To worry about DS being out in a class without any of his friends

[Ntsure]

They have mixed year group classes so every year the classes get shuffled up.
They say they try to keep friendship groups together etc
DS has made a close group friends and within that one child who is his absolute best friend, 4 kids in total in the friendship group and all of them except DS are being put in the same class next year and he's in a class without any of the children from his current class.
What is the point in reception and having them settle in and make friends just to split them up?
And no it's not a group of boys that get into trouble or anything like that they are all pretty well behaved and my DS def isn't a trouble maker at school he's very much a rule follower and well behaved etc and his teachers have said as much too. Him and his best friend are lovely together and bring out the best in each of her as far as I can see and it seems such a shame.
I feel like al lathe other children from the friendship group will remain friends and my DS will be left out.
I know he will probably make new friends but then he'd possibly get split up from them again next year, isn't a big part of school forming friendships?

For to add, he's in reception and going into year 1, but the classes change every year

Most reception classes have free flow activities where children from all of the different classes mix together. I would imagine your son has been seen playing with children from other classes so the teachers can see who else he plays with. Also, some Year R friendships are suffocating and can harm one child's development. Careful thought and planning usually goes into these changes, so it's best not to worry about it.

This has happened to DD. Only 12 children were swapped though. I don't know what they based it on. So now she is only with 5 others from her class, 2 of which aren't kind to DD and none of whom are her friends 😪. I don't think they will change it now though as they have had transition day and it would be unfair to up root another child now.

Ask them why. There's two options here:

1. They've done this for a reason - and that reason will almost certainly be to benefit your DS. It could be because they think the other students aren't good for him or he'd benefit from coming out of his shell more. It could be to do with the space or structure of the other classroom. It could be that the other class teacher is a specialist in something relating to your DS (like eyesight problems or struggling with writing his numbers correctly etc). If Option 1 is the case then they can explain the decision to you and you can decide whether you agree that this benefit outweighs not being with his friends - and/or they can move one or some of the other boys across too or make some changes.


2. They've done this for no reason - so they'd be pretty likely to facilitate a change or a swap if you ask and discuss it with them because if they've done this for no reason and your DS would benefit from being in the other class then they're unlikely to resist.

I see where you're coming from. My DS is 3 and has a "best friend" and others that he talks about and adores. I'd be really upset if they were separated and so would DS - even though DS is very confident and makes friends very easily. Just talk to the school and find out the reason why.

The same happened here, around the same age. 9 pupils, predominantly boys, moved into the next form based on birthdays. Additionally, the majority in the class that didn't move, also continued to have 'lovely teacher they'd had since reception'.

For about 6 weeks, it was tough, tears at bedtime tough.

DC did make 2 slightly older new friends in that class though, and it helped as the pattern went on with splitting the forms when different numbers moved up a class to leave the gap for the next children to join. Sat with former best friends at lunch etc, and still have a good relationship that's sometimes close, sometimes less so.

Make the most of parents' evening or meet the teacher days. Ask who your DC plays with (not just 'who are their friends' - whether the teachers know straight off is quite illuminating) and how they are encouraged to integrate with the existing group.

This happened to my daughter in reception going to Yr 1. It honest did her the world of good. She formed better friendships and the friendships she'd made in reception were better too. Don't forget this is just for learning time, most schools will have play time/breaks altogether.

They may have been a bit more of a distraction whilst learning than you realised. In our school they won't move children if you speak to them, if one parent did this then it would open the flood gates.

I would suggest you just prepared your son, encourage other friendships etc. It doesn't mean he will never see his group of friends ever again!

I think it would be less of a concern if it wasn't for the fact that all the 3 other boys have been out into the same class together and it's idiot ds who hasn't been (the 2 reception classes get split into 3 classes and mixed with year 1)
it just feels really unfair for him and like he's going to end up being pushed out of his friendship group because he's the only one not there