For a parent, some words carry more weight than others. "Transfer" is one of them.
Changing primary schools is never a decision made lightly. It means navigating a major transition in a child’s life leaving behind familiar routines and touchstones, facing a host of questions, and, at times, even experiencing some apprehension.
Am I doing the right thing? Will my child fit into the new class? Will they make new friends? Will they feel welcomed?
These are questions I know all too well. They are the questions parents ask when they come to see me at Daisy each with a unique story, and with expectations, desires, and concerns that deserve to be heard.
After all, there are many reasons why a family might decide to change schools.
Sometimes, it’s a relocation moving to a new city or a parent taking on a new job opportunity. This is a decision that affects the entire family; for a child, it means leaving behind not just their school, but also their friends, familiar surroundings, and the small, everyday certainties that anchor them. It is a necessary change, yet one that can be daunting which is precisely why it requires extra care and sensitivity.
At other times, a transfer stems from an educational choice. As parents come to better understand their child’s personality, inclinations, and abilities, they may seek a school with a different pedagogical approach perhaps one that places a stronger emphasis on foreign languages, focuses more on personal growth, or employs a teaching method that better aligns with their own vision of education.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that something was wrong with the previous school. It is simply that, as we grow alongside our children, we may realize that there are other paths better suited to them, their curiosities, and the opportunities we wish to provide for them.
And then there are more delicate situations those in which a parent senses that their child is not experiencing their daily school life with a sense of ease or happiness. It is not always a matter of serious or easily identifiable problems. Sometimes, it may simply be a group of classmates who are already very close-knit, making it difficult for a child to find their place among them. At other times, it might be a teacher who despite having the best intentions fails to connect with a child’s shyness, or perhaps with an exuberance that adults misinterpret as behavior needing correction rather than as a form of self-expression.
In some situations, there may be misunderstandings, instances of exclusion, unkind words, or other events that a primary school child precisely because they are still so young may not always be able to recognize or articulate.
Whatever the reason that leads us to consider changing schools, there is one thing that all of us parents share: the desire to make the best possible choice for our children.
Whether it involves moving to another city, seeking a different educational path, or finding an environment better suited to a child’s temperament and sensibilities, we often find ourselves facing the same questions: Will they be happy? Will they be able to settle in? Are we truly doing the right thing?
Dear parents, parenting is an incredibly difficult job perhaps the hardest in the world.
I do not claim to teach you how to be perfect parents. There is no magic formula, nor can we simply snap our fingers and always have the right answer.
However, I can share with you what I have learned over many years spent working alongside children and their families.
I have learned that there is no such thing as an objectively "perfect" school; rather, there is a school that may be the "right" one for a specific child at a particular stage of their development. To identify it, we must learn to observe our children, listen to them, and understand their inclinations, their needs, and even those subtle signals they may not always be able to put into words.
Sometimes, we must also have the courage to listen to our own hearts.
One of the questions parents ask me most frequently is: "But if my child has friends, how can I consider changing their school?"
It is an understandable concern. Friendships, especially during childhood, are significant and serve as a valuable point of reference.
Yet, when making decisions for our children, we must learn to look a bit further ahead not just at what they will be leaving behind, but, more importantly, at what they might discover and achieve in the years to come.
A child certainly needs friendships, but they also need to feel welcomed, respected, and understood to be able to express their personality freely and to find an environment capable of nurturing their unique inclinations. Changing schools does not mean erasing the past, forgetting the teachers you grew fond of, or giving up the friendships you have built. It simply means starting a new chapter, while carrying with you all the wonderful experiences you have had up to that point.
It is only natural for a child to feel some apprehension. A new environment, unfamiliar classmates, and different routines can be daunting. That is why we must support them, respect their pace, and allow them to express their doubts and curiosities.
Above all, we must give them the chance to get to know the new school before a final decision is made.
When a family comes to learn about our Daisy primary school, my goal is not just to share our educational philosophy, show the classrooms, or explain how our teachers work.
My goal is to get to know the child.
To look them in the eye. To understand what sparks their curiosity, what makes them happy, what their passions are, and what little fears they might have.
For this reason, we offer a simple yet invaluable opportunity: spending a day at our school, alongside the other children and the teachers.
Not a formal visit, but a genuine experience.
The child joins the class, takes part in activities, meets their peers, and observes how a typical school day unfolds. If necessary, we can repeat the experience, giving them time to become comfortable with the new environment.
And do you know what one of the greatest rewards is?
Seeing a child who arrived feeling apprehensive leave the school with a smile or hearing them ask their mother, "Can I come back tomorrow, too?"
It doesn’t always happen in the same way or at the same pace; every child is different. But it is precisely these small moments that remind me how important it is to create an environment where children truly feel welcome. At Daisy, we place a strong emphasis on this: we teach our students to welcome newcomers, to include them, and to help them feel that there is a place for them, too.
Because "welcoming" shouldn’t just be a nice word written on a school’s website; it should be something a child senses the moment they walk through the door.
Once the initial doubts and emotions have been addressed, practical questions naturally arise. How does one go about changing primary schools? What documents are required? Do you have to wait until September?
The answer is simpler than you might imagine. Transferring from one primary school to another is possible even during the school year, provided you follow the established procedure and confirm that there is space available at the school you wish to join.
My first piece of advice is to get to know the new school well before initiating the transfer. Visit it, speak with the head of the school, meet the teachers, and ask how your child will be supported during their transition and integration.
Once you have identified the right school, you should contact its administrative office to check for available spots and request a formal transfer authorization (*nulla osta*) from your child’s current school, specifying the new institution. The administrative offices will then handle the necessary procedures to transfer academic records and finalize the enrollment.
Timelines can vary depending on the situation, but there is no need to wait until the end of the school year. At Daisy, we personally guide families through these steps, ensuring that such an important decision does not become complicated by bureaucracy.
Regarding timing, I would like to share one final thought, drawn from my own experience.
Parents often believe it is better to finish the current school year and start fresh in September, so as not to disrupt the path already underway.
I am not so sure about that.
Throughout the school year, children form friendships, social groups solidify, and routines and delicate balances are established. As the months go by, these bonds grow stronger, and it can sometimes be less straightforward for a new student to find their place within an already tightly-knit class.
If a change is necessary or if you have found an educational path that you believe is better suited to your child why automatically wait until September?
Naturally, every situation is unique, and every decision deserves careful consideration. But once you have gotten to know the new school, met the teachers, and given your child the chance to experience the new environment, do not let the calendar alone make the decision for you.
The right time to change schools is not necessarily September. It is the moment we realize that the time has come for our child to have a fresh start.
And sometimes, that fresh start can be tomorrow.
Nicoletta Coppo
To begin the transfer process, please complete the application form.
If you need assistance, please don't hesitate to contatct us!
Daisy Elementary School
