Is that your final decision?
Yes, I believe it is.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to leave such detailed replies to my Stressed About Schools post.
I have been going round and round and up and down with myself all day.
But a decision has been made.
Esther and William will stay at their current preschool until they begin school.
They love their preschool. The staff are fantastic and know us well. They know our family history. They do not mind if we are a little bit late or leave a little early. They are very accommodating at taking Esther and William for extra sessions when needed. I think that Esther and William would really miss their key worker and all the team if they were to move. I think that I probably would too.
Esther and William will go to preschool Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Thursday all day and Friday morning.
This is the pattern that suits us best.
It means that my Aunty and Uncle can still come and spend the day with us every Wednesday. Esther and William adore seeing them and we all look forward to Wednesdays. I am hoping that we can use Wednesdays to get out and about to interesting places such as local National Trusts. Esther and William learn so much through their time with my Aunty and Uncle, I would hate to take that time away.
It also means that we can still have our time with my best friend, Michele. We love her Friday afternoon visits and it would be sad for all of us if they had to stop.
I think that next year is now looking to be a really positive preschool year for all of us.
On Monday afternoons I am going to take Esther and William to a gymnastics club and I have also found a Fun Phonics club near to us on a Friday afternoon.
I am also going to work with them each week on a new letter sound and their numbers. I want to be involved in their learning and this feels like an appropriate way.
And school?
My heart says to support the local village school. I love the idea of school finishing at 3.15 and being home by 3.20. I love the idea of being able to look out of my window and watching them at play. Tilda’s memory garden overlooks the school field. I want to keep my children close for as long as I can.
That is how I am feeling at the end of a long day of thinking, questioning, reading, reacting, talking.
The preschool decision is final and I am confident it is the best one for us at this time.
The jury remains out for school.
Ready for School
I think thats a great decision. There is time yet to decide about school. I hope you’re feeling better about it now xxx
I am a year behind you but have been stressing already (ask my husband!) about schools, I had decided she would also stay at her pre-school, its THE most fab place, they love her, she loves them and she’s learning so much. Pleased you have also made your decision, its a weight off isn’t it??
I am glad you have come to the decision to suit you all, think it is best to keep them there for next year by the sounds of it 🙂
Wow you really are close to the school then-at least you have a short while to consider schools. I’m really dreading making that decision in a few months! x
I really think this sounds perfect. I would be very confident in
my decision if that was my plan. 🙂
No rush for school European countries it’s 6 anyway.
X
Our children went to the village school and were in classes of mixed age groups. It did have the advantage that they could take part in work a year ahead of them in subjects they were good at. 20+ years on our youngest still socialises with friends he made then (older sibling lives too far away to do the same). If you make a decision to live in a village then I think you should support the local school. Children who were sent outside the village to school never fitted in with village life and lost a lot because of this.
I think that sounds like an excellent decision. What a relief to have made it! If home education is a potential option for the following year then I would suggest finding out about local home ed groups and seeing if you can go along to any of them over the course of this year – I found it really helped to meet people who are actually doing it and to understand what activities would be available to us if we made that choice.
Sounds ideal, so glad you feel at peace with your decision. I think it’s perfect that Esther and William remain at the preschool they happily attend, plus still giving you valuable time at home with them. I did this with my children and have no regrets, honestly I would have missed them if they’d gone somewhere every day! X
Good to see you took my advise even though I gave after you’d made our decision 😉 I think you’ve made good choice x
Sounds like the perfect plan for your two toddlers x