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.

If it’s of any reassurance OP, the group (also about 11-12) children of Key Workers at my school - one is preschool class one is reception, then jumps to 2 year 2s and the rest are across KS2. They’re all getting along well - the older ones are looking after the little ones well. It’s almost like they’ve formed a club I’ve been told (I’m a furloughed HLTA but my class teacher is in on shifts) and the littlies have really started looking up to the older ones and want to be like them. It’s not ideal but I’m sure your DD will be ok 💐

My husband was the only kid in his year for almost 4 years at the start of primary. There were only 12 of them in the whole school at one point including dh and his sisters. He was fine and ended up ahead in maths.

Mixed age groups have been shown to be really beneficial to all. I think it would be a lovely way for such a young child to start big school. So much attention and it will massively boost her confidence.

other people keeping their kids at home makes it safer for yours as there are fewer contacts. more evidence is coming out from other countries gradually so it is likely to change again in future when we know more details.

It is difficult the poor mite. She might enjoy the older DC there.

@BoujiSnail
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

I think quite a few PP have mentioned it, but I think she will get so much special attention from bigger kids, she will love it. My DD (11) and DS (15) have loved the service hours they have put in with LOs at their schools! It made everyone happy!

In US. Son was very proud to come home and show me the paper Thanksgiving "Turkey Hat" made out of construction paper with two (energetic!) little friends.
And after this is over....Babysitter pool jackpot!!!

I think it could be really positive for your dd. In September she will be considered cool for knowing much older kids.

Although school is unnaturally regimented with age (everyone in the class is born in an arbitrary 12 month span), in real life most kids play with older or younger kids all of the time and it's good for all the kids to have a variety aged friends to play with.

Whilst my kids aren’t back in school at the moment, and aren’t in the first groups due back, my kids attend dancing where they are often in mixed groups, especially when we do shows such as panto. 6-7 weeks with 6 children, ages ranging (generally) from 6/7 to 12/13 and they always have a great time and build lasting friendships,

Another that is working with children and agrees your dd will be well looked after and likely indulged as the youngest out of a small mixed age group at school. I hope you don’t worry about her too much in that respect, you really don’t need to.

Even if parents don’t send their children in straight away, or haven’t agreed to send their children in yet, I think by the time June 1st is here, and then probably not long after that, your child’s year group will start to fill more. There are lots of people that still want to wait and see before they decide.

My child in reception will be in this situation too OP. The only child in that class attending. It seems all the other mums are able to stay home, all in different situations of course, but it seems I’m the only one who will have to work!

Me and my DH are both NHS key workers but my job isn’t front line/critical (his is) and so I’ve chosen to take unpaid leave until now. I hate to think of school becoming a scary, foreign place when my DC has always absolutely adored it befire. A lot of the kids going are much older and in the vulnerable category and have behavioural issues. My DC tried it for a day and hated it. The likelihood is that my DC will just stay in the key worker ‘bubble’ since there will be no other children In reception going.

I’m dreading the 1st June.... but I can’t afford unpaid leave for much longer. I’m sure my DC is more resilient than I give them credit for and will cope... but what I can’t understand is why should a 5 year old have to be the one to ‘man up’ in this situation??! It’s not fair. So we will probably take a loan out and keep them out of school till at least one other child in reception is going back.

I keep feeling angry towards the other parents (unfairly I know) but I just keep wanting to say
”WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? What will be different in September? We still won’t have a vaccine or herd immunity!!” I’m hoping the promise to test anyone over 5 will encourage more parents to send kids back tbh.

And...before COVID.

The LOs all lined up on the way to lunch or art, music, etc.. They were very quiet, but high-fiving my DS/DD on their way to lunch...super special. Well-behaved because they wanted to impress their teacher and the "big kids." You could tell everyone felt so important and bonded.

Best!

@thirstyformore exactly how I feel.

OP, my reception age child was going to after school club 4 days a week before lockdown. She told me she loved playing with the older kids.

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

Our school have the P6s apply to be a buddy for the nursery kids starting school next year. Every year they have more boys applying than girls.

@Knobblybobbly
I’m sure my DC is more resilient than I give them credit for and will cope...

^ This is what I'm learning. Children are so much more resilient.

Mine are older. I can sympathize. I can't predict what this will look like three months' time. Ours go back mid-August (US).

I am hearing a lot of guilt. You are not ruining school for your child! I know - even a day that your DC hates anything - school, camp, birthday party - and we have our backs up!

Maybe expect a few tears at first (it's new!)...and then expect to hear a lot of (older) students' names as favorite playmates.

Positive waves!

4yo DD2 is the littlest in breakfast club and she LOVES it. When I drop her off, all the bigger boys and girls come and gather her up to play with them, and on days when she's not at breakfast club her favourite thing is to say hi to all of her friends who are "big boys and girls, Mummy" as we walk through the playground.

Honestly, your DD will be fine, and when the other classes fill up she'll have friends throughout the school she'll know from this period.

@BoujiSnail my DS has been going to school over lockdown, he has just turned 5 last month. He has been the only early years most days, he’s made friends with lots of the other year groups. One of his now “best” friends as he calls him is in Year 6! He loves it, he’s got friends spread across the school now!! He has got to know different teachers and he’s been very excited to be in other year group classes in the school.
We had a few wobble days at the offset of it all when he wasn’t sure, this was to be expected as he had gone from having 60 in early years to well just him... but honestly don’t worry I think she will be fine

My children went to a very small primary school with all pupils sharing the same small playground, older children, particulary the girls always took the reception children under their wings, i am sure she will be fine.

but I get wound up that we don't really have that choice (unless we want to work 12 hour days AND homeschool hmm).

That’s what we’ve been doing in Ireland from the start of lockdown, and what we will continue to do until schools open back up in September. 🤷🏻‍♀️

We have to just get on with it really!

8 and 9 yo are great with younger kids.
Tell your kid the truth so she knows the situation will be different and she comes mentally prepared.

I am a childminder and the older ones definitely want to take care and look after the younger ones.

I have older children who play with bathe younger ones and they love it get to play the games they aren’t supposed to like anymore ( in their minds) . My own D’s was in a mixed class one year it really helped him mature. Lots of positives.

I've been in a hub school for key workers recently and the small numbers of children and adults in have made it a very calm and pleasant place to be. Children are able to choose their activities and it's all very relaxed.

I know it sounds worrying, but I bet you that within a couple of days she’ll be the spoilt class mascot and the older ones will compete on who is allowed to help her :)

We had a letter from our school about their plans in the event they can open on June 1st. They’ve put a lot of effort into preparing and they’re better equipped to deliver this than other schools (private sector in the country so class sizes are already around 15, lots of outdoor space etc.) but it still sounds incredibly grim. They plan to space children out in socially distanced seating. Restrict play to one playground per class etc. We’re not in a position to send back this year but otherwise I would have until I got that letter. I’d rather have my children at home that have them in that kind of environment.

My 4 yrs old has been the only reception kid in since the beginning of all this. He is a very shy little thing, honestly this has done him a world of good, he has become more confident socially and academically and loves his new big friends x