Advice Wanted! Should I pull my child out of her school because of the commute.

[bettyday]

Hi!

I am looking for some honest advice regarding my children's school situation.
I have two daughters - one who is currently in year 2 in a lovely school with great friends but it is a 30-40min car ride (due to traffic) each way (some times more) and my other daughter is about to start school in sept and has a place at a great school, much closer to us.

I find my elder daughter struggles a little socially as most of her classmates live nearby the school and it's not fun for parents to have to come to our house to collect. The school she's at is also lacking a little on the pastoral side of support and has a strong focus on academics even from this young age which also is a small issue for my daughter too.

I'm considering getting my eldest daughter into the closer school that my youngest daughter received a place at as well but feel bad taking her away from her friends as she has formed some very close bonds.

Wondering if this is a no-brainer and I should just take her out and put them both in the same, closer school or keep her where she is? (my youngest also has a spot and my elder daughter's school).

Any advice appreciated!

Move her . Two schools so far apart would be difficult to manage. Is there a space ?

Yes, the school would have space for my elder daughter as they have just re-located and are taking on new kids. She would still need to pass some form of 'assessment' which I think is more of a day in the classroom with the other kids but provided that goes ok she should be good to go.

The commute is killing us and feels like an obvious decision but I just feel bad taking her out of somewhere where she is happy...

Children do not need to pass an assessment for a place in a state primary school. If the school has a place then they should offer it in accordance with the admissions policy.

I'm assuming these may be private schools since younger dd already has a place at elder's.

Move. Year 2 friendships are generally fairly transient. She's young enough to adapt and making your life easier is important at this point.

One thing to consider is why you chose that school in the first place - is that reason still valid?

is it private? As pp said state schools don’t require assessment for admission.

the other thing to think about is secondary. If her friendship cohort from the school she’s at now will be going to schools near them while yours goes to one near you it may be worth moving her now.

I'd move her. She is easily young enough to make new friends and it will be much easier having both kids in the same place with local friends and a short commute

Thank you for responding. Yes I agree it's better to try to make new friends now rather than when they're older.
We chose the school initially due to it's great facilities and huge amount of outdoor space which, living in London, is not easy to come by in a school so that definitely still stands and the other school is more central and closer to us but obviously slightly less outdoor space but at the same time this definitely isn't a dealbreaker.

My eldest does have a best friend at her current school and they are pretty inseparable so it would be an adjustment for her I'm sure but at the same time I'm sure they will stay in touch.

Move her- a long commute at a young age isn’t ideal- better to be local, leave home later, arrive home earlier- local friends. We still keep in contact with a girl that left my child’s school, still invited her to DCs bday, and she left in year 1.

Thank you so much everyone for your responses! This has really put me at ease as I thought I was being too selfish even considering moving her but I feel everyone would be less stressed and happier if we did.

I can't stop thinking that if I move my eldest daughter from her current school and then something like bullying happens at her new school, I could never forgive myself but I suppose I need to remember that things like that are a possibility wherever she is! Ah sometimes I wish I could have a crystal ball! lol