Pissed off Reception classes being split

[Irritatedmum]

There are two classes in each year at my DDs school. She’s had her transition day today (moving to year 1) and has come home absolutely devastated that they’re mixing up the classes - and she’s being split from her friends. All of them. She’s devastated, I’m so upset her her. I don’t understand the reasoning for doing it (they didn’t when my oldest moved from reception) and why she’s being split from her friends. Is this a normal thing? I’ve emailed the school.

There have been years where this has caused many tears in my experience of primary school.. 3 kids... not least the year DS1 was placed with his bully which I complained about onky to be told there was nothing the school was prepared to do, later to find out that they moved another child... it was terrible. Another year.. school put all of the sporty boys apart from one, in one class... the left out kid spent the entire year being miserable.

There are 2 years in each class at my kids primary (very small!) So as they move up the mix constantly changes.

I would trust the teaching staff tbh - I’m sure you find that different levels and subjects will be grouped together at different times, and it does all work out.

I work in a school and we mix the classes every year. As we remind the dc, good friends don't always equal good learning partners. It's good for them to expand their friendships too.

This is the first time school has done this at ours

if schools much do it. Tell the parents so they can let kids know

Mine have all been split, one of whom from all his mates, they do see each other at break, even though it seems devastating at the time, they do cope in the end. I was gutted for my son but he was fine after a week or so.

I’ve worked in a school office for many years and I would absolutely say contact the school. They may not have any idea that it is affecting your child like this. It happened to my daughter in Y1 and I can honestly say it affected her friendship groups for several years. Most schools should not mind looking at this again.

Our head refused to move any children

In my experience most schools don't tell the parents to stop the 50 e-mails saying "my Johnny can't possible be split from his best friend" with the expectation that the carefully planned class grouping will be changed for them. With three kids we have had both good and bad experiences with this over the years but most schools won't accommodate preferences. At our last primary school they only told the kids which classes they were in on the first day back, when I suggested that if we knew the classes before Summer we could prepare the kids and put a positive spin on things if it wasn't what they wanted (and maybe arrange some playdates) they agreed on the proviso that if even one parent e-mailed the school to ask for a change they would stop telling us.

TBF I had meant tell the parents that it is happening, not necessarily which children will be moved or who will be in the new class. Just a public policy thing saying something like
"Each academic year we will mix up the year group classes to help broaden the children's social circles. The new classes will be based on teachers observations only and parents and carers may not request class changes unless serious issues arise" or something like that.

It's more being blindsided by the change all together which I think is more upsetting.

It's more being blindsided by the change all together which I think is more upsetting.
But they haven't been? There's still a couple of weeks left of term where I am then the whole of the holidays for parents to discuss it with the child.

Well they sort of have...unless told otherwise I would have assumed they wouldn't change class going into yr 1 and would have already been speaking to DC about next year at school. Christ some of the parents of kids in DS's class have already sent out party invites for the September parties and only invited the current class.

Part of explaining to DS about going into yr 1 has included reassuring him that it won't be much different and he'll be with his friends just a new teacher and classroom.

If I was suddenly told now, or last week even, I'd have to undo what I'd already discussed with DS which would be even more upsetting for him as he'd feel lied to or let down by me. And tbh, it would never enter my mind to have to check that his class won't be split up as I've never know this to happen until you reach middle and/or high school. I'd certainly feel blindesided.

This!

Honestly how hard can it be to ensure they are in the same class as one of their friends. To have all her pals in one class and none in the one she is in does seem shit op, I agree.