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???

Move them.
Getting 2 places at once again will be a slim chance I'd imaging.
I stuck it out for far too long at a primary with rough families, as many names as the head teacher knows, it never got better.

True but fewer children means less funding, a school with 15 per class will only have half the funding of a school with 30. Teachers salaries are set nationally so these won’t be any lower, it just means less money for other things like TAs, books, visitors etc.

We were in a similar situation but got the offer just before Christmas break up. We chose to move and don’t regret it. The old school wasn’t bad but we felt our first choice would give better opportunities and a more diverse class and friendship group. She settled in well but she did know some kids from nursery.

Ahh, I'm in Scotland, where we're still under the Local Authority.

You'll need powerful PTAs there then.

I would move them for all the reasons you have stated in your OP. They are only in reception so will settle quickly. Any behaviour issues at the school will be worse by KS2.

We moved our twins at that age

Hello everyone,
We went to visit the head at the new school on Friday and after alot of soul searching we have decided we are going to move them.
Based on the fact originally it was our first choice for lots of reasons, the decision has just been made harder to make by the fact our second choice school has actually worked out better that we hoped.

I am definitely worried how one of twins is going to take news and as they have the closest bond with two friends, I know there will be tears.

The new head has advised we should take them to the new school for a morning settling in session at the new school next week and tell them we have just found another school and be very positive. To keep the explanation short as to not complicate things. He advised we must tell them so they have time to say goodbye to their current friends etc. Obviously we will explain that they can still see best friends for playdates etc.

It's going to be a tough week weeks, I just hope it works out

As others have said things move so quickly at this age and friendships are fluid, my DS is in P2 (year after reception) and they had a couple of new kids join this year but they weren't "the new kids" for long - they've just slotted right in and like someone else said kids are always excited to have someone new to play with. Plus your twins will be going together as well so will have each other for support - best of luck!

I think that's the decision I would have made especially because they can help each other settle in.

Good luck. Remember that was your first choice so you are not being treacherous to the other school, don't feel bad. Hope it works out - I'm sure it will.

@PostiveThinkingRainbowhow is it going in their new school?