Do we do anything about this or not? Reception...

[Gobbledigook]

...children are complaining of the 'big boys' 'fighting with me'.

Ds1 got a little tearful one morning last week and said he didn't want to go because he didn't like the big boys in the big playground. However he went to school fine and I don't have any resistance in the mornings. Last night though when i asked about teh playground he said the big boys were fighting with him. He didn't seem upset about it and when I asked if they hit him he said 'no' but then I didn't get any more out of him.

This morning I saw another boy in ds1's class crying going in - he's done this the past few days having previously been fine. I overheard his Mum saying something quickly to the teacher about the playground so afterwards I asked her if it was something going on in the playground bothering him. She said yes and that her ds was having nightmares and was crying all through the morning at school. Another Mum who was close by said her ds had said he didn't like the big boys in the playground either and he had been crying each mornign before school.

This Mum also told me that one boy came out of school yesterday with a fat lip - apparently after having it pulled by an older child in the playground.

So, do we need to raise this or is it just something that will die off once the reception kids more confident?? It's my first experience of school so I'm not sure how serious things have to be before you raise them as an issue. Although ds1 has mentioned it, it's not upsetting him to the extent that he cries going in or that he says he's not going (that was just that one morning).

Dh says he'll ring the school if I don't! Don't want to make a name for ourselves - this is our first of 3 going into this school!!!

[Gobbledigook]

Btw, sorry for my crap grammar and lack of punctuation - was trying to be quick!

[aloha]

I would definitely try to sort this out. Clearly more supervision is required, and maybe a talk in assembley about taking care of each other.
Can you imagine starting a new job where the older employees beat you up?

[JoolsToo]

Are you kidding? Speak to the teacher THIS AFTERNOON!

[puddle]

Definitely raise it. I think that playtime is one of the most daunting things for reception children starting school. At my DS's school reception have their own playground so they can get used to it without bigger cildren being around.

[Polgara2]

Definitely speak to your ds's teacher when you go to pick him up. This just shouldn't be happening - where are the teachers supervising the playground? I always tell my children if anyone upsets/hurts them to go straight and tell someone. Yes the reception children will toughen up but they still shouldn't be intimidated by these 'bigger boys' (who are probably not much older in reality!), its hard enough settling in without that. Words in assembly/class are needed about looking after the little ones methinks.

[foxinsocks]

I would ask the teacher to have a word with the playground monitors. Normally, they watch the reception kids very closely for the first term or so just to make sure this sort of thing isn't happening so it's important to point out that something is going wrong.

[puddle]

Do you think the older children are bullying the younger ones? Or do you think that it's a confidence thing?

[Marina]

Where are the playground supervisors ?
Sorry to hear this is happening, agree with the others it really should not be, def. speak to the Head about this.
Schools should and usually do have a special settling-in routine for Reception children and that is above all about managing play-time and lunchtime, when they are on the loose amongst older children.
GDG - good luck.

[foxinsocks]

and don't worry about making a name for yourself. If it's something that's upsetting the children, the teacher would want to know anyway.

[TinyGang]

Jools is right - be quick with this one! You are not making an un-necessary fuss, not at all.

[Polgara2]

Oh yes forgot to say that - if its affecting your child or you you're NOT making a fuss - just go get it sorted.

[moondog]

Sorry to hear this gdg.Was wondering how your ds is getting on.
I would definitely mention it.

[Gobbledigook]

Thanks everyone. I will definitely try and get a good word with the teacher this afternoon and highlight that it's not just one child who is worried by it.

They do have their own playground so I'm not sure how they come into contact with older ones - I think after lunch they might go into the main playground but I know there is an invisible line over which the older ones should not cross into the younger half.

The part of the conversation I caught this morning with the teacher was the teacher saying that the juniors shouldn't be in with the small ones and they will be told if they are. But I'm thinking they probably aren't even juniors but perhaps just older infants. Don't infants go up to 6 or 7? They are going to seem considerably bigger to my 4.5 yr old.

[Cam]

Don't be afraid to speak up, the school needs to sort this out straightaway.

[JoolsToo]

too right!

[Twiglett]

agree you should definitely speak to them about it

personally I think I would ask for a copy of their bullying policy and how they deal with bullies

let them know you believe this to be an extremely serious issue .. it is .. even if the boys are 6 or 7 there should never be the opportunity for children to feel scared by others

they need to address through all methods possible: talks in class, at assemblies, letters to all parents, role play, supervision

I don't think you are over-reacting at all

[coldtea]

My ds experienced something similar when he started. In his case it was the older reception children wrestling with him & he didn't like it. He was getting pushed onto the grass which was out of bounds & he was getting himself in a state about it.

When i said i was going to talk to his teacher my ds said "don't do that mummy, they won't be my friend"!

I spoke to the nursery nurse & there was a note in his contact book the same day to say the children in question had been spoken to & it was in hand.

He didn't have any bother with them after that. It's hard enough trying to settle into school without getting bother from older children. I would say something but remember the children they complain about today can also be their best friend tomorrow!

[foxinsocks]

juniors are normally yr 3-6 (they have a separate playground at dd's school, except on a Friday when infants - reception to yr 2 - and juniors play together).

It could be other reception children from another class (remember some of them with have just turned 5 and there's a huge difference between just 5 and just 4) but anyway, it shouldn't really matter who is doing it, the fact of the matter is that it's happening and no-one seems to have noticed!

[puff]

If the reception children don't have their own playground (they do at some schools), it can be hard out there for little ones. At my last school, we decided to change the time of the reception childrens playtime, so they had the space to themselves and weren't sent flying by bigger chidren - some Y2's looked more like Y4 children and if they crashed into (even accidently) reception children, sent them flying.

Definitely mention it. Ds1's school has a separate little playground for reception children, which I was relieved about.

[puff]

Does also sound like may not be enough supervision out there anyway.

[Gobbledigook]

Puff, they do have their own playground but I think just at lunchtime they go into the big one. It's a long time to be out there though.

You've all convinced me this needs sorting and I'll emphasise the seriousness of it this afternoon.

Thanks all.

[Bozza]

I'm with the "mention its". Its obviously not just your DS1 over-reacting or anything like that if its happening to lots of the children it sounds as though there is an issue with the organisation/supervision of playtime.

[jayzmummy]

At DS2's old school the reception children had a seperate sectioned off little area of the playground that had a gate on it....if and when the reception children felt comfortable in venturing out of "the cage",as it is known, they could do so...bit like stepping out into the big wide world really.

I wouldnt hesitate in going and talking to the class teacher about the reports of rough housing....the littel ones are so tiny compared to the average year 1 child. What might be accepeted rough and tumble by the year 1's would be terrifying for reception children.

Surely there should be more supervision to ensure this sort of play doesnt get out of hand.

[fqueenzebra]

DS1's reception play-time supervisor would often get called over to sort something out, and that's when bigger kids would sneak into the cordoned off area & do mischief with the reception class kids...The teachers said that they wouldn't let themselves get distracted, but there was an issue with making sure that any other supervisors didn't let themselves get pulled away.

Def. you must complain and pressure them to sort it out. Reception kids need sheltering from older children.