Changing school and child wellbeing

[ConfusedParent24]

Hi all! I m feeling very distressed- we moved the area to be in catchment and moved our dd primary school in year 6- her last primary school was far best and she had very good friends - she keeps crying when coming home from her new school - it’s not parallel to the old school but v have to take whichever they offer us- have anyone come across those issues and how u deal with it? Is it possible to change school back if v take long commute for old school? TA

If your DD's previous school had no waiting list for the place you gave up and it is still vacant, they would have to take her (back), just as they would have to take any applicant. But they can't take her back straight away if the place no longer exists, and if there is a waiting list, presumably distance would now put her pretty far down it.

Did you explain why you were moving home and making her go to a new school? Was / is she on board with the reasons why the new catchment school is so much better for her than the school she would have gone to from your old address? I do hope that it really will be.

I moved primary school a few times (Army family, plus one move because the school we were at within the barracks closed and we were all sent off to a local village school). I remember hating where we'd moved to, and the new school, every time - for about a fortnight. My parents never took any other line than, Well, were here now, so get on with it - but then, we / I always genuinely had had to move and I don't remember ever not knowing the reason.

Have you moved to be in catchment for secondary? If so I know this bit is tough but this year will go so quick and you will be glad you did it when she is happy at secondary. But yes I would move her back to the old primary if they have a place and you are able to manage the school runs.