Life catch up - We didn’t get our first choice primary school!
How are we all? Its been a while, Mum life and just life in general has really been life-ing lately which has meant not so many updates on here but i am trying to get back into the swing of things and in the meantime you can always come over to our Facebook group for chats and advice and some giggles too!
So, yesterday was the big day, huh? The day we've been nervously counting down to, refreshing our inboxes like our lives depended on it... Yep, primary school offer day! Or maybe not so much of a celebration if, like us, you didn’t get your top choice. If you found yourself in the same boat, fear not, we're in this together, and I've got some tips and tricks that were kindly sent to me after I mentioned this on Insta yesterday that might just help us keep our sanity intact!
1. Get on that waitlist: Check in your email if you automatically go onto the waitlist of your first choice, my council does this, but I think some may not so be sure to check this and be sure to keep the place you currently have. You don’t want to end up with none of your top 3 choices so whilst you’re still working it out just keep everything else as it is.
2. What number are you on the waitlist: Get on the phone to your council, I did this today and found out we are 4th on the waitlist, which is hopefully positive, they did say at the end of May they have a second round of applications based on people that don’t take the school place for whatever reason so you may find you get a spot around this time. Some of you mentioned you found out around June time that you had a place.
3. Explore your options: So, Plan A didn’t pan out. Time to shift gears and dive into Plan B. Take a closer look at the school you have been allocated. You might be pleasantly surprised! Visit the school, chat with other parents, see if they have a Facebook or what’s app group to join and see if it could be a good fit for your little one. You never know, it might end up being even better than you imagined. Hopefully everything happens for a reason and all that!
4. Join forces with other parents: Remember, you're not alone in this. Reach out to other parents in the same boat, whether it's through local community groups or online forums. Share your experiences, swap tips, and offer each other support. Together, we're a force to be reckoned with! Maybe try the key workers at nursery, ask if they can help to let you know any other children attending the school you’ve been allocated, hopefully one of your littles one’s friends may be going to ease the transition.
5. Consider the appeal process: If you're dead set on your first-choice school and truly believe it's the best fit for your child, don't be afraid to explore the appeal process. Gather evidence, make your case, and cross your fingers (and toes). It's worth a shot and some of you on Insta had real success with this, especially if there has been updates with your children’s development since you applied, be sure to fill the council in on these developments.
6. Keep calm and carry on: As tempting as it may be to spiral into panic mode, try to stay calm and rational. Your little one takes cues from you, so it's important to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos. Stick to your routines, keep the lines of communication open with your child, and reassure them that everything will work out just fine.
I really do hope that helps ease some anxiety, trust me i know how you feel, seeing everyone celebrating yesterday all over social media sent me into a bit of a spiral and weirdly made me feel like it was my fault, even though its completely out of our hands but after a good sleep i am feeling refreshed and have a clearer mind to be able to deal with this and remembering that whatever happens we will make it a positive!
Good luck ladies.
Love Lauren x
