Is this cold feet or should I do something about it..?

[Amani]

My DD is due to start reception in Sept at her first choice school. The trouble is am not sure if I like the school anymore. We visited the School prior to applying for the place and we really like it - the staff were friendly and it ticked all our boxes. We went for an induction afternoon last week and it put me off the School. Some of the reception children seemed quiet boisterous and as my DD is a rather quiet girl I am so worried about whether she will fit in, the class seemed quite big compared to her nursery class and am so worried she will get lost among other children, her reception teacher is pregnant and it is not know who will take over her class so I am a bit worried about any disruptions to her education, my DD has eczema and when I spoke to the school nurse about it she said to encourage DD to apply cream herself which got my blood boiling as I though FFS she is only 4 - how can she rub cream on properly by herself..

Am I right to be worried, or is this normal or what????

I think you're over reacting a bit.
Teacher is pregnant- there will be a teacher in place in September.

Boisterous children- well they're 4- they're going to be boisterous anywhere!

Class size- unless you go privete there will be 30 ina class .

Can you apply cream first thing- does she need it reapplying during the day?

If you moved schools- you'll still get noisy children and a teacher who could leave at Christmas (it will happen through school)
She'll be fine.

I know how you feel, DD1 has a place in a great state school 10 mins walk from our house. Our neighbors all go there and it is a great place. BUT she has been going to the nursery of a private school and has really liked it. Yesterday she asked why she had to change schools and did I know her school had a big girls class?

It's breaking my heart, but the private school, while fabulous for early years, is nothing special for juniors and we frankly don't have the money for 2 kids to be educated privately. I KNOW she'll do well at the state school, I think it's probably the better school overall, but I wish she didn't have to move!

What would be your options if you didn't send DD to that school?

I think the things which are bothering you would probably be the same in any other school too - it's just that you've reached the point where you're not thinking in an abstract way about it, but seeing the little day-to-day practicalities and it all coming closer to actually happening.

Some children will be more boisterous in any class - particularly on an induction day when they'll be hyped-up anyway. The teacher will soon learn which ones to calm down and which to encourage to be more lively.

School just is different from nursery, with bigger classes, more expectation of doing things for themselves, etc.

I think you just need to take a deep breath and remember the things that made you pick that school in the first place.

Your concerns are the same as mine were a year ago. It is a big jump from nursery to reception and the children are expected to be more independent pretty much straight away. My dd is just coming to the end of reception, and, yes, lots of children are more boisterous than her, but it hasn't caused her any problems. She has coped just fine with the transition and probably didn't notice half the things that would have been concerning to me! I think unless you have the option of sending her to a small village or independent school, then 30 in a class is going to take some getting used to regardless of which school it is. Good luck - I'm sure she'll be fine.