Molly has started school :(

Really doesnt feel right tbh, but she seems to be liking it, and my days are more peaceful.

She was arguing and fighting with Katy constantly. Trips out, even into town, were a nightmare because they’d both play up - one dashing off in one direction to look at something, or racing off ahead, the other lagging behind or having to be ‘dragged’ along. If I let go of them in a shop (like to pick something up or pay) one would always either start running round (K) or disappear to go look at something (M), leaving me feeling permanently stressed, tired and on edge (and reluctant to take them anywhere - not helped by the awful weather!)

Anyway, we talked about school (me, my mum, and M) and ‘luckily’ there is a very small school about a mile away, in a neighbouring ‘village’ (the village is more like a road, half a dozen cottages and some farms and barn conversions, lol, on the edge or outskirt of my village).

The school has 3 classes, Unit 1 which is Reception, Yr1 and Yr 2. 23 pupils altogether in that class. Molly is in there as she is Yr2 now. Unit 2 is Yr 3 and 4 and has about 8 or 10 children in it, and Unit 3 is Yrs 5 & 6, and has 10 or 12 children in it. There are about 43 children in the entire school. They have place for 56 and cap numbers at 8 per year group.

She started the Monday before last.

It’s strange though, I miss having her around (though not the almost-constant yelling, arguing, falling out and refereeing…) I cant discribe it, but it just feels wrong her being at school. Like Home educting is our ‘religion’ and now she’s at school… sorry, don’t know how to describe it :/
She does seem to be enjoying it though. I remembered how much I loath the Oxford Reading Tree books. LOL. She got started on Blue sticker/level, and has already been ‘moved up’ to Orange (level 6), but tbh they are still too easy, and ‘beneath’ her reading ability. And pointless. Wish they’d send her home with proper story books. *sigh*.

She’s spending a lot more time at my mums now too, because my mum has to drive her to school and pick her up (I don’t drive, and it’s at least a mile, possibly 2 miles away, most of it without a pavement).

Katy is still at home with me, though she’s going to the Montessori Nursery 1 and a half days a week (Monday 9ish til 4pm and Tuesday mornings) I want to HE her, and will hopefully HE Molly again in the future, either if/when she decides she doesnt want to be at school, or maybe when she gets to high school age (would much rather NOT send her to any of the high schools round here!).

Just needed to write it down I guess.

Sounds like a nice school even if it is against what you wanted for her education path, and maybe it won’t be forever, so long as she is happy and enjoying things.
Have a chat with the teachers about the books, they may just be checking her reading level. My dd started Reception year in September and was a competent reader before she started school (self learnt last year) - they started her on yellow books, moved her up the first week they had books to blue, then green a little while ago and now orange. The early books came home but weren’t really read as they were too easy and not very interesting! (in my daughters words).
They know that the books are still easy for her and she reads proper books at home which we note down in her reading record book. Her school is very good, fantastic teacher who admits to being challenged by dd’s reading ability as she is already far above anyone she has taught in year R before - but we have good open communication with her which helps, and I would think you could do the same and they’ll address what books she takes home.

(hugs) to you, you sound a bit down about her going to school, but it’s good that you’ve discussed it together and been open to her trying it out, whether it’s short-term or long-term. Nothing is forever, that’s what I always say - we’re not thinking about senior/high school yet but will openly discuss options as we go through the years.

x

Yes it is good that you have discussed it together. Personally I’d like to feel that full-time home education would be possible for any of us if we needed it - and we may all need the option of school. So maybe the boundaries are more fluid than we think they are.
best
w.w.

The single most important thing is that your daughter is happy & you say she is, so try not to worry. It sounds like a good little school to me. Give it a bit of time for the teachers to get to know Molly & her abilities & then go in and talk to the teacher if you think her reading is not being stretched.

I think WW is right about the fluidity of HE and school. You are not choosing one or the other forever, youre just doing whats right for your family at this moment in time & that may change again in the future.

Molly has had the benefit of being at home up until year 2, so you have given her a great start in life & maybe she will really thrive in school.