Back to School!

It's that time of year again!

My youngest just began her last year in primary school today.  She's top of the heap now and enthusiastic about the start of school.

How's everybody else's school start going?  Any first-timers?  Reluctant reception pupils?

How exciting!!!  I hope it all goes well!

But Noah is at home today, the school he is going to isn't starting until the 13th as the new classrooms aren't finished for reception, so I have him all to myself for another two weeks.

However our first choice school did start today and I am feeling rotten about it, everytime the phone rings my heart jumps as we are first on the waiting list for a place should one arise today. Boo.

I'm sorry Racheeeee.   School placement can be so frustrating.

I hope Noah gets off to a great start at school anyway, wherever he ends up. 

My girls start a new school next Monday.  They will be going from a village primary school that had 70 pupils to a school that has 300+.  One good thing is that it is a Catholic school, which is our faith. 
I'm a bit worried about the 9 year old.  I know that the school will look after her well and abide by her Statement, I hope that she doesn't get too overwhelmed at the sheer number of pupils. 
We were supposed to meet one of the 6 year old's classmates at the park Saturday.  However, since she broke her wrist Tuesday we won't be able to. 

Good luck to your girls on their big transition, Red5!

Too bad your little one broke her wrist.  By coincidence, my daughter's best friend transferred to her school when she was 6 and was wearing a cast for a broken wrist.  This little girl fell off one of those "wiggly log" toys at the playground.  How did your daughter break her wrist?

Thanks Tin!    Hope your youngest enjoys being a year 6!
The 6 yr old fell off the monkey bars.  When I ran over to pick her up her hand was just hanging.  Luckily, it is a buckle fracture and she should have her cast off in 4 weeks. 
She is taking it all quite well, and is happy with her blue cast. 

We started back here today too. My son started Junior school and I nearly cried leaving him and my daughter started Yr2 quite chirppy. They both came home very happy and that was enough for me.

My daughter started Year 2 and said she was really nervous at first but she still likes school and her new teacher. 

That's good news Little Evo and E2W.  It's always a relief when they come home happy. 

Jean started playgroup today (not a full session but an hour) and had a blast.  Hope she's not a grump Monday as she'll be at Grandma's house instead  (she's only doing two mornings a week to start).

Lyra starts Year 1 on Monday. I really hope we like this school--she was in a Steiner school last year for Reception so she's a little behind on reading and writing, and she's not used to the structure! Crossing my fingers that she likes it.

Cellar, if it's anything like one of our local primaries they carry on EYFS and Learning through Play into Year One and don't do "sit down" kind of work until after Easter.  Chat with the teacher if you can about your concerns.

My son started reception on Thursday We only moved over in June so this is really the first time that he'll be able to make friends on his own. 

The best thing about the new school: we can walk there from our home. 

We used to drive for 20 minutes to his montessori preschool.  In the evenings it would take 30-40 minutes to get home.  It's so cool to hold his hand and walk through the footpaths to his new school  

He bounced out of his first day and immediately said - "there's my friend" and ran off to join a little boy in front of us.  Yeah!

Any advice for a mom of 2 children who are totally overwhelmed about starting their new school.  We came to find a flat and visit schools in May, but the relocation agent didn't read our survey to find out that we had a dog so we wasted 2 days looking at properties that we soon found would not allow our dog.  We had to find a flat without visiting it ourselves and that choose schools based really only on Ofsteds.  We are lucky to love our flat and neighborhood here in Belsize Park, but the school is making me panic.  My children are going to start at a Catholic Primary where we are the only American family.  My kids are worried because a couple times at the park some children were giving them a hard time about being American.  We only have been able to visit the school once and my kids are already anxious kids by nature.  The uniforms and food and language differences are freaking them out despite my best efforts.  I am so worried that they will be unhappy!  Thanks for listening.

Hi michiganmom! I just wanted to say I really think you are just being over anxious about the kids starting school. I believe your children are still quite young as well aren't they? Four and six or somewhere along there? Anyways, I honestly cannot see the children making fun of them or anything like that. If anything the other children will be thrilled to have someone from America in their school.  As I have found they are a lot more accepting at this age. Both of my children spoke with very strong American accents when they started school here, and one born here as well and there was no other Americans in the school, but it honestly did not matter as the children did settle in quickly, much quicker than I did!

All I can say is it is going to be just fine and the kids will be taking on a British accent before you know it too.