shared care and school for blended families?

[lilblakduk]

how do you do it?

what care arrangement works best for you, the other parent and your child/ren?
Who made the decision on where the child/ren should attend school (if they werent in school when you seperated)?
How far away is school from both parents' house or is it central?
Who attends all the school meetings etc?
In blended families do all your children attend the same school?

Soon to get to this hurdle and were wondering what works best and what others do

[Meemo]

The school decision had already been made when I came onto the scene, Eldest SS was in Gr 1.
But my understanding is the school was chosen at that time, is where DP went to school, DP's ex came from another area, so the decision was pretty simple as far as they were concerned, and DP's ex, was easy going about it... And i think the decision was made before they separated anyway.
We have SS's 3 nights per week, sun - wed they go back to 'mums' from school.
They recently changed schools, as we all moved to another area, and none of us felt that the school they were in was benefiting the kids.
Luckily for us though, we all get along. For us to have a decision to make, is simple in most ways, we all express an opinion, and the happy medium is found, but ultimately 'mum' and 'dad' had the final say.
My opinion was taken into account more for the fact that I want to send DD to the same school as her brothers (she starts next year!! :smiliedance:), easier for all parties involved. She has her BB's to look after her, and we're dropping them all off at the same place.
The school is central to both of us, but we live around th corner from each other!
Meetings are attended by either or both 'parents', depending on availability and who can get there, and the other is informed of any outcomes asap. They always consult each other as soon as an issue is raised.

I think it is incredibly important for schools to be researched and decision to be made 'together'. AS for your kiddies going to the same school that's a decision that only you can make.
It is an incredibly tough decision to make and a hard time.
For us it was easy, but as I said, we all get along, probably too well in some peoples eyes!

Good luck with it all!!!:thumbsup:

[lilblakduk]

Meemo great to see you all get along well, it makes a diffrence.
Thanks for that, we are looking at care options for school at the moment to see what is working for others, wether or not its week in week out or weeks and weekends ?

[lilblakduk]

:wave: BUMP! anyone else?

[MrsDribbleDrawers]

When my DD was ready for school, her dad lived 100kms away, so had no say in the decision. D[S]S went to the same school.

Now we have moved out of the area and decided to move schools, her dad still has no say, although we have given him all the information about the school - he still lives 100kms away, after moving away and back... so as far as I'm concerned, I don't think he should have a say... I keep him informed on any school events, photos, assemblies, school musicals, but he has never turned up to anything in five years.

DD only visits him on weekends, cause he lives so far away (might not actually be 100kms, he's on sunny coast, we're bris nthside)

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

Dh has had no say in schools...DSD and now DSS have just gone to their local primary in the various suburbs their mother has taken them to. Now they all seem to be settled and have attended the same school for 2 years...it is hard for the shared care bit as we live 40+km away...(we did live close by to one of the primaries but DH ex moved away, and then we moved too). We have the children whenever DH is home weekends usually because of the distance and travel to and from school bit hard on the kids...though been doing this week to help DH ex out as she had baby been in hospy etc...
The school been great involving DH in all decisions and meetings about the kids...he cant always make all the assigned meetings but they organise for him. THey also post a newsletter each week and make sure we get copies of any important documents ie reports. They will also take DH's consent for something if ex hasnt consented ie: speech therapy assesment etc.
We have no signed parenting order in place - this used to be a nightmare but now ex is settled with new partner, no real issues...next year DH is going on a roster which will mean more time in Perth so hoping we can have them a bit more regularly...and still avoid court etc...(only be a problem if she loses CS because of more contact I think) Oh we also have the kids for week/ 2 weeks in all the holidays when DH is home...