Moving schools mid reception. How to tell and explain?

[PostiveThinkingRainbow]

Hello,
After our twins starting reception in Sept 24 at our second choice school, we have now been offered spaces at our first choice school. After a week of deep thinking, we have decided to take the places at the first choice school. The decision has not been easy as second choice school has turned out to be a lovely school and the kids are very much enjoying it, hence the need for advice.

This coming week at school is the last before a half term. Idea being they go for a taster morning at their new school and have time to say good bye to their old school too.
Break for Half-term week, then start a fresh at the new school.

I would really appreciate any advice on how to break the news to them, to create a positive transition and to allow them to say a goodbye to the old school.

Why change if they are happy there?

If they're happy, why change?

I know you're looking for advice, but honestly - the most important thing is that your children are happy.

If they are, they will thrive.

Hi op, I would keep it very simple then you'll have to wing it based on their reaction, really.

Id say - We've got some exciting news, we're going to be going to a new school! It has blue jumpers and lots of new friends. Then I'd just show them on your phone some pictures from the website and point out things they might like.

I would ask the teacher whether they could also do a quick 'how exciting we hear you're going to make some new friends at a new school'.

I know you explained your reasons in your other post, which I understand, but I can see why you'll get lots of 'why move them if they're happy?' responses in a new post, without that background.

For those just reading this post, OP has their reasons and IS moving the children. That is not up for debate any more.

You visited this week with the children didn't you, OP? Did they like it? Did they know they were visiting with a view to possibly moving there?

Just explain that this school is closer to you and is where they would have started in September if there was space. Now they have have space, they will be starting there. Just make it very matter of fact and sound like an exciting adventure. Point out all the lovely things you saw and big up the fact that it's closer to home, which means all their new friends will live closer. Reassure that you can keep in touch with friends at their current school (which will likely fizzle out over the next year or so but makes the initial move go more smoothly if they know it's not goodbye forever to current friends). Basically, don't overcomplicate it. Just keep it simple and positive. We are moving schools. It will all be ok.

We did this exact move a few years ago at this exact time of year that the half term was a natural break before starting new school. Difference was our daughter was in an horrendous school and was being attacked daily.

We just explained that we thought the school was a better fit for her and that she would thrive. It has worked out amazingly for us. I hope your kids have the same experience.

Don’t overthink it - they will almost certainly adapt with ease at this age. I think with twins it is even easier as they will be doing it together.

we moved our twins part way through reception and it was seamless. We just talked up the new school’s positives and also talked through changes in advance and the new routine as much as we knew so they were prepared. There were some minor wobbles over things we hadn’t even anticipated like lunch being different, but you deal with that as it comes and mostly forgotten within a month of the move.

hope all goes well!!

I think perhaps take some photos of them in their old uniform and have an ice cream or something on the last day of term, then during the half term break show them pictures of the new school, their new jumpers and perhaps let them choose new lunch boxes or water bottles. Just present it as an exciting change.