Primary or infant school?

[36and3]

Ds will be starting reception 2026 so we’ve been thinking and have narrowed our top two. However, both very different and interested in others’ thoughts as to how rank preference.

A very important factor is that my mum will be doing most of the school runs, she is 69 and doesn’t drive so she’ll be walking.

school A -
Infant school so would mean reapplying again for KS2
1.2 miles from me / 0.7m and 15m walk from my parents
Two form entry (I like the small size)

school B -
primary school so once “in”, would be sorted.
1.5 miles from me / 1.1m and 30m walk from my parents
Three form entry

Very close, same catchment.

My children went to a brilliant two from entry infant school. The culture, teaching and SEN provision were excellent. The junior school that the school fed into was really not great. I tried to get my second child into the local primary for year 3 but he could not get a place as the year 3 there was full of the children already in the school.

I would make sure you factor in the junior school. In my experience it would have required a car journey and being split up from all of their friends to send my children anywhere else.

And would you get in? As the pp said you will have to apply from your own address. I know where I live the last child admitted distance is usually about a mile

School A (and go and look round the junior school this Autumn). School B is simply too far for your proposed childcare arrangements.