PLEASE FGS help me make this decision.

[Lyingawakeworrying]

I have the option of the following for starting reception;

Primary A: two form entry, PAN 60, currently will be two classes of around 23 in reception, in year one and above these two classes MAY get split between year one and year above (very unsure about this and what it might mean).
Good offstead rating in last two years.
20 minute walk or 3 min drive if we’re driving.

Loads of outdoor green space and forest school area.

child already goes to nursery here so is comfortable and settled and has friends.

Primary B: one form entry, PAN 30. One class of around 24 currently for reception.

Outstanding offstead rating in last two years.
6 minute drive from home but not realistically walkable due to terrain (50 min walk if you did fancy trying it)
Have visited several times and got a great feel from the school, the head is wonderful.

concrete school, no outdoor green space.

child would have to settle all over again, knows nobody.

PLEASE tell me what you’d do, I’m lying awake, having sleepless nights and literal nightmares about this bloody decision, I’ve woken up in a cold sweat having a nightmare about my little one going to school A and being so distressed I had to pick him up😩

Please don't make your decision based on offstead reports , my grandson (adhd /autistic) was offered a day trip to go and play baseball ,(along with several other kiddies) against other schools. His school didn't have a team or ever play so it was strange. Next day it became known that the school inspection took place while they were away. They were hidden to help the school get a higher rating . But in your case school A sounds ideal for you and them.

I’d go with A like the majority. The school my DS went to was similar in terms of of numbers, they had split year classes and it worked well with smaller teacher/ TA led groups for maths and English and a 2 year rolling curriculum so nothing repeated. He had an easy transition to secondary also.

They have no time to get rid of dc for a day as there’s virtually no notice of an indirection and inspectors have details of send dc. They don’t go around classrooms with a clipboard either. The inspectors really do know if schools are trying to hide things. They don’t succeed of course. Lots of schools get told their sen provision isn’t good enough. Ofsted reports are useful and help parents think about how the school has improved, or not.

I know this goes on but this has just made me gasp with horror. Disgusting that a child needs to be hidden for a good impression what a shower of shit.

Inspection!

I’d go for A especially for play dates.
But B is a nice back up in case everything went pear shaped.

100% school A

As a teacher, I’d stay with School A.

Your child is already settled there and has friends, which will really help their transition. Personally, I would always lean towards a school with lots of outside space too. From your post, it sounds like they are using this well to develop their curriculum and support learning too (eg. Forest school).

Think about what are the advantages of School B other than an outstanding Ofsted report? Parents hang so much on an Ofsted rating and imo they are really over-rated. If you could see the amount of running around and changing things that is done for the 48 hours before an inspection, the things that are hidden (inc. problem children suddenly being taken on a trip!) and how staff are coached what to say, you’d realise they really aren’t worth all that much. Are you aware that if there’s any safeguarding problems, schools are put into special measures immediately, so obviously both schools are fine in this regard?

Have you read School A’s latest Ofsted report online to see the recommendations (ie. why they were deemed good as opposed to outstanding)? It could be very minor areas that are being worked on and that don’t particularly impact children (ie. Areas of communication or management).

From an SEN teacher:
Schools are given 48 hours notice so plenty of time to change things (the few Ofsteds I’ve taken part in, all staff stayed in school until around 10pm, with pizza tea provided by school, both nights beforehand and most were in by 6.30am throughout). If schools are in an academy, extra staff are even borrowed from other schools in the group to cover lessons or change displays etc.
Difficult children are often taken out of school, usually on a PE trip. Apparently bowling counts as PE 😳 I don’t agree with it but it regularly happens!

Split year classes allow for much better targeted teaching as they are grouped by ability, rather than age. This means lessons can be more highly differentiated for students and progress is therefore usually more rapid. Some students need more time on certain areas and we can then allow for this and not just rush through the curriculum regardless.

This is a really good point to consider!

I know it feels a long way off but I found with mine that the ones at the small school found the transition at eleven much harder. Also more friendship issues at a smaller school particularly if the sexes sre very unbalanced and a very few of one sex can cause some nightmares.

So I'd go for A.

I’d choose school A. It sounds like a lovely school and your child is settled there. Green space is much nicer than just concrete.

Well, quick update for everyone who might be wondering.
I’ve chosen, and I’m keeping him in school A. I’m actually incredibly grateful to everyone for helping me to see through the fog and helping me to recognise the value in school A.

I feel like I’ve made the right decision for him, hopefully I’m right!

A

At the end of primary you want a happy confident child who can read and write and with age appropriate maths. The rest will come.