You’re the one that we want…

Sometimes things look better than they are!

This week parents all over the country will have found out which school they have been allocated a place for their little person. It’s very stressful waiting, and once the waiting is over, it can be such a relief, or such a worry. Feeling like things are not going to plan for your child is such a triggering experience and finding out you’ve been given a school you were less keen on may well send you into a tail spin!

However…. Take a breath. Here is what we would suggest for anyone who has not got the school place they want - be it starting school, junior school, or even secondary school. Here’s the Blossom tips for what to do if you feel disappointed, before you appeal a decision about a school place (show this to your friends if they are experiencing this!):

1. Visit the school again. First impressions aren’t always right. Looking again on a different day might help you feel better about it as an option.

2. Ignore the ofsted report. It only shows what they saw on one day and may not be representative. Trust your gut more.

3. If your child’s friends are going to the school you wanted - don’t worry too much. They will make new friend, and having a friend outside of school is sometimes much more fun!

4. Find out about the parents WhatsApp group and join (or set it up!). Meet up with the other families in the park. You might find you really like them!

5. Download some Blossom resources and spend time playing and learning with your child regularly. This is way more influential than which school your child goes to. You can make the difference!! Your input regularly is WAY more influential, impactful and important than which school you choose.

6. In the olden days (not all that long ago) you couldn’t choose which school you sent your child to. That’s not to say that you should live with a decision you are really not happy with - especially when everyone else has a choice over where their child goes, but it may help you to get a perspective if you remember that it wasn't;t. always this way, and yet most children turned out ok! You included!

7. Schools need a mix of people from a mix of backgrounds. Good parents like you, with engaged and enthusiastic children are essential for all schools to flourish - your child may benefit from going to their local school and making new friends. That’s not to belittle your feelings, but just to try and shift the light on the school that you have been given and encouraging you to let it have a chance.

Whatever happens, trying to see it from this perspective might be helpful (and I hope it is). If you still decide to appeal, then that’s your right to do so. You will have been sent information about this with your decision.

Remember, Blossom materials are always there to help you and the April bundle has lots of help for you and your family.

Don’t forget to tell your friends and family all about Blossom! We’re nothing without parents!

Love from Sarah and the Blossom team