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.

Meant to add to ⬇️
I am not deferring my DD, even though she is also summer-born, because she is intellectually ready for school.

Sorry for hijacking. Do they stay at nursery an extra year then?

Yes, my DS did.

Just to clarify, all parents have the right to delay their child's start until the term after their 5th birthday as the child isn't compulsary school age until then. However, for a deferred, out of chronological age group Reception start, you need to request it. A parent of a summer born child has the legal right to request it but the local authority does not have to grant it: it's up to them to decide if it's in the best interests of the child. Most requests are granted but between 1 in 6 and 1 in 10 are rejected every year and those children either start without a deferred entry in Reception at age 4 or start in Year One at age 5.

It's illegal to have a reception class over 30.

I suspect you've just been sent paperwork for who YOUR child's teacher and TA will be, and the other half of the year group have got different information about THEIR teacher and TA.

The only way they can get away with over 30 is if a looked-after child comes into the area through fostering or adoption. Then the local school is legally required to give them a space, regardless of current numbers.

It's illegal to have a reception class over 30.
You need 1 teacher for every 30 children. My friend's school had 120 in EYFS with 4 teachers.