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?

I don't understand this at all. Can you explain it a bit more?

Just to clarify that she started reception less than 3 months ago and has already moved school?

the OP said she moved her dd because her dd was unhappy

Half a term is very little time to determine a 4yo is unhappy enough that the only solution is to switch schools

Your child probably isn’t gifted and talented (or whatever the current term is). She has been pushed. From an early age. Let her relax. Let her learn at her own pace through play. Let her experience the learning environment, free flow, with a teacher present to guide her play. Dear God!!!!! Stop teaching her KS1 maths.

Really?

the reception students in the nursery/reception class are summer born or less able

That's the bad thing. The 'less able' bit.

How would you know kids are ‘less able’?

“Differentiate effectively”? You’ve moved her twice and she’s not even 5. Jesus wept, your poor kid.

@whyarentiskinnyet

Is this a wind up?

Just coming on here to ask the same. It has to be surely. I am a parent, of a lovely summer born, who has fought for over 13 years for summer-born children to be able to start in reception (now the 1st proper year of school) at compulsory school age, rather than starting a year early, and here you are. All my dreams come true and you are complaining.

You changed your kids school cos she wasn’t happy? 2 terms in ..

She’s 4 what if she doesn’t like school at all? Homeschool?
Kids aren’t in charge take some responsibility and teach her she can’t leave everything if she don’t fancy it.

I cant understand why this wasn't made painfully clear to you before the move OP - have you explained to the Head that had you known this you wouldn't have accepted the place? And as other posters have mentioned, it may be they have a reshuffle in September 2022 for year 1 - perhaps that will be your lifeline?

I too think you are getting a hard time on here, although your OP wasn't best worded, I moved my kids in primary (year 1 and 3 at the time) because they weren't happy and I got merry fucking hell from other parents, lots of nudging in the park saying "THERE she is, its HER". I think you might have made a mistake so early on though, so best see if you can make the best of the situation you are in. I think if you are going to make mistakes with schools this is the age to do it, but don't compound it by moving her again.

I don't think I would have changed schools on the say so of a 4 year old saying they were unhappy after only half a term. I would have given it longer to see if things improved once she had settled and found her feet. You need to let her stay at the new school.

@RaisinFlapjack

the OP said she moved her dd because her dd was unhappy

Half a term is very little time to determine a 4yo is unhappy enough that the only solution is to switch schools

I moved dc1 fairly quickly at this age because there was a lot of shouting and screaming and hitting going on which I observed when picking up at odd times such as for doctor appointments, and dc was coming out every day pale and stressed, so sometimes you just know, and quickly!!

OP I think you are getting harsh replies. It is difficult to navigate schools sometimes.

I’m with you OP. I’d probably move again before she settles. It’s not your fault, the school should have explained the situation to you.

What does your daughter want to do?

do you always bow down to her every whim, shes been at school for like 3 weeks whats the problem

You dislike the old school because they achieve great results but the children are miserable. You dislike the new school because the class your 4 year old is in won't be teaching her KS1 maths. Can't you see the contradiction there? The school where they were teaching her that made her miserable and it's quite likely the two things are connected!

You say her happiness is worth more than anything. If that's true you should wait and see if she is happy at the new school before even thinking about moving her again. What is absolutely certain is that being repeatedly moved from school to school will not make her happy.

She is 4 years old. She has all the time in the world to start the National Curriculum. Let her enjoy being a small child in her new school and start making new friends. That's much more important than being advanced for her age.

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.

advice? chill the hell out and let your child settle

Composite classes aren't always the less able, it may be in general that in say a year 1/2 class it will be the older year ones and the younger year twos BUT there will be some mixing of abilities in both sets to even things out for the teaching staff in my experience. Also the EYFS is pretty similar across Nursery and Reception, with a little more expectation in Reception on set work, as don't forget some of those children in Reception will never had been to a pre-school.

@ThisIsNotSocialDistancing

My DD (summer born) was in composite classes with younger children throughout primary. She's now at Cambridge.

Mine did similarly well, learning through play is much much better for them, I wish mine could have all stayed in the play based room until they were 6!

She came out of the new school saying mummy I absolutely loved it!

Well there is your answer, leave her where she is.

I'm so confused😂

I would give her time to settle in and if she's happy don't worry. Teacher will recognise different capabilities and adjust accordingly. You can request next year she isn't in a mixed class.