more fun (in which case she might get a bit disappointed if it’s not what she imagined)

Any advice would be really appreciated :)

Year 1 is tough. It's a big step up from reception so she nay be tired with all the concentration needed.

My daughter hated year 1. She loved the work in the mornings but couldn't understand why she had to play all afternoon.

I wouldn't change schools yet.

Agree, transition years (moving key stages) are always tough. Could she have a trial day at the other school? You will have to manage her expectations very carefully, which is hard in one so young.

I also agree. Year one is the biggest change. There is so much that they have to learn and the jump to more formal learning is a big one.

It's not unusual for a school to tell you that it has things like therapy animals and for your child to never see them if they don't need therapy. I worked for a year in a school with a school dog and my class only ever saw her out of the window.

If you want fairs, trips, plays, special assemblies etc you may be better off looking at a bigger school rather than a smaller one.

Only you know your child and what suits them. It’s ok for her needs to change and for you to change your view of what she needs. A swimming pool on site of a state school would be less usual so I wouldn’t use that as a decider for me. Also, personally, I would t have broached this with my child at this point as this can be very confusing for children particularly with the potential diagnoses that you e mentioned. As an aside, it would usually be the school parents who organise fairs so I’m wondering if you have been involved with this?

Fairs trips and plays are very much bells and whistles.

I wouldn't move schools over bells and whistles.

Their job is to educate your child. Take her to fairs yourself and on trips or join brownies or similar.

Nearly all children are tired with the step up to year 1. It's a big change from reception. It's likely she will continue to be tired at the new school.