To be apprehensive about this school

[CoconutSky]

DD starts reception tomorrow. It’s a class of 60 split with 2 teachers and 1 TA
The ofsted report is good however there are serious issues with a high % of children being unable to read properly by the time they hit KS2
That isn’t my only concern. In the hand book I read the Reception class visited the library once a week, there are weekly walks to a local park to observe nature which has turned out to be untrue
The school itself is unappealing and dirty looking, the toys are battered, sparse and mismatched, the floor is filthy, there is nothing educational on the walls, all the blinds are broken, the carpet which they sit on in a morning is heavily stained and what toys and learning resources there are, are utterly shit.
She isn’t 5 til Nov but I need her in school as she is completely ready. I have left it way to late but was somewhat shoehorned into sending her here for ease of pickup

I have got her uniform and book bag ready and I’m just feeling sick with it. I don’t want my child going here at all.

Anyone?

Can you look for another school and see if they have any space for your daughter? The school does not sound great.

I have contacted our local ones and they’re all full. I’ve even tried the LA today and plead my case but nothing!

It’s also almost 70 pupils over capacity. 🤦🏿‍♀️ I really am dreading this

Put her name on the waiting list of any schools that you like better, there'll be a fair bit of movement so you may well get lucky.
The school doesn't sound great but if you are^^ stuck with it then how about trying to improve things? Stand for governors or volunteer for the PTA and raise funds for some new resources?

This is the thing that’s all we’ve had on emails. How to donate to the school, how to give money to the school. It’s an academy and the academy website boasts quite frequently of its spending. I can’t get my head round it at all.

Are classes size of 60 legal? I thought there was a cap.

The school does not sound good but if there is no space anywhere else you can either put her on a waiting list or withdraw her from school and reapply for a different one next year as she is only 4.

Read, read and read with your child at home. Our lowest readers are more often than not not supported at home. Do the nature walks yourself, have conversations with your child to develop language skills and then just keep an eye to check that your child is happy.
Shiny and new resources mean nothing if you don’t have motivated, enthusiastic staff. Good luck.

Are classes size of 60 legal?

There are two teachers so meeting the legal requirement of 1:30. Some schools arrange Reception classes as a big free-flow area with two teachers, although I've not seen it in action so not sure how it works exactly.

Read to her lots, that will be the best support at the moment. Find out what phonics programme they use and see if they have parent information on their website.

Reception isn’t something to worry about, its not going to affect her education. You’re right it gets her started but for gods sake get her name on a waiting list elsewhere and just move her as soon as a place comes up as an in year transfer.

Thanks for clarifying 😀 though 1:30 at such a young age is not particularly great.

Where my daughter went to school at that age it was 1:10 max. In reception class they had 14 kids and 2 fully qualified teacher with them.

i agree engaged staff are important but I disagree that a run down school is ok. I would not want to work in a run down dirty building as a teacher.

Wow that's amazing, how lucky you were. 1:30 is a joke, it'd no wonder kids are falling so behind, especially if there are any children in the class with additional needs. Move your daughter OP, listen to your gut

Trust your gut. Having said that I would have been totally happy for my kid to have learnt nothing at school in exchange for not being bullied. At the moment schools are delivering poor academic performance alongside toxic bullying environments so you need to pick your poison.

I wouldn’t be happy for my DD to go there. I would still send her (if she’s ready and excited) but would try to find somewhere else ASAP. Put her name down on all the waiting lists. Could she go to a school further away?

My daughter loved that first year and it really set her up for loving school in general.

You are the parent, it is your job to teach your child to read. A huge indicator of future success is having a parent who reads with the child regularly.

@Poppins21

What kind of school was this??
Reception is always 30:1 with a PA unless it's a private school, in a small village / undersubscribed.

A school in Scandinavia its where we lived at the time. Classe sizes are much smaller in general

Oh well that's different.

That sounds too many children op. I can't imagine that she will be any more than a number in a queue and the teacher will be overwhelmed. The school overall sounds awful. Get onto waiting lists now, there might be movement by then.

It’s 30 per teacher so if they are two teachers for 60 that’s ok

I can and do read with my children but is that ‘teaching them to read’ ? It’s expanding their vocabulary and undoubtedly a good thing but I’m not sure it’s actually teaching them to read without someone teaching them letters and decoding phonics etc.

Thanks it might be legal but I do not think it’s ok. We need to provide for our school kids.

I think parents support the child and teachers in helping their child to read. I'm a teacher and I certainly didn't 'teach' my 2 DC to read - the school did!

The teachers in Reception are very skilled in how they deliver phonics and early reading, plus they will follow the schools phonics scheme. The schemes are often really fun, immersive and have catchy rhymes etc to get children remembering sounds.

This Reception class sounds awful though, I too would be concerned.

Literally moved countries again last week so getting my head around another countries education system.

i find the difference in priorities really interesting.

Hi OP just wanted to support those posters who have advised you to focus on reading. I work in secondary and we see many children who are taught to read in primary but never read for pleasure. This really holds them back.
Actually learning to read is fairly straightforward, some children teach themselves to read, I did.
The more important skill or habit is to pick up a love of reading. If you read to and with your child you will give them the best possible start.