Primary child sat only with non-English speaking children

No way would I be happy with this!

Most likely your daughter is a good kid who will help them and set a great example. But her school experience is important too.

No it doesn’t. Most migrant children to the UK in 2024 have no or limited English when they arrive (children from South Asia are the exception to this). Social fluency usually takes about 2 years and academic fluency around 5-7. EAL children have the same range of abilities as everyone else - some will be extremely fast to learn English, most will follow the above pattern and some take far longer because they have SEN (which often is masked because of the language barrier).

Yes that's what I meant

It's not that different to when they always put my child next to the naughty kids. It's different of course but it's not to your daughters advantage really, it's for someone else

I’d be asking for her to be moved and when you do it make sure you tell the teacher that the other kids are speaking to each other in their native language. I would have thought that the non English speakers should be separated to encourage them to improve their language skills .

My daughter sat next to a boy to "encourage him to behave." This was the teachers actual reasoning. I was actually fuming. It's not my daughters responsibility to encourage unruly boys into behaving. They were 8 at the time, she's very academic, and she was distracted constantly throughout the day. I did email in to complain, and she was moved the same day, and the child moved to the table in front of the teacher so she could then keep her eye on him, like it should of been in the first place.

I’m an EAL teacher and this set up does not sound great practice for anyone. EAL children need to have opportunities to hear and talk with children who are fluent speakers and that can’t all be placed on one child. Ideally you’d have a mix of those who are in the early stages and those who are first language or fluent on every table. Sometimes you might want to bring together your newer arrivals to do some targeted teaching, but that should only be for a short period. I’d also be recommending making sure that children are regularly changing who they sit next to so that those children who are good at supporting their peers don’t become resentful at also being expected to help others.

OP, I would have a chat with the teacher to find out what the situation is and ask if they can ensure your DD is able to spend time sitting/working with a range of children in the class.

Because that might not be what is best for the OP's daughter.

I wouldn't necessarily complain but mention to the teacher that DD is a bit worried and you don't want her to feel isolated. That you are sure as teachers there's a plan in place but you just wanted to mention it so teacher is aware

It’s probable that the non-English speakers are working to her ability (or beyond) in maths and written english and that’s the reason. It takes immigrant non-english speaking children about a month to catch up as they can speak English just not UK/Irish English. Then they usually overtake.

Is it your DD or yourself that is worried that they may be isolated or end up helping the other kids at her table ??

Chances are the kids will be all moved around again around half-term or there will be students swapped around when the teacher realises some need kids to be separated, etc.

And your DD has lunchtimes, etc to catch up with her friends.

Would depend on the dynamics for me - but if it was making her unhappy, I'd be talking to school about it. It kind of happened to DD2 last year - she ended up on a table with 3/5 of the kids on there being Cantonese speakers. It worked out OK because 2 of the kids palled up (kind of natural if there's someone there who speaks the same first language as you and nothing against the kids), but the other kids did still interact with DD, and I had confidence in the class teacher that she was keeping an eye on the dynamic in that corner.

I haven't read what everyone else has said, but I would honestly let her stay where she is. The esl kids will pick up English very quickly, and she'll expand her social group and get to know kids from different backgrounds. I don't think this is necessarily about her being a teacher's aid, more of a learning experience for your dd.

Ireland poster here also.

Unless there’s something unusual going on the tables will be mixed up after Halloween so I wouldn’t be stressing right now. If that didn’t happen I’d go in and speak to the teacher then.

I agree with @Werweisswohin - she's not there for other children's benefit re language , so talk to teacher about it.

I’d raise it (politely) and ask. Had an issue when DD was sat just with a load of naughty boys (who she found distracting and upsetting) and her teacher told me it was because she was a “civilising influence”. Sadly well behaved kids, often girls, frequently have their own needs overlooked because they are not the one causing problems.

What a daft response.

'Academic and not prone to moaning'....she sounds a lovely student. Thats why she has been sat where she is - so she can help the other kids. If she was disruptive the teacher would have moved her elsewhere.

It's not ideal but I'd tell her to just focus on her own schoolwork. She shouldn't need to be mentoring her classmates.

Teachers can't possibly do what's best for every single pupil though - sometimes parents do need to speak up.

The thread is about OP's child. It is not about you. Why so much hostility. You are replying like you're her child's teacher and taking personal offence.

"Another case of parents butting their nose in without knowing the facts or class dynamics!"

Unless you are her child's teacher, you're doing the same thing.

I’d be complaining about this straight away OP. Why should your daughter not have people on her table who can speak her language, while others do? It’s not fair.

Why not let the teacher do her job and decide where it is best to sit everyone?