Best way to start 7 yr old in new school?

[colie]

Planning on starting Dd1 7 (yr3 england, going into p3 scotland)in a new school just before easter holidays. New school is 250 miles away so we would all have to move up when she starts new school.

So, new school breaks up on Thur 1st April. I thought about taking her for mornings only for the monday, tuesday and then maybe all day on the wednesday, thursday.(last week of term) Then she would be off for two weeks easter holidays and start full time at start of new term.

What has everyone else done when starting their children at new schools?

Obviously I will speak again to the new school and take their advice on it but just wondered what everyeone else has done.

Any advice welcome.

[Cranreuch]

My dc go to a school with lots of children with RAF parents - afaics they just start full days as soon as they can.

[Treeesa]

When we moved to a new area I got involved at the school straight away.. My daughter was going in to year 2. I wasn't working at the time so had plenty of time to offer. I did some voluntary reading in reception class on a few days. I also volunteered to help run a play group on one afternoon, which was for the upcoming rising 5s (from other local play groups) who would be starting in the September.. My son was one of these though so I probably wouldn't have done this otherwise - but it meant I was around quite a lot for my daughter to have as reassurance as she settled in.

[sunnylabsmum]

We moved DD overseas just as she was due to start reception. School allowed us to pick when we wanted to start and I picked a Friday as then we had 2 days to chat about it and we didnt't have the weekend to brood about it. Loads of reassurance needed in the first few months-

[colie]

sunnylabsmum- i don't want to give her the whole easter holidays to brood about starting a new school. Which is why I thought I would let her start a few days before they broke up for easter.

I can't help out in the school as I have two pre schoolers to watch. Good idea though, I know dd1 would love that if I could have done it.

[IAmTheEasterBunny]

Agree absolutely with Cranreuch. I'm a Y2 teacher with about 60% RAF pupils and it is very important that they go for full days IMMEDIATELY. They must be given the opportunity to learn organisational routines throughout the day ( which they do within the week). If they had started part-time, they wouldn't know what went on a different times (e.g. what happens in the afternoon or lunchtime play? How do book bags get given out? where do they meet their parents at the end of the day? etc.) This will make them even more anxious.

Children generally adapt very well to new situations, and the teacher will, I daresay, provide a buddy to take care of the newcomer.

PLEASE! Don't send her part time.

I personally don't think it helps to start them for a settling in period before a holiday. Having watched children settle in for the last 10 years, I think it is better to drop them in at the deep end on the first day of term when existing friendships are a bit wobbly as the children have spent a good deal of time with their famililies and not with each other (especially at 7), which gives the new child more opportunities to make lasting friendships.

[Phoenix4725]

dd started her new school week before broke up had week of f/t break for half term so not brooding over holidays went back today very happy she is Y2

[colie]

thanks for the advice. Will speak to the school and see if they suggest letting her settle in for a few days before the break up for the holidays.

I can understand the logic in just throwing her in at the deep end. The new school have advised not a good idea to start her half way through a term so I am moving up a bit earlier than i would have liked, in order for her to start at the start of the new term (after easter).

[colie]

Thanks. Will ask that when I phone them this week.

[Mum72]

Hi

Another Forces mum here. My girls now board but had 4/5 schools each before they did.

We never had the luxury of choosing start dates. We moved when we moved. That could be 10 days into a new term or like you a few days before the end of term. It never was at the start of a new term!

We always just took them along for the whole day. I think it is the best way for them integrate and learn the new school routine. It will also gives them time to develop new friendships - nice and important imo just before the holidays.

The advantage of starting just before the holidays is the "first day" is done and dusted and there is no big build up to it.

Also, try and treat this as a new exciting adventure for your DC. Even though you are prolly stressed and worried about how she will settle in - please try not to show it. The new child in a class is always very popular and centre of attention as the children rally around to make a new friend. Doing part time will hamper this important(for new friendships) phase.

Good luck with the move btw! Hope it all goes smoothly. I loved our time in Scotland.

[IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern]

We moved dd (6) last easter.
Just before the holidays she went to visit the school and head showed us around the place.
We did have the luxury of being able to move at the beginning of the holidays rather than a few days before the end of term though.

We then had the holidays for dd and ds to get to know the new area and house before starting school after easter holidays.
DD went in full days straight away happily settled in our new house by then.

The good thing I found about moving iat easter is she had that 12 weeks before the summer hols started to get settled in and make some friends before the longer summer break so that she could see them out of school then.

I know not all might agree but if you only have a few days before the end of term maybe just start her after the break but still arrange with the school for her to go and look around before the hols.
I remember moving around a school holiday time at aged 7 and the school were having their school concert that afternoon and my teacher suggested me and my mum came in and seen that and met the class was lovely.

Good luck in your move hope you love it.
Where in Scotland will you be?

[colie]

Thanks ladies and for all the good luck messages.

It would suit me better really to move up when she is due to start P4 after the summer holiday. I am trying to finish the 2nd year of a degree down here and moving at Easter is going to make this hard to do.

I just felt that getting her settled before summer holidays in her new school would be a good idea, especially since class sizes are bigger once kids go into p4..Agree with you there IneedacleanerIamalazyslat.

We moved to northwest england from scotland nearly 4 years ago and are just moving back really. Though moving to a slightly different area. We were in Glasgow before we moved and we are moving back to just outside Glasgow. Me and Dd1 are very fortunate in so far as have a bit of luxury about when we can move back. Also at least I roughly know the area etc back there. Of course, to the kids it is like moving to a brand new area, they can't remember ever living in Scotland. Sure they will settle fine though.

Dh is already back up there as his new job started in Jan.

Mum72, I appreciate the advice about trying to stay calm about the whole new school thing. I am getting myself really anxious and worked up, also worrying that Dd1 is picking up on this. I went to 5 different primary schools and changing to my last one was quite a traumatic experience. Though prior to this I always settled fine at the others. I am sure Dd1 will be fine.

[teddymummy]

my DD(7) and DSs(4) have moved 3 times in nursery/school.I have found both times that DD could only have a quick tour just before starting and then she was straight in for the whole day. This was because we were moving abroad the first time and then back to the UK the second time. She is bright, but not overly confident and I am sure she was very nervous but I just made all the 'jolly' noises and she went in fine both times. I do feel very guilty about moving my children around in these important early years but they are now very confident young people who have had wonderful experiences. I think part time would be unsettling. The most important thing at first is to establish friendships and they need the playtimes to do this. Really good luck with it all xx

[primarymum]

We had a new Yr 3 boy just turn up on Monday morning and started there and then! He hadn't visited us, we weren't expecting him, he just appeared! Luckily we had a vacancy in the year group so introduced him to his teacher and off he went! Mum said goodbye and came back at dinner time with his packed lunch. She filled out the application form there and then!
He came back again today so it couldn't have been that bad!

[ShrinkingViolet]

when DD went back to school (after a period of home ed), the HT suggested that starting at easter was better than wating till after the summer, as the summer term is full of not-quite-so-academic stuff, and therefore possibly slightly easier to get used to new systems and so on. She was slightly older though, and it was her choice both of school, and going back at all. Worked very well for her.