My DC is going to be the only child in reception :(

[BoujiSnail]

Anyone else? I feel so sad for her. She is currently back in her preschool as she's 4 and I thought it made more sense rather than to send her in to school be with no other kids in her year and only 11 kids in the whole school aged between 4-16.
Now they've been sending out email correspondence and her teacher has confirmed that so far no other children in the year have been confirmed.
What happens if she is the only one? I feel so sorry for her, and unreasonably, angry at the other parents for just being able to keep their kids at home (forever?) whilst us key workers have to keep working and now risk ruining school for our children.

[Drivingdownthe101]

What do you mean? From September?

[FlamingoAndJohn]

Do you mean from the 1st of June?
Firstly this assumes that the schools actually open then, none of that is set in stone.
Could she join the schools key workers groups rather than reception?

[BoujiSnail]

1st of June.

[BoujiSnail]

@FlamingoAndJohn that's the 11 random kids aged 4-16. She is so little and small, I think she'd be terrified in a room with 8 and 9 year olds with teachers she doesn't know.

[Hugglespuffed]

I doubt she'd be on her own by the way, they would probably add her in to a year 1 class. It is unfortunate that you aren't able to stay at home with her while others are but as a key worker you are doing a really important job. She will be so thankful one day. I bet it'll be lots of fun at school.

[WorraLiberty]

She is so little and small, I think she'd be terrified in a room with 8 and 9 year olds with teachers she doesn't know.

Actually terrified?

You know your own child obviously but they do tend to be quite resilient. She'll get to know the teacher and the other kids in no time I'm sure.

[Mynydd]

That's really tough. Can she not stay where she is?

[thirstyformore]

I'm not a key worker although my husband is. I am however working very very hard at the moment! We will be sending our kids back to school as soon as we are able to (currently been dissuaded from sending them as only one key parent).

I am feeling rather (irrationally?) irritated by those people who are either stay at home parents, or furloughed, or otherwise not affected and choosing to keep their kids at home. Totally their choice but I get wound up that we don't really have that choice (unless we want to work 12 hour days AND homeschool ).

[NotaFreeloader]

I can see why you’d be worried she might be scared but in all honestly it will probably be the opposite she will be the youngest and they will make a fuss of her it could actually be really lovely for her and nurturing

[BoujiSnail]

@WorraLiberty maybe not terrified but when I mention school she says 'back with x and y' and 'teacher!' I'm trying to slowly introduce the idea that she might not have her teacher, be in her classroom or have any of her friends there but obviously she's not keen. I just feel so guilty as she's obviously anxious and if I could send her to preschool with her little brother until September I would but unfortunately once they open the schools, preschool will expect her to go there instead.

[Trumpleton]

In my experience (teacher) older children tend to be very caring towards younger ones, it often brings out the best in them! Staff will encourage them to support each other. But yes, it is sad for her not to be having the normal school experience and relationships.

[Livingmybestliferight]

Bless you, I can imagine how you're feeling but children adjust brilliantly. They are so resilient and I bet she will just be fine. I would either expect them to put her with the older nursery kids (so nearly 4 and she would be the grown up one) or like pp said in Yr 1/2. In fact in my ds school they have mixed a variety of ages together for the keyworkers and it's worked so well some parents are asking for it not to change when more children come back! Whatever group she ends up in she will get used to it. Big kids, particularly girls, love to mother little ones. Try not to worry.

[Getitdonesharpish]

There are only six kids in at my son’s school. He is the only one from his year. They are getting looked after really well and they are all playing together. The teachers are spending all afternoon playing with them too. I hope you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

[Mulhollandmagoo]

Have you spoken with the pre-school at all? They maybe happy to keep her under the circumstances? It's definitely worth a quick phonecall to them to check, things are so odd at the minute everyone is doing anything just to tick over the next few months so you never know.

[likeafishneedsabike]

Have you seen 9 and 10 year olds interact with 4 year olds? It’s gorgeous! Both age groups get so much out of it. Bet you it will be good for her.

[BoujiSnail]

This has been very reassuring

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

TA here who has been in with key worker children. We have mixed age groups, it’s been lovely. Everyone getting on so well, children and teachers having so much fun- the bigger ones are always trying to make the little ones laugh. Lovely to get to know children in different classes. Honestly, I wouldn’t worry in the slightest.

[2bazookas]

I think she'll have a wonderful time with a mixed age group; she'll be the petted and protected littl'un , always have someone to help her and show her what to do and include her in games. It will be a wonderful socialising experience for all of them.

[WorraLiberty]

Ahh that's understandable OP.

Perhaps you could 'sell it' to her as something new and exciting?

I do think PPs are right though and the older kids will probably make a fuss over her.

[Haffdonga]

And when the others of her age start to trickle back to school, she will be the happy confident one who is already friends with the big girls and boys. She'll love it.

[Sobeyondthehills]

Not quite the same but DS went to an afterschool club when he was 5, the next youngest was 8, the kids really looked after him

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

Big kids, particularly girls, love to mother little ones. Try not to worry.

And the little ones tend to love having the bigger ones working/playing with them.

I know a couple of YrR/Yr1 kids who had a bit of a wobble on the first day when they realised it was all very different but after that they’ve all been having a brilliant time.

[nanbread]

It's really healthy for children to spend time with mixed age groups. It's wrong they are so segregated so early.

I am feeling rather (irrationally?) irritated by those people who are either stay at home parents, or furloughed, or otherwise not affected and choosing to keep their kids at home. Totally their choice but I get wound up that we don't really have that choice (unless we want to work 12 hour days AND homeschool hmm).

I see where you are coming from but to give another perspective - if everyone sent their DC back immediately it would make life much more difficult for teachers/schools, and possibly more unpleasant for the children as rules would need to be more stringent and resources stretched further.

We are quite keen to send our DC back for some intention and preparation for school, but probably won't, for the nursery's sake. They've already contacted us to say there is a cap on numbers.

[Stompythedinosaur]

I can understand feeling worried, but I imagine she will rub along with the others. My dc are in a very small school with mixed years and my 9yo often plays with the reception age kids. They seem to love it, just as she loved playing with older kids when she was in reception. I imagine the older kids will be protective towards her and will be kind.

[1Wildheartsease]

Don't worry too much OP - school will take good care of her.

Children work well together in mixed age groups (it is a convention to put them all in with one age-group but not the only - or even the best- way to educate).

She might well remember this as a very happy time in her childhood.