To pull DD if the class is above 30 pupils?

[unicormb]

DD is down to go to the local primary v close to our home, when we visited before the summer we were told that this reception intake was a low birth year, and that as such there would be two smaller classes of 20 pupils, where there would normally be two classes of 30. This was painted to us as a good thing, and obviously it would be... if it were true.

All the paperwork came through at the end of term and it turns out there is only going to be one reception class after all. As an ex teacher my gut is telling me that due to budgeting they've decided to stick 40 kids in one class with one teacher and an extra TA, rather than splitting across two.

I don't want my child in a class with 40 other kids, especially for her very first year of school. 30/31 I accept as the norm, but over that I think it will be very very busy and confusing for her, she only just turned 4.

Apparently the teacher is ringing me this coming week (instead of home visit) WIBU to enquire on class numbers and de-register DD if they are intending to do as I feared? DD is summer born and I could have them home with me while we wait for a better placement to come up.

We did. Thankfully the proposed school was very upfront that they regularly have larger than technically allowed intakes. Which is legal if the LA tells them they can.

DC1 would have been in a class of 32 which we weren't happy with. ExDH was a teacher and he had very large classes and they're just ineffective. Thankfully we had other options, so used them. How any child can develop a love of learning in a class of more than 30 is beyond me.

@unicormb

what did you teach?

Ah, apologies! The thread was moving fast so I didn't see the context.

If another school has recently been judged outstanding have a number of parents changed their choice and chosen to go to that school instead?

Is the number of admissions as published by the LA 40, OP?

A pp commented on how surprising it would be to admit 40 when other schools nearby have spaces, and I agree.

In the admissions data for our LA this year, a number of 3-form schools have only taken 60 (ie 2 classes) and one 2-form has only taken 30. I know a family who (v surprisingly) missed out on their first choice school, likely because it took a class fewer than usual (its usually undersubscribed). They got their second choice instead.

Our LA was clear ahead of time that some schools would see their PAN shrink for this intake as it's a low birth year and many families left the area during the pandemic, but they never (publicly, at least) specified which schools would be affected, so I don't know if they decided that before applications or afterwards. Seems weird yours wouldn't have taken the same approach and instead you have a number of half-filled schools?

I can't find that info, I think it's too early

Is that relevant?

Hahahhahahhahah, no,

If I call the school office today will they be able to tell me how many kids are on roll?

When does the school open? You could phone or email and ask whether they can tell you how many are in your DD’s class

How popular is the school compared to others in the area? My son's reception class last year was expected to have 28 but only 20 arrived on the first day of term. The other 8 had all been offered places at other schools, including some non Catholics at the impossible-to-get-into Catholic primary with very good results. Hoping the same for you.

(We had been offered a place at the impossible-to-get-into Catholic primary but turned it down earlier in the year -- didn't like atmosphere!)

I would defer and look around at all the options.

Phone goes to answerphone. I've also emailed.

Wow, I don't think it is precious at all. I struggle to see how 30 is ok, never mind any more. I wouldn't want my child in a class that size, why should the OP?

Back 8n the day my reception class in a three classroom CofE school was

We don't live 'back in the day' though, do we?

Back in the day my reception class in a 3 classroom CofE school had 40 kids. To be frank I doubt it made a lot of difference to my subsequent educational development. There were no Wendy houses, etc. When we moved to another city I was again put in the reception class although too old. They did have Wendy houses, coloured bricks, etc., but that's all I remember of it. The next move saw me skipping reception class to start in a formal classroom where we were drilled in the times table.

How is any of this relevant to what we are discussing?

We have a reply!

'There will now be two reception classes in September as the number of children have now increased.'

So that's fine and I can relax a bit now!

As long as a qualified teacher is doing the planning, ta’s have been taking their own smaller size classes in our school.

They're not being paid to teach though, are they?

If you defer a child do they start reception aged 5 or go straight to year1?

My kids are 10/12 now but when my daughter started school she was 4 at the end of august. Extremely immature and behind academically. We now know she's dyslexic. I just sent her to school the following month. I had no idea I had any other option.

No, still paid peanuts but they have their own classroom just with smaller numbers. I guess they see it as a stepping stone to teacher training in the future.

That's good news, although I bet stressful for the school to ensure they have enough teaching staff

@Sswhinesthebest are TAs taking the classes all the time or just for certain times of the day eg phonics teaching?

Since 2013 parents have been permitted to request that summerborn children be educated 'out of year' deferring them and having them start the following year in Reception.

Lots of schools and teachers aren't aware that this legislation went through.

I deferred my DS as he is August 31st born, autistic and has a learning disability. He is the oldest in his class now, instead of the youngest.