23 April 2015

SCHOOL STRESS AND LIFE LATELY

Spring Blossom we didn't get our schoolHello you lovely lot! Sorry for the radio silence here, it seems I've taken an unplanned Blogiday – is that a thing yet? – anyway I thought I'd give you a little life lately update and jump back on the blogging bandwagon. This lost week has mainly been filled with school stress, spring blossoms and the boy, as I've juggled being poorly and solo parenting without childcare, hence the blog and work in general has had taken a bit of a back burner.

Apart from missing out on the cruise and filming with Interior TV Presenter, Linda Barker, due to being ill, I've enjoyed the focused time it has given me with F. He's requested every meal outside this week and I've loved spending our time outside on a blanket in the sun reading books and just hanging out together, time seems even more precious now that school is on the horizon. Oh how I love this boy.

We didnt get the school we wantedLast week, like most of you with 4-5 year old's at home, I woke and immediately checked my email to see which school F had been allocated to. There I was anxiously clicking the refresh button ten times a minute, hoping we had gotten our first choice while keeping my fingers crossed. Shortly after 10am it landed in my inbox, I swear I haven't felt so nervous since sitting my A Level exams! My heart sunk a little as were allocated our second choice, equally a great school but just not the one we had wanted for F for various reasons. So now we're facing three options: stay on the waiting list and see what happens, potentially move flats to be closer to our preferred choice, increasing our chance of getting in, or stick with the school we've been allocated.

I've been going round in circles all week and I must admit it's causing quite a bit of stress. Although all the schools in our area are good, I feel the decision we make now will lay the foundation for F's learning and school experience for the next six years, so I'm certainly feeling the pressure to get it right.

Have you had this experience? I'd love to know how you've felt about being allocated a school.


SHARE:

21 comments

  1. Sorry to hear you missed out on the cruise and your first choice school. That must be so maddening. I haven't been in that situation, but I know lots of people turn down their places due to moves, etc, so it may be worth staying on the waiting list for a while at least. Best of luck and feel better soon. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks lovely! I know can't believe we missed out on our first choice. Fingers crossed it works out! x

      Delete
  2. Really sorry to hear you've been ill, hope you are now feeling much better.

    The school situation, ugh! My youngest is now 9 but I so remember the pressure of getting into our first choice school. We live in the middle of 6 good schools but would only have been in the catchment for one - and even then we were lucky to get in due to it being a low sibling year. I wouldn't have wanted my children to go to any of the other schools, good though they were.

    Sorry that you didn't get your first choice school, what a shame. My experience is that whilst you might be on the waiting list, so will a lot of others & so you are unlikely to get in - unless you are 1st/2nd on the list. And even if you move, would that put you back on the waiting list for your 1st choice school, if they know you've moved just recently/rented in a particular street just to get in, they will remove you from the list. Don't move unless you are sure!

    Do you know anyone else who is going to the school you have been offered, have you looked around it, talked to teachers etc? Don't just go on Ofsted reports etc (I'm not saying that you are!), from my experience there is much more to a school than its Ofsted report.

    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks hon, we're 8th on the list and from my understanding if we move within the catchment of the one we want we'll go higher up the list (although I need to check this again). It's so hard as the school we got into has outstanding and the one we want only has a good, but I know our first choice is better suited to F in terms of size and space. Urgh it really is making me feel stressed thinking about it. x

      Delete
  3. Hope you are feeling much better. I've been watching the school stuff with interest as I will be in the same boat next year. - I am dreading it as there's only one place I really want him to go

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can understand your stress about it all, but I'm sure it will work out. Please keep calm! I wrote a whole book about this (the Starting School Survival Guide) and have been through it all myself. He will, I'm sure, be fine, whichever one he ends up at. Good luck with it all (oh, and that black and white picture is utterly beautiful)

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a shame you are missed on the cruise - good luck with deciding what to do about schools seems like such a hard thing to do.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Really sorry you haven't been feeling well and that you've had all the school stress. I am sure it will all fall into place though - I would call, call, call and annoy them all until they give you a place to stop the calls!! Good luck x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sorry to hear you have been unwell. I hope you get the school situation sorted soon, everything will work out xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Totally understand the school thing. I must have clicked refresh hundreds of times this time last year when we were waiting to hear. And inside you want to shout at yourself; I never wanted to be the parent who got worked up about it - like you all our local schools are great - but oh how you suddenly really do care. We did get our first choice though wouldn't have this year as the catchment area has shrunk further. I guess (and this is only my thinking - obvs you might entirely disagree, sometimes these things just feel wrong...) I would accept the second choice and go for it. You can stay on the waiting list and if you are number 8 may well get a spot. You might find by the time you are offered a place you will be so enjoying the school your son is at that you decide not to change. School communities suck you in like nothing I expected (in a very positive way) - even in our crazy outsized 850 pupil primary school! Best best of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  9. School allocations are so stressful. We got our second choice too.... but fortunately our first and second were more like joint-first-choices so we're happy with it. It's tough to know what to do for the best, and as you say it feels like you're laying foundations for their futures which is such a huge responsibility, and something we naturally want to get right. Can you find out where on the waiting list you are? It might help you to evaluate your options more.
    And I'm sorry you've been unwell too. Poorly, and stressed, and zero childcare is not a good combo!!! x

    ReplyDelete
  10. We have only been knocked back once for school places and I appealed and included a lovely letter to the head teacher, praising the school and my reasons for the appeal. It worked and my Daughter was offered a place x

    ReplyDelete
  11. I hope you're feeling better now and have had time to think over the decisions better. The advice above about asking where on the list you are is a good start. Wishing you all the best with the choices you're making x

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am sorry to hear you have had a bit of a rough week. Poorly and no childcare is bad enough but add in the stress of school placements and I feel your pain. I remember the stress when we were looking for school's for Amelie. She is now in year one and there is constantly pupils leaving and new ones joining so it might be worth adding F's name to the waiting list. I am sure it will all sort itself out in the end but in mean time try not to worry too much. Amy x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, school choices are so important and I would feel the same if I were you! We chose a good school and were lucky to have Emma accepted in. She is thriving and I know the choice has been the best for her. Good luck with changing to the one you were initially after.xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sorry to hear it has not been the best week. I would stay on the waiting list for your chosen school and fingers crossed he gets in ((hugs))

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is one thing I don't have to worry about it. Schools can refuse a foster child.

    ReplyDelete
  16. He's so cute, that photo is gorgeous. I'm so sorry to hear he didn't get a place at your first choice. That must be really disappointing. I hope you decide what to do soon, it must be a big decision if you're considering a move for the school x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sorry to hear you have not only been ill but also you didn't get your allocated school ... have you made an decisions yet?

    ReplyDelete
  18. oh no - I hope you are better now. I hope you get the school sorted x

    ReplyDelete
  19. aw im so sorry about the school situation seems there was a huge amount this year that were left in the same situation

    ReplyDelete

© WILD & GRIZZLY

This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services - Click here for information.

Blogger Template Created by pipdig