Literally couldn’t make it up! Any advice appreciated.

[LivingInTheTrumanShow]

DD not happy at current school - is an Estyn Outstanding out of catchment. Children are just miserable but the results are obviously great.

Decided DD happiness is worth more than anything so rang our catchment school agreed they had a place in reception. Great! Put the in year transfer request in, accepted the place.

Turn up at new school DD has been put in the reception/nursery class! Asked why this was and was told that the reception class was full!

What’s worse is the reception students in the nursery/reception class are summer born or less able!

My DD is a winter baby and very very forward, is reading and doing KS1 maths already. Is there anything I can do now? I spoke to the head who was adamant the reception class is already full, it was filled in September!

I want to move schools again asap AIBU?? or do I see how it goes and have faith that her class teacher will differentiate effectively?

You are unreasonable for summer born or less able!!

Whoa Super pushy parent! Let her be happy at school

But she's in a reception class! Don't move her again.

its fine to have moved from a school you had concerns about.

A mixed class is fine. Many kids will be 6 months older than many of their class regardless of how it's mixed. No problem.

Just to be picky OP, but Estyn does not rate schools "outstanding", there highest evaluation is "excellent".

Their not there

Kindly OP...get a grip ♥️

Why was she unhappy in her previous school? She's only 4. Aren't many children a bit unhappy when they first start school as it comes as a bit of a shock/can be tiring. If she enjoys this class (so far) then perhaps it's because nursery/reception is much more play based. If she was in the class above, perhaps she wouldn't like it.

She’s 4 don’t worry about the academic aspect

All the idea of them going to nursery/reception is to perpare them for school,
Please let her enjoy going to nursery/reception without teaching her maths, she will learn all she needs to learn when she is a bit older, Just let her be a 4 year old.

She came out of the new school saying mummy I absolutely loved it! It does feel like a really nurturing environment much more than the previous school but now I’m worried about the academic aspect.

So take her out of the shitty school that focuses on nurture, and send her back to the shitty school that concentrates on academics. Clearly you think that’s more important.

YABU. She is 4!
Leave her to settle and enjoy her school and don't be preoccupied by academics. And don't move her again! Poor kid

Oh my word she’s so young , if she’s happy who cares, she loves it. Please don’t move her again, let her settle enjoy and make friend d

You know what makes kids successful at school? Being HAPPY. She said she’s happy. Just STOP now. You got it right this time, be grateful, relieved, enjoy. Do not look for issues where there are none.

Both my children are as ridiculously bright as each other. One loved his primary school, one hated it. The first has continued to thrive, loves his secondary school, flying. The second has ended up a big mess.

Happy. HAPPY. You heard it from her.

Get s tutor to nurture her “forwardness” I’m not really sure how you know how forward she is at four with only 3 months st school? Are you testing the whole class? You are sounding a bit hysterical , I’d be more focused on why it didn’t work at the old school ???

As a teacher of 30 years experience there is no important difference between good and outstanding -they just have management that are better st massaging the offered paperwork . I’m in a school rated as “Requires improvement” but it’s really a “good “ school that hasn’t been inspected lately

Saying it firmly but kindly - deal with your anxiety

I think if she is happy she will be OK. My eldest was September born and very happy in Reception, read chapter books fluently, knew all her timetables to 12 (would practise against the year 6s at lunch time), would write long stories, write numbers out in 5s up to 1000 etc. She is still really bright and self motivated. So if she is happy and self motivated she will be fine (often eldest children are and like to please).
My youngest on the other hands… very bright, not a pleaser, completely bored in Reception, they would not stimulate her, sought negative attention constantly… not happy there. So try and work out if she is a pleaser who shows them her ability etc and is happy. If she happily shows how advanced she is on her own most good teachers actually enjoy that and encourage.

Less able? At 4? Did they sit an entrance exam?

My DD was in the mixed Reception/Year 1 class in Year 1 due to being summer born. She is now Year 6 & higher ability than many of her autumn born peers.

Fuck off with your stupid assumptions. It is 100% your fault for not checking which class your DD would in before accepting her place. How's about just letting her settle & makes friends like a normal 4 year old.

As many others have pointed out, it seems you may be over thinking this.

If I remember correctly, Montessori Elementary classes are in age groups banded over 3 years - it’s considered good for the children to teach / learn from each other - each child gets a turn at being the older one showing the younger ones how to do stuff. It can help promote confidence and leadership.

I really wouldn’t sweat this detail too much. 💜

My kids ended up in a school with composite classes and, to my surprise, it’s been brilliant. The teachers are teaching

Oh my word, I couldn't believe this one. I promise it will work itself out. The most important thing at 4 is to make friends and feel comfortable in her learning environment. I can tell you stories about my own childhood or how my DD ended up getting a full scholarship to public school, but REALLY - just give her love, let her live, breath, and make friends! Stop hot housing, its ridiculous at 4 and will only make her miserable. Plenty of time to worry with senior school, as others have said.

She’ll be doing the same EY curriculum so don’t worry. They’ll adapt work to give her challenges. The socialising is just as important as the academic aspects, so she will do well at a school she feels comfortable in. Plus children only learn effectively if they’re stress-free, so it sounds ideal.

Of course you are being beyond unreasonable.
What questions did you ask at the new school?
How have you decided she's ahead of children you do not know?
How are you aware that all the pupils at the first school are unhappy?
Regardless of when there birthday is , anytime from 1st Sept till 31st August, the majority of U.K schools take children, all 4, some for 1 day, others 364 days.Makes no real difference. All will learn the same things at there own pace.
Calm down, let her be a four your old.

This has to be a joke.

In case not, leave your dd at the school and lay off a bit. You may feel she is hugely precious and every choice matters now but honestly, if she gets to young adulthood happy and confident you will have a win.

You were right to move her to a happy school. Please don't move her again. Tell her how wonderful her new school is and then sit back and and allow her enjoy this precious time!

Assuming as the previous school was out of catchment you based your original choice on the ofsted rating? Annoying for those actually in the catchment that you took a place.