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?

It's the opposite here. I'm a teacher and deferred my child until 5.5 years, best decision. Parents here all want to defer to give their child the best chance. Next year govt changed legislation so all children start school at 5. My niece, living in Germany, started this year (about to turn 7) and is thriving, bilingual, very academic. If dc loves school now don't move because of academics. Teachers have to differentiate. Comp classes are usually smaller and more in line with private school class sizes.

Your child has just started her school journey. I’m going to raise an assumption that throughout her school journey, there will be other children less able than her also some more able than her. There will be some younger and also older than her in EVERY class she is in, forever.
This is not something to stress about but , as her parent learn to accept it as the way forward.
She will never be the most important child in every class to her teachers - no class should be structured to fit around your child alone.
She’s happy & loved it - be happy for her to find her happiness.

Is this a small school that mix their years ? So is it reception / year 1 and nursery / reception? Honestly the more play the better, don't rush her, if she's bright she will find ways to learn. Most important is her happiness, you don't loose clever.

@LivingInTheTrumanShow

It’s really not. It’s bad isn’t it?

No it really isn't. Your child is 4 not 14.

Why are you all bothering to comment. I am unable to find a response from OP to any of you kind folk!

If it were my daughter I would keep her where she is most comfortable socially- reception is to get socialised- but since she is quite bright I’d also hire a tutor to play learning games with her to keep her stimulated. From what I have seen in state primaries, teachers generally teach to the lowest common denominator so she’s likely to be bored

My boy is in reception and they frequently mix his class with the nursery children. It will be fine.

My goodness OP. Your child is 4.

Let your child be. This level of anxiety about school will rub off on your child , which could be far more damaging than a few younger children in her class.

You're lucky to even get a place in Reception anywhere let alone catchment (ICS rules).

In what way did she not settle ?

She came out of school and said 'mummy I absolutely love it' - at 4yrs old - the thread is nonsense.

@Bluntness100

Oh dear op, you need to try to calm down. You can’t be doing this to her, I was very surprised when i realised you were talking about a reception aged child and not a much older one.

This, OP. For goodness’ sake take a deep breath and look at yourself. How are you qualified to judge that the ‘students’ (they’re 4 fgs!) in the class are less able?

You are worried about the academia of a four year old? We all have pride in our children to a degree, but pushing the genius/skilled/talented route is rarely of benefit. If you feel she's gifted or talented source supporting classes/tutors/activities outwith the school. Leave her be to settle, find her feet and make friends. Often parents forget primary school in the first few years is primarily social and emotional development. Continually moving her on a whim is only teaching her to quit and move at the slightest hurdle. We all want the best for our children but you are getting alot of flack here because you've implied (no actually written down in black and white) a mixed reception has 'less able children' , which you couldn't possibly know unless you are administering ks1 maths tests at the gate.
Give it the full term let her settle and blossom socially and if you/she are still unhappy then I suppose you can move her before she goes on to school, but listen closely to her if she 'absolutely loved it' I'd not be sacrificing her social and well rounded happiness, for your desire for gifted education.

So she was in a school just a couple of months and you moved her. It always takes a while to settle in… Poor thing doesn’t know if she’s coming or going.

For your DD's sake, you need to relax. It will all work itself out in time.

What is wrong with 'summer babies'?!
My two are May and July and in university now.
Shes 4... she has 14 more years of compulsory education. Chill out and stop changing schools. Let her make friends and get on.
These are your social climbing anxieties, not hers, so don't let her suffer.

It depends on how the school handles children with different abilities in same class. Our school, without broadcasting it have "3 tables with names of animals where its never mentioned that the children ' tigers' are less able than ' penguins' as an example. Teachers know but mo one else. The children who needs more help get help by having a classroom assistant who sits with them and helps. She may also go help other tables but is assugned with helping those who needs it most. The more forward children also get more work so they don t get bored. Before you panic and take her out, find out what they do in your daughters new school. Perhaps ahe can be moved up in a years time also?

My youngest has been in composite classes since Reception. He is now in Yr5. It has made no difference to him and in fact he enjoys helping the younger children!

Perhaps the reason why your DD was unhappy in school was because it was a little too fast for her. It could be that starting another school in a lower class might give her the confidence she needs and ability to make friends.

Being an older Mum of 4 now grown up children (one of which was extremely gifted and another who has a learning disability) I can honestly say you have nothing to worry about. Any child that has higher ability and is eager to learn will thrive, and if there are children with a lower ability in the class they will learn about empathy and diversity.
I would however, check things out more thoroughly for secondary education. I have had problems with my high achiever becoming bored and also my child with LD not being catered for, and unable to cope with bullying. If your child learns that some children are not as able, they have learnt a very important life lesson. Negative comments on here are not helpful. We all panic and make snap decisions we later regret at times. Even big ones.
Good luck

Probably better not to move her again. There is a lot of good evidence that older kids in a year group do better than average. At your daughter’s age feeling happy and confident at school is absolutely the most important thing.

At the age of 4 there will be a huge variation in every class (almost certainly also in the class you expected she would go into). There will be kids who are barely toilet trained and kids who are reading comfortably. A good teacher will make sure that your daughter gets the materials she needs. Do lots of reading with her at home, and if you feel she isn’t getting the 4 year old “academics” she needs, just have a word at the next parents’ evening.

I’m sorry people have been sometimes a little unpleasant to you. It is important that you always advocate for your child and you are doing nothing wrong in doing that. It is also important that you trust her: and she has told you that it is lovely. That’s probably all you need to know at this stage.

I'd be more worried about her home environment! You sound toxic, regardless where the child is, it seems it won't meet your unrealistic expectations.
Go seek help and and have a good look at yourself- you're projecting!!