Did your child's behaviour change when they started school?

[kombuchaaaa]

Just that really? My child attends nursery where it's a bit of a free for all and he's used to very lively rumbunctuous play. (Not entirely happy with nursery but that's another story). At school do things change?

The text in your op is a different question from your title.

Does behaviour change?
Almost all dc find the Autumn Term of Reception exhausting, and, as such, can get grumpy. Even the ones who have been in Nursery for 5 much longer days a week. Some settle quickly, some find it hard early on, but usually there are tears in December. It is always a long term.

Re the curriculum and structure of the day. In theory school Reception classes are asked to deliver the same curriculum - the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) as Nurseries. In practice, it is very different in most schools. Even the schools that aim to deliver EYFS as it is intended (child led / free flow / access to things they choose to do / lots of outdoor play) it is going to be very different because

• buildings are very different
• they will be expected to move into the hall for things like assembly, PE, and school dinners
• ratios will jump from 1:8 to 2:30 (IF they have a FT TA in Reception)
• the Reception Teacher will be under pressure to have the children 'ready' for the National Curriculum starting in Yr 1

One thing parents often miss is access to the staff - the regular updates on Tapestry or whatever your Nursery use, and the daily handovers rather than sending out the class to parents all stood back in the playground

Ds stopped calling us Mummy and Daddy and went to Mum and Dad pretty much straight away.

Yes behaviour does change. My child was a late starter to nursery, but as she started late.. she was used to age appropriate learning at home so it was a bit like jumping back to baby group for her.
When she started school in September, I think she gladly welcomed the more structured day. Her behaviour slightly changes based on which child/children she is spending the most time with that day/week but other than that it's all positive changes.. and definitely child dependant.

Yes, it sounds like you are asking two different things. School doesn't change overall behaviour. A child who likes to play rough or doesn't have many boundaries, can't play nicely, etc. won't magically be changed by school. Though obviously school will have different behavioural expectations, so children often conform at school and then let it out at home. So it's much more about boundaries and expectations in the home than at school.

As for behavioural changes, they can be really emotional and tricky when they first start. It's a big change. They are tired. The above expectations to 'be good' at school mean the frustration and energy and emotions come out when they get home. I found the first term and a bit was tricky for both of mine (who are actually not high energy, loud, rambunctious generally speaking, both quite reserved and quiet).