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?

@LivingInTheTrumanShow

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.

Your dd is in year Y R for heaven's sake. She will not suffer academically by being the eldest in a mixed early years class. Let her be ffs

There really doesn’t need to be an academic aspect at this age. She just needs to have fun.

I’m worried about the academic aspect.
Your child is 4. A baby who is actually under the legal age for starting school.
She has told you she is happy and loves the school, take hold of that with both hands and be thrilled about it.

If there is more than one form per grade, it’s better practice to mix the forms each year. Size discrepancies due to transfers, gender ratios, student on student conflicts, evenly dividing difficult students, and making new friends are all good reasons to do so. Your daughter will be fine. Read with her every night, and make sure she can put on her own coat and boots. The latter is a key skill for recess and home time at four.

@LivingInTheTrumanShow

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.

Just leave her there OP. Honestly.

You shouldn't be worrying about academics for a 4 year old. Read with her at home. Look up fun maths related activities online - there are tons. Be grateful that she is actually happy at school.

I'd give her time.

Shes only been at the new school a very short time.

Ask what the plan is for next year but shes only 4. It's more important at this age that she enjoys going to school.

or do I see how it goes and have faith that her class teacher will differentiate effectively?

Yes. It’s their job. Would you put your car in for new tyres then hang about the garage watching incase the mechanic doesn’t know how to do his job? No. This is the exact reason I’m quitting teaching this year. I teach reception and I can’t take anymore of parents thinking they could do it so much better. They seem to think I only have one child in the class to teach/look after. They have absolutely no idea 🤦🏼‍♀️ Leave your child there, she won’t notice any age difference. At that age it’s more about mixing with children, playing, learning turn taking, manners, social skills etc. Yes ‘differentiation’ is important, but play and a child being happy/settled is way more important

What matters is that they are happy going in to school every day, that’s all.

So sad that parents want to push academia on four year olds! In many countries kids don't even start school until age 6 or 7. They should NOT be pushed in an academic style in reception, it should all be play based learning.

I was expecting much more for my money from a “literally couldn’t make it up” thread 🤣

What a disappointment.

Reception age child placed in Composite RECEPTION CLASS shocker 🤣

Maybe you could tutor her for GCSEs in the evenings just in case she falls behind?

Poor child.

She's 4.
Prioritise her happiness.
She will learn just fine.

Leave her be, for pity's sake! She's four- no wonder she enjoys the free-flow nursery style provision. She'll be fine.

Getting shades of this…

She is 4 years old. Leave her be. Seriously, you are being the sort of parent that people on here go to the stately homes thread about.

Leave her.

Schools with composite classes move the kids around once they see how the kids are doing and which class they'd be better suited to.

take it from a parent who's child struggles and never reallly settled into school despite lots of support. The NUMBER 1 priority is happiness and enjoying school.
A child can not learn effectively if they are unhappy. No amount of academic achievement will make up for a sad/ unhappy school life.

She says she is happy and loves her new school. this means moving her was the right call. Take the win and be glad you made that decision.

She will be learning - every part of reception and nursery day is learning. Learning to socialise, learning to play, learning to share, learning to put on coat. The most effective academic learning is also done through play at this age.

And the teachers will recognise all of her strengths and the things she finds challenging over the term and they will support this accordingly.

I understand you overthinking things through as its what we parents do xx

I taught reception for years.
Many many times the summer born children were the most able and the oldest the least able. Age alone isn’t a factor. Some summer born children are ready for reception and some aren’t.

Decided DD happiness is worth more than anything

That's whay you say, yet everything else in your post suggests it is secondary to your ambition for her.

Your DD is only four. If she really is 'very very forward' then with the right support she'll do brilliantly regardless of which class she's put into aged four or five. Relax.

Your child only did a couple of months at the first school. Was it not a bit soon to withdraw and move to another one? Lots of children take a while to settle in.

But it sounds as if you're happier with the new school, so that's okay then.

I’m sure she’ll be fine.

What did you expect to happen though? Someone else to get kicked out of their class into the nursery/YR class to make room for her? Did you not look at the school and realise there were mixed age classes before applying?

.

Composite classes all the way through the village schools around here so I really think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.