Addmissions have now offered first choice school for reception, should I move my twins halfway through reception?

[PostiveThinkingRainbow]

Hello,
Would really appreciate any advice please....!!!

We have twins boy/girl.

When choosing primary schools, we fell in love with our local catchment school.
The school is very popular, always full classes, very well kept, lots investment in technology, bright class rooms with lots of lovely work etc on the walls, very active parent involvement.
Nice location and easier drop off.

We were however, allocated our second choice school.
Second choice school does not have full classes, grounds are OK but not kept to the same standard, alot of the equipment etc looks abit well used.
However, the head teacher is AMAZING, knows all the kids by name and his passion to make the school great is obvious. The reception teacher has been great, along with the TA.
The school has worked out to be better than we expected, kids do seem to be learning, enjoyed trips and magical moments ceeated for them. Also alot of their preschool went too, so they have many friends.

However, our initial concerns of the area it is located remain. Despite their being many lovely families there are alot of undesirable. Mums talking with not suitable language, dropping their kids off then lighting a fag so I have to walk my kids past them doing so. At least 5 children in the class definitely reflect this in their behaviour in the classroom and take up alot of the teachers time. Drop off is nightmare as it's in the middle of an estate with barely any parking.

My dilemma...
Out of the blue had a call from addmissions today, advising a set of twins have relocated, leaving two spaces in our first choice school.
We have totally embraced the school we were given, it has turned out to be better than we thought, and the kids have created friendships. However, in the long term I feel the first choice school could offer them more and nicer families to group up around and be influenced by.
But it's a risk, will having to start again at a new school were they will no one be too much, they will also have to learn a different phonics program. Will they feel like they are always the new kids and not form friendships like the ones that they went preschool with.

I want them to have the best, but also don't want to upset them... what should I do???

I'd move them too.
There's a world of difference between reception and the older years in primary.

I would also move them in a heartbeat, especially if the parent demographic includes less of the undesirables. Friendships will keep changing for a while to come so settling will be no issue. As others have said, bad behaviour amplifies as they go up the school and no matter how fantastic the head or teaching staff, they have a really tough game if parents are not on board. Imo, having a parent cohort with high aspirations is more important than having the best teachers

*fewer

What is the point of posts like this apart from making yourself look snide and pedantic?

I would move them.
Yes they are happy where theyare but the problems that are just niggles now will grow into really serious concerns by y4/5. It's much easier to re-settle into a new school in reception than later, by the end of the summer term hardly anyone will remember they only joined half way through the year.
I moved schools half way through reception myself and I was totally fine.

How confident are you there are no hoi polloi at the other school..?

Could you visit again? It will be more informative this time now you have something to compare it to. And maybe hang around to check out pick up time, because I'd be concerned about a "grass is greener" situation here.

If the other school is genuinely better, then yes I'd move them in reception.

Op, my children are at a school in a deprived area. The school itself is fantastic, all the staff work very hard to help children overcome disadvantages and we are generally very happy there.
However, the school inevitably does a lot of fire-fighting, which would be less necessary in a more affluent school. A lot of parents don't support the kids' learning and aspirations are low. Sometimes I do wish the bar was higher academically among my dcs' peers. There are behaviour problems at all schools but are more likely to be pronounced at certain schools.
One and a half terms at school is nothing - they will barely remember it next year.

From my experience of "rough" schools: they fall into two categories.

Either the teachers become burned out and fatalistic, develop low expectations for the children, start thinking that nothing can be done and blame the parents.
Or;
The teachers really go over and above, see the kids as individuals and make a really decent effort to meet their needs.

If you find yourself in the second kind, I honestly think your kids will get as good an education as they can get anywhere. The teaching may be better and more imaginative teaching than in more middle class areas where schools can rely on parents and tutors to fill the gaps.

It sounds like you might have accidently found yourself a gem OP. I would think carefully about letting it go.

I wouldn't worry about moving them from the point of view of friendships etc, they are still in Reception and its all pretty fluid at that point.
If you think the new school would suit you all better as a family then do it. If your main reason for keeping them at the existing school is The Head she could leave/go sick etc so you need to look at the school overall

The current school usually has places available right? The new school is usually full. Depending on what you decide based on all the good advice above, you could always develop the mentality of...
Yes, they're moving school, they're going to try the new one, take up the offer, sign them up. If it doesn't work out, you don't like it, or they don't settle in, pop them back into school number one. They'll probably still have space to take them back with open arms. Feeling good that you tried the alternative and didn't value it. Thinking that way may also help you see the decision as less of a black and white scenario. Always options in the future x

You could move them and find the cohort has more issues than your present School. If the children are happy and you have confidence in the Head, I would leave them.

Moving my child also meant we could walk to school rather than drive and they could walk to school in Y6.

I would probably move them - especially if school 1 is physically closer

I would move them. It sounds like the only reason you're hesitating is because of friendships. Which at this age is not a good enough reason. Make it into an adventure for them and generate some excitement around the move. Better some minor disruption now vs a major disruption in, say, Yr4.

I’d definitely move them. The behaviour of the badly behaved children will get worse and the parents won’t do anything about it.

They’ll settle in a matter of weeks.

I would move them. If things go wrong and you have turned places down you will live to regret it.
TBF it was your first choice.

How much further is their current school from your home?
I'm in agreement about visiting the school again, preferably with children.

Thank you so much for all your very kind responses, all extremely helpful and really appreciated.
We are going to see the school on Friday, view the class in action, talk to teacher and have an appointment with the head. Will also try to get there in time to watch drop off and pick up. Will keep you all updated xx

Yes go and have a look and if you do want to move them, do it sooner rather than later.

I think you should get away from the undesirables as quickly as possible 🙄

Move them. Having friendships in the immediate locality is priceless as they get older and want to start early steps to independence - going to the park to meet a friend, walking to friend's house round the corner, that sort of thing.

We moved DD1 halfway through reception and she settled fine. It was definitely the right decision.

However we had specific things we didn't like about the first school, not just "undesirable" families.

I do get this reaction and would err towards it if it was just slightly less affluent in general. But full on swearing/knuckle dragging/vaping/classroom disruption among a large proportion of families - wouldn't you want avoid that for your children if possible too?
Of course, only the op knows where on that scale this one falls.

You will be lucky to find a school without children who present challenging behaviours.

Do you know anyone whose children go to first choice school?

If all of your list of pros for the first choice school still apply then I would definitely move schools.
For the long haul, it is more convenient.

As a back up, you can always move them again at the end of the year. (You now have no fear of your second choice school.)
My guess is that you will be settled and happy by then.