To think the teacher should listen to dd and move her?

[Mummysharkdoodoodoo]

Dd has struggled for the past 3 years with maths. She’s in year 6 and has finally started getting somewhere with the help of a lovely TA. The problem is she has 3 children on her table who also struggle and seem to distract her. They constantly talk to her and shout at her when she tells them to be quiet. She’s asked the teacher practically every day for the last week to move and they told her they have nowhere else for her to sit. She’s asked me to phone the school which I will do, but I’m shocked it’s had to come to this.

Aibu to think they should move her?

Could it be that the other children on the table also need the support of the TA and so if she moves she will no longer get that support? I think you can reasonably go and have a chat with the teacher to find out what's happening, but YABU to think the teacher should move a child just because she says she wants to be moved.

If all 4 are struggling and the TA has been put on that table to help.... then if they move your DD she will no longer have TA assistance

Moving her might not be the answer if she would then lose the TA but I would talk to the teacher about the problem.

I'm happy to be corrected but I assume that the TA isn't a one to one. It sounds like the teacher has put those children together to benefit from the TA as she is able to give extra assistance, which your daughter is benefiting from. If she's moved then the TA will need to split her time between her and the others who are struggling, so that's why the teacher may be struggling to take your daughters wishes into account.

Also whilst the talking isn't ideal it might just be that they are also trying to understand the topic. Rather than asking your daughter what she did at the weekend etc, but it's worth asking the teacher / TA about this.

YABU. They have already said they haven't got a better option. Unless you want to stop her extra help.

Oh well doesn't look like op was too bothered about opinions!

So the TA says nothing whilst they shout at her and constantly distract her? I doubt it.
She needs to stop pestering the teacher about being moved.
Feel free to chat to staff but you can’t expect them to sit every child where they want. If she’s making progress with the help of the TA then I would leave it.

she probably doesn't like the stigma of being on the bottom table for maths and is thinking up ways to get moved up

Maybe there is no where to move her to

God, I wish British schools would put kids in rows or individual tables like they do in most other countries (certainly by age 10-11). I live in a country where paired desks in rows are the norm (although these can be put into tables for specific activities). I have a couple of friends whose kids are at international schools with table seating---lots of stories of distraction and of kids who can't see the board, getting pains in the neck and spine from twisting round all the time etc.

Sorry, but the school can't do anything here, short of trying to stop the other 3 being disruptive, which I'm sure they do anyway.
It's presumably a classroom with x children and x seats. Grouped by ability with a TA (lucky you) available to help your dds table. What do you think is the solution? Make the other 3 struggling stand outside? Swap your dd with another child not of the same ability?

I wish British schools would put kids in rows

Lots of teachers do this. I did it when I had year 6 but not lower down the school. And having a group table for a teacher or TA to use is helpful as you can access all the pupils you're helping easily. But it is up to the individual teacher, the class they have, the lesson it is, the space available etc. Fortunately we've not reached such a level of classroom micro-management as to demand everyone does this, yet.

You can speak to the teacher but there are so many other factors that need to be taken into account. Be prepared for the teacher to explain why a move can't be accommodated. Arranging seating is so hard in a mixed ability classroom, you can bet the teacher has stressed over it plenty already.

I'd go and speak to the teacher. If she explains why your dd cannot be moved then you can discuss what can be done to minimise the disruption from the other children. And at least you and your dd will understandvwhy she has to sit there.

I'm assuming they are all on one table with the TA.
If so they will/should be working together as a group. The TA should be managing the behaviour of the group then.
This is how I worked in the class as a TA.

OK, fair enough, IWantChocolates, I guess there will inevitably be individual variation among teachers about classroom layouts!

All the other children are talking and distracting her? Are you sure or is this her interpretation of the situation? I used to find that usually if a group was chatty everyone was involved!