To consider moving school?

[Purplehaze34]

My Ds is in a very small class at school, there are only three other boys in his class to play with. It’s a village school and I felt the small classes were good to start with.

Two of the boys in his class have a close friendship so ds is good friends with the (one other) boy. The boy is very bossy with ds though and ds has found it hard sometimes, it worries me also that there is such a small friendship mix. They are now in Year 2 but how it will be in the future is what concerns me.

The little boy’s mother is also a bit strange.When ds was off with a stomach bug once she kept messaging to say that her ds ‘couldn't function’ without my ds. She also tries to find out information when they do FaceTime (I can hear her asking her ds to ask questions in the background).

AIBU to think of moving ds to a different school?

I'd say definitely move if you're not happy with the situation, it's so many years to spend somewhere you don't think there's an option of him having a range of normal every day friendships

Would the new school be much different?

If so then yes, because the lack of diversity for a start would bother me but if the new school is going to be similar, I'm not sure I'd bother. I'd probably just accept that, that's what comes with the area I live in.

I could have written parts of your post and considering exactly the same thing. My ds is year 4 and is in an even smaller class. I was really pleased with such a small class size when he was younger but now I’m starting to think that it’s not doing him any favours for when he starts secondary school.

I will look back at this thread tomorrow and add more but am really tired now!

In terms of being concerned about this particular boy, YANBU. If you are concerned about moving on to secondary school when he is older, I wouldn't worry about that so much. Small schools are usually well aware of the issues and will prepare for transition with that in mind.

When I moved to my current location from London everyone was 'oh lovely small village schools'. Not a bit of it. Most were inadequate (or whatever the rating was then) and far too small class sizes. We went for a much bigger school a half hour drive away and my kids thrived.
If theres a better option with more opportunities to make friends then move him.

I would change in a heartbeat if you can.
We moved when dd was moving into year 5. There are plenty of small village schools here. We went for the large town primary. Dd made firm friends with 4 girls she went up to secondary with. 56 out o the 60 in her year went to the same school. Year 8 now and thriving.

OP it sounds smothering. Move because it probably won't get any better. Move house even 😳

Are there girls in his class? I teach Y2 and boy-girl friendships are common. Could you encourage him to make some new friends?