One form entry or two? Posting for traffic

[Atl2018]

My daughter is extremely shy and in large groups becomes quite withdrawn however, once she has warmed up (this could be after a few hours or visits) she is okay but she is still very quiet.
We are thinking about school placements for Sept 2023 and looking at the options at the moment.
We have choice of a one form entry (for the seven year Primary school time) or 2 or 3 form entry.

I am torn between the two. I worry if she is in a one form entry that she will get used to those other 29 children, make those friendships and then really struggle to branch out later on. Or she may allow those children to speak for her in school.
I am a teacher in the one form entry school (currently it is not one form entry) and I have children who are in KS2 who are still reluctant to talk and are incredibly quiet and nervous and I don't want this for her.
I accept she will probably always be quite quiet etc.

Or the other option is a 2 or 3 form entry mixed year (unsure which at the moment) which would mean she would mix each year and have to branch out.

Please could you let me know your experiences if you have had a quiet/shy child and how they have got on/are getting on?
Thank you in advance

Does the 2-3 form entry definitely mix the classes up each year? My son is in a 4-form entry primary school and has been with the same group of 30 kids throughout. That was the same for my daughter (although it was only 3-form entry for her year group).

They have mixed years so each year would be back with the same as the previous year if that makes sense.
So year 1/2 would be the same mix when she was in year 4 and year 6. I think they do also mix up the kids too though

I'd go for a school with with only one year group being taught in a class over a mixed year group class.

I'd be looking more at the Reception class set up... for example mine was due to start in one with a free flow Reception/nursery unit with up to 100 children mixing at a time. Fortunately we moved as she was selectively mute and sensitive to noise.

DDs have actually been to 5 Primary schools now and my preferred option is a 2 form entry which mixes classes if they need to, but leaves them alone if the balance is good.

My daughter was so shy when she was younger. I chise 2 form entry for this reason and it has been the making of her. She has had a number of class mix ups and it doesn't phase her at all now, she talks to anyone and everyone and has experience of a number of different teachers. She is so much more confident in herself and I know when she moves up schools she will be fine. Another consideration to think about is that in a 1 fprm entry school of there are major problems eg bullying there is no where to move children and they will constantly be on the same class.

I'd go for a two or three form entry. With a one form entry, you will be looking at a pool of about 14 other little girls for your DD to make friends with (assuming that your DD will prefer to play with other girls, which most do). That's quite a small pool to choose from. I think a larger year group offers more scope for finding friends, especially as many schools allow very permeable classes in the infants section and treat the whole year group as one unit.

I'd avoid 3 form entry - it will always be a school for her where she doesn't know all the adults, possibly won't even know her way round the building until she gets to upper KS2. 2 form and 1 form schools can both feel secure and like a big family in my experience. But I think there are many other factors around the ethos which matter more. Somewhat counter-intuitively, I'd be looking for a busy/lively school environment full of chatty happy children rather than something which is very quiet and calm when you look round.