naijababe:


I just couldn't connect with the book ni jare, found it boring.

@ coogar, I went to a Jakande school nau, can you blame me if I nor fit read 50 shades.

coogar:


which of them?
our lady of apostle or maryland comprehensive?

naijababe:

State Primary School, Papa Ashafa

naijababe:

I just couldn't connect with the book ni jare, found it boring.

coogar:


slate & chalk, surely.

edwife:
royalroy how have you been?longtime no see read...

edwife:




answer the question jor

damiso:

Efemenaxy I know apart from R231 you are the only other East enders fan on this thread who do you think killed Lucy? Come and see my colleagues playing CSI yesterday some even put money on various suspects at the bookiesI think its cindy

chaircover:
Wow how time flies

Im a little confused. I thought kids went from private nursery to reception and then class 1
What class will your little princess be going to in September if she goes to the catholic school?

EfemenaXY:


CC, she's meant to start this month o!

She'll be in the nursery class and won't start reception till 2017 (the September of her 5th birthday)

P.s: I made some slight modifications to my post...

chaircover:


Sorry Efe I am still confused
Blame my blonde highlights weave
Are you saying that the Catholic school also has a nursery?
So its just like a private Nursery but is funded by the school/govt rather than being privately run?

EfemenaXY:
Damiso, I'd like to ask you something o!

You mentioned once that your daughter though outgoing, found it a bit difficult settling into her new school as per the little girls at that stage had already formed their cliques? Has she settled in now?

Abeg, how old was she when she transferred from the private nursery to the state (Catholic) nursery? The reason I ask is because I'm thinking of transferring my little girl from her private nursery to the mainstream state (Catholic) school all of her brothers attended, now that she's turned three. Thing is, I'm at crossroads here because I love her nursery and they really pamper her there. A lot of the mums I've spoken to in similar situations say they won't start their little ones at the Catholic school till their kids reach five because the school is too "academic" for their liking. Too "school-ish" if you know what I mean.

I look at her and can see that she's keen learner (always has been) but I just don't know. Her private school is also more flexible in terms of the hours offered but that's not the case with the state school. Thing is, the Catholic school is sooooo over subscribed. It's a small school with just one class per year and I put in her application when she was just 3 months old (immediately after her baptism). She was offered a place in the school way back in September to start shortly after she turns three. My youngest son is currently in that school and I suspect that apart from the very early application, she got that place as per having a sibling currently in that school.

My main worry now is this: if I leave her where she is to continue with the private school which is strictly 0-5 years, then what happens when I try to get her into the mainstream catholic school? By then her brother would have left and she wouldn't have that sibling criteria / condition to back up her application. It would literally kill me if she's not offered a place then because as far as I'm concerned, the other nearby state primary schools do not measure up to this one by a long mile.

Gosh, I'm so confused here! UK Mums in the house with daughters, your advice.

CC:
Chaircover
Edwife
Naijababe
Mmotimo

And any other mums, your input pls...

edwife:
Efemena,my girl was 2 and half when she started pre-school , nursery and moved to reception by 4.

I don't know much about catholic schools here,but please if you feel that she really likes her school and is very comfortable where she is -why not wait until she is 5.
That's will be less complicated for you as well as her.

Did you try find out what the curriculum is like in the catholic school for a girl her age? by then you can try and compare with her present school and make a decision.

EfemenaXY:


Lol@ blonde highlights.

No, you're all right. I'll explain.

The Catholic school has also got a nursery & reception, but the thing is, they only take children from the age of three. Not before. My daughter's current (private) nursery takes kids from 3 months - 5 years. She started at the private nursery when she was one year old (immediately after my one year maternity leave) and has been there ever since. It's flexible for us as per the hours are from 7:30 a.m - 6:30 p.m.

So, we can leave her where she is until she turns five, at which point she'll be ready start at the mainstream catholic primary school like many others. But the risk is that if we do that, she may not be offered a place then. She has it now, but who knows what'll happen if we don't take it up now?

EfemenaXY:


Good question.

I did have a read of it a long time ago but that was when I was more interested in the OFSTED report of the school she was going to attend. They've been on 1 (Outstanding) for the past two years. I think the Catholic one's on the same level (I'll need to reconfirm that) but I already know how good the standards are anyway because all of my sons went there, and a lot of parents want the school hence it being seriously over subscribed.

I'm so tired of thinking of this, I feel my head's gonna explode.

edwife:


Oh dear ,don't do this to yourself.That's what girl do to us .

The standard of a school is very important but our daughter settlement in the school needs to also be a priority.

Go through it one more time and take a decision but if you fear that she might not be accepted in the school,i think she has more chances because all her brothers have schooled there.That's alone is a reason for her to have a place there.

damiso:


She has settled in quite well now..At her last parents evening her teacher said to me that she now has her own circle of friends and even with the girls who did not initially want to play with her ,she was able to suss out tat it's easier to interact with them one on one as opposed to approaching them as a group.

She was 3 when went into another state Catholic nursery from the private and was 4 when she started at the new one (remember we were unable to get a space at her initial school).I kinda have your dilemma with my son too who turns three soon but I think the flexibility is what is going to keep me more with the private nursery because even though We will save a substantial amount every week we simply don't know he we will cope with the rigid hours.With my daughter I was not working 9 to 5 so I was available to pick her most times. I have picked up application forms for him but I am kinda sceptical on starting him and then having to work out the logistics of who will pick him up.

*modified*
Efe the being Catholic criteria is even a stronger criteria for Catholic schools than the sibling or going to the nursery criteria.My daughter went to a nursery and kids who were born and baptised Catholic automatically were ahead even though she went to their nursery and we lived 10 mins away.In my daughters class then there was even a girl who did not get in even though she had a sibling on year2. Her mum appealed and still did not get in based on non catholicity( mind you my daughter and this girl were both baptisedin the Church of England)

For over subscribed Catholic schools evidence of catholicity Is no 1 criteria. So you should still get in at reception.esp if you have a rapport with the priest and head.

damiso:


Children generally just do that to you.. I am soooo worried about my son fitting in well in the rigid mainstream school setting as he is so laid back about everything.He is a very fast learner(if I must confess sef even more than his sister) BUT he just be can't be bothered to do most things.potty-training him was and is still is a nightmare.At his age my daughter could dress herself him he want you to do everything for him.I just got him into the routine of him tidying up his toys properly (something my daughter was doing at 18 months).The boy has taught me that my house can't be spotless all the time my daughter just knew mummy likes a clean house and she fit into my routine.Even her teacher says she is the quee of 'tidy up time'

But I know he will be fine eventually and children are different.one just has to consistently lay down those routines.

chaircover:


ahhhhhh now I see
Are you sure that she may not get a place when she turns 5? Can you speak to them about that?

chaircover:
The other thing that you need to consider is that if she doesnt go to nursery and waits until she starts mainsteam, she will be making 2 big moves at the same time; she is moving school/nursery and she is having to make new friends which can be a big challenge for some kids.

She will also be starting a whole new routine as Nursery is a little more relaxed than mainstream school.
This is also the first time that she will be seeing bigger kids in the playground and at lunch.

My daughter was in shock when she saw the size of the kids in secondary school when she first started.

I think it depends on the kid. Some kids are fine with change and some need a little more support and time. She has bigger brothers, so I am sure she can stand her own

edwife:


Oh dear ,don't do this to yourself.That's what girl do to us .

The standard of a school is very important but our daughter settlement in the school needs to also be a priority.

Go through it one more time and take a decision but if you fear that she might not be accepted in the school,i think she has more chances because all her brothers have schooled there.That's alone is a reason for her to have a place there.

Ewuro4:
That's how it works here too.

First 5years - Preschool ( Play)

6years & up - Kindergarten ( No more midday Naps )

Grade 7 to 12 - High School

There's nothing to worry about , Kids transition themselves when they cross that bridge. The only problem I have is the after school care we got for free in preschool.

EfemenaXY:


I did think about deferring it to September this year and mentioned it to them, but it's like postponing the inevitable. CC it's a small school o! Just one class per year. Everyone wants it. We don't even qualify in terms of living close by like before, ever since we moved houses.



Gosh!

You've just hit the nail on the head squarely with this post of yours! I didn't even think about it from this angle.

This is so true and come to think of it, none of her brothers had to make that big jump. But the hours being offered by the nursery for now is just 3 hours per day. So obviously, hubby and I are just going to have to really juggle a lot of things here as we'll have no other choice but to combine the Catholic school with the private school.

The Catholic school offers very limited full-time places (9:00 - 3:30) but it's based on "need". If only she could be offered that, then it's not a problem. Infact, the money they ask for is peanuts compared to the private nursery. I spoke to the deputy head about offering her a full time place in the nursery as she's been on the waiting list since September when we accepted the offer but his response?

That our daughter is the exact opposite of the kids they'd offer full time places at this stage because she she's exposed and has got a very good support network at home. The kids they consider priority for full time places at this age are those who have no other opportunity and are stuck at home watching telly all day. (Mine gets a lot of stimulus from her nursery, swimming classes, extra-curricular activities, older siblings / family life, and so on)...

So basically, I feel like we're being "punished" for bringing up an all-rounded child who'll have no problem integrating and settling into the school's routine. The lazy parents who sit on their bums all day smoking their gays and watching daytime telly's Killroy / Matthew Wright get offered the full time places. What makes it even so annoying is that there are playgroups they could take their kids to, for free, without having to spend a dime. I did all of that with her whilst on my maternity leave so she never had a problem even when she started at her private nursery.

Like Damiso mentioned, the logistics of doing the school runs / dash from one school to the other is going to be something else. Lord! It's just so difficult when the kids are at this age!

P.s: Child minders are a no-no for us. All it takes is one having a bad day, then it'll be stories that touch the heart...

EfemenaXY:


Similar stuff here too.

I like the play aspect but she'll get bored after a while. I know here. The mainstream school will give her the challenges she needs. I don tire to think of this matter, but thanks, Ewuro.

edwife:
Efemeneaxy and ewuro

I am happy

Ewuro4:


Small world. My daughter's talking about schooling in UK in future.

Who knows, let me be nice Biko

edwife:


You are cray cray