School...

I know - it's ridiculously early to be thinking about school - he's only 2 1/2. However 3 out of 4 of the local primary schools have a nursery attached, which children CAN go to for half days the September after they are 3!

Now where we live we actually have a choice of 5 primary schools, some easier and more local than others. However, none are really local, none are within walking distance for a few years.... so we have to choose.

One of them is an absolute no-no, boy-o is not going there. There is one that is my clear favourite; and the others I am ambivalent about. The one that is a clear favorite is one that has a nursery attached, and boy-o has his name down for a nursery place there - which is why we got invited to their open evening yesterday.

I'm so glad we went. I feel even more positive about it. All the parents that I know who use that school describe it as caring, nurturing and a lovely place, and that is really the impression that M and I walked away with last night. It was a trip back through time for both of us through - M went to that school in a previous incarnation, and my Mum used to teach there, and M's mum was a dinner lady there.

We went, and saw the nursery and reception set up - I was interested to see that they share a play area, and therefore my friend's little girl who will be in reception next year will be about some of the time that boy-o is playing outside... and she is caring little soul and will watch out for him. They have a lovely large classroom for nursery, with lots of areas in it, sand, role play areas, sit quietly areas, drawing etc.

We also spoke to the nursery teacher - and I did apologise for seeming like an over-anxious mother. I'd been primed by my primary school teacher friend (who sends her children there) about specific things to ask, we explained our situation and asked about transition and how they could manage it. I was absolutely reassured to hear that she has friends who have been through the adoption process and therefore she understands more than the average... she is happy that boy-o might need more than the one visit - this is fine. She is happy that he might take a while to settle, this is fine, if needs be we can stay with him. She is happy that he will probably have a photo of us with him, that is fine. Anything to make the process better - it's about building social skills, not education. And later in year they leave the doors between nursery and reception open, so the children get used to the area.

M and I came away having spoken to nursery teacher and assistant, various teachers (including one that taught with my mum), parents and pupils thinking that this really felt like the school for us. The only downside is it really is too far away to walk to... but all the schools are from our house.

It happened to be Brownie night - and I'd missed Brownies - but as soon as we walked in one of my girls came across to speak to us. And at the end I was talking to their parents and some of the others came up. They girls were really selling it - they obviously love school (might be too much to expect for our boy), and enjoy everything about it!

Next year we will tour the other local schools looking for other options, because we need to put three down when he actually starts school. But for the moment, I am happy he is going to nursery there, and hopefully will progress into the main school