I am at my wits end and reeling after this afternoon party where I could see exactly what's happening. My son started reception at school where the majority of kids came together from an attached nursery and parents know each other as most have children in year 2. He befriended a boy who was fine at the beginning but became increasingly mean. The teacher explained that the boy is very popular and is trying to stop my son from monopolising his time as he wants to play with other kids. I am concerned as put downs progressed to the boy saying that my son's reading was poor. He doesn't include my son in games and ignores him completely. We tried explaining again and again that friendship needs to be reciprocated, that if somebody is mean you have to move on but my son seems to be completely focused on getting back with this boy. I stopped offering solutions, I just empathise saying "it's really hurtful when people ignore you" etc., but it's not working. My son who was very happy to read is not saying he is rubbish and resisting doing it. What else can I do? If it's relevant: my son has friends outside of his school, some of them he's known for more than 2 years and they started as his friends not me being friends with their mums.