which school to choose?

[skewiff]

Very simply -

My son is only just 3 1/2 he has just got a statement and we have to say very quickly which school we want to be written into it - the one that he'll go to when he's 5.

I'm wavering between choice of 2 schools.

One is a ten minute walk away. Its VERY academic (but in a creative and imaginative way, it seems). Two form entry. Very small playgrounds though. Junior kids are really squashed when out playing.
Its really sporty and really into awards (I worry that my son's disablity will exclude him totally from the sport they've got there, although he's very keen on sport if included).

Two is no uniform. Four form entry, but infant and junior schools are separate.Good sized playgrounds. Really into the creative curriculum and sort of chaotic and crazy.

Both school One and Two have outstanding OFSTEDs, although reading the small print Two is slightly less good than One.

School Two is a 25 minute walk away. And when I went to visit both Junior and Infant schools I could not see really the kind of work they do there. In school One all the work was displayed on the walls and it all looked really interesting.

???

Have you asked both Heads questions about how they see your DS fitting and what they will be doing to help him?

sorry -fitting in.

Yes and they've both answered very well.

I think my dilemma now is just the difference of the two schools. They are both so good, I think, but also so different. I can't imagine at 3 1/2 which one DS is going to fit best into.

I would go and have another look, with your son if at all possible. Make sure you have a peak at things like toilets etc. See how set up they are to cope with your sons needs. Have they had other children with similar needs before.
At school 1 ask about sports, especially sports for all.
(My DCs school is very competitive but on sports day for example they get every child involved, with special starts for the very disabled girl a couple of years back, or the downs girl in the relay team.)
Do ask them all those little quibbles you have now. Why doesn't school 2 have more work on the walls (has it changed). How will each celebrate the success of your child?
How do school 1 overcome the lack of outside space?

Don't be afraid to ask. (Another good one is how long does the present head plan to be there?)

Good luck.

But if after all that I couldn't decide I would go with the nearer one. 25 minutes could be a long way for a tired 4 year old in the rain.

i would go with school 1 as it's only 10 minutes away.does he go to a preschool? if so does he have any friends that will go to either school?

Which school do the neighbours go to? It helps as he gets older to have other DCs in his school nearby-not just for his sake but as a back up for you e.g.if you get held up someone could collect him for you.

Thank you,

Locally people probably go to both schools (but not many) we are out of catchment for both and only will get a place because of statement. They are our closest schools though, if that makes sense ... our very nearest is a church school just to confuse you even more.

I did ask if the head was about to retire in School 1, but got a very vague 'I don't know' answer. And I felt as though I'd been rude to ask. Can I phone up both schools and ask this question or is that just too too rude? I've already visited each twice, so feel like I can't do any more visiting.

Oh yes and ...

he's about to start pre-school and most children will go on to the church or school 2 afterwards. None will go on to school 1 as its a different catchment area.

And I've found all the work for school 2 on its website. Its really interesting as well. But again very different from school 1.

School 1's work is very traditional and I expect following the teacher's interests.

School 2's work is following the children's interests (in my not very expert opinion).

As a result the work of school 2 kids is full of real enthusiasm. School 1's work looks 'just' impressive now I've got something to compare it to. They've got a website with work on as well.

Still not decided though, but have found out we may not be as rushed to decide as we originally thought.

Hi Skewiff
Personally I think you can sense alot from walking round a school and the welcome feel from the head. Were both heads positive and informative about your son and his statement and his individual needs. Did they say how they would support him to access the whole curriculum etc? I know for my son it was important to me that the school looked at all their children as a "whole" child and embraced social skills and non-academics as well as acheiving results in the academic field. It is so hard to know which school is best as often we dont know how it will work for our child until they start. If you have been offered any support from your local parent partnership for example i would listen to the advice of professionals you trust whom are involved with your son as to where perhaps they feel will best suit him. I wish you all the best in your choice xx

I think that if you have visited both twice then you stop analysing and just go with your 'gut feeling'.

There isn't much point in worrying about retirement. A younger Head may move on, new job- DHs move etc etc.