So, what would you do in this situation?

[SweetnessAndShite]

I'll try to explain as clearly and succinctly as possible. DS in currently in Year R at our small village primary. There are 4 classes - usually YR, Yrs 1-2, Yrs 3-4 & Yrs 5-6. The normal intake is 15 per year group.

In DS's year they accepted 20 children (now down to 19). All were within catchment or had siblings at the school and the head was keen to admit them all. This means that in the next school year some children will have to remain in Reception class to do Y1 as there can only be 30 children in the KS1 class.

The children that are staying down are simply the youngest which includes my son. Whilst I can understand why they have chosen to do this as it's much less contentious than judging ability at such a young age, I have some concerns. Although among the youngest, my son and another boy who will also be staying down are among the brightest and are already way ahead of some of their Reception age contempories. We have been assured that they will be taught Y1 curriculum but through speaking to other parents who have experienced this scenario I am worried about how this will work in practice. DS will also lose his 4 best friends who will move on.

I have spoken to the Head and have another meeting later this week. The decision for DS to stay down isn't going to change I don't think (and I can also see some benefits to him doing so) so my question is, what measures should I ask for to ensure that DS doesn't suffer. I am asking to be kept informed of what is being covered in class 2 so I can keep an eye on where he is at myself. I am also suggesting that the year group regularly do activities together to keep them in touch with each other socially.

Anyone else got experience of this? What measures would you suggest?

Just as an afterthought - there will be less than 30 in the KS1 class anyway because there are 4 SEN kids with one on ones and it's a small classroom. I just feel my boy is getting the rough end of the stick just because he was born in May not Sept.

[zazen]

We had the same situation sort of - My bright DD had to repeat reception year this year, leaving her prep school and going to a mainstream bigger school.
She was youngest in her reception year first time round, and oldest this time.
She was mightily bored for the first half of the year whilst the teachers grappled with the kids who had never help a pencil, but now that have time to give her extra work, she's thriving as she spent the first half of the year getting on in the school and getting to know all the kids there (220 pupils).

IMO the benefits of being in your own age group when the child is a teen far outweigh the closeness she had with her old classmates.

I've kept in touch with friends parents and we have weekly play dates. We also did a lot of extra curriculum activities - French classes, swimming and music, so she was challenged.

DD is as happy as a lark now, as she made 24 new friends who are he own age, and still has friends from last year who are now 6.

Even though she's bright and the work seemed to be very backward, I feel there's plenty of time for her to be studious - I think they start to put the pressure on at about 7 and 8 years old in her new school. DD is still 5 so I'm not too worried about the academic side.

You may find you have to do a bit of thinking about how to challenge your DS this year, and keep in contact with his older friends, but you'll not regret the extra year - especially when they're older.

[admission]

It is highly unlikely that the head will change the decisions made. What you are doing is exactly the right thing to do, make sure that the school are not going to be allowed to let them drift for the year.

There is a big difference between reception class (foundation stage ) and year 1 (infant KS1 stage) and they have got to be taught as such.

It might be worth checking a few weeks into the Autumn term exactly what is happening. If I was to put on a my "jaundiced view hat" on i would say this is just a con and that actually all the year 1s will be together for most of the day, but for the purposes of not breaking the infant class size regs this rec / year 1 class situation has been devised.

[mummyinbeds]

Our school has a simialr situation. Up until now there has been a YrR/Yr1 class, Yr 2 on it's own and a Yr3/4 class. Due to increased numbers entering reception in September they are changing to YrR/1 and Yr1/2. The youngest Yr1's will be in the reception mixed class. There has been a lot of concern from the parents of those being left behind. However, the teacher is used to dealing with reception and yr 1 together and has managed the range of abilities well so far. The school has plans for the yr1's to be together for music, PE, ICT and so on. In a small school they are not going to lose touch with each other. I think the shock of the more formal yr1/yr2 setting is going to be tough on some of those going up (including my DD) but they will adapt given time and support.