Iv just seen how dds reception class is set out and it’s made me sad

[Mummypig2020]

Dd starts school in September. She’s not yet 4. Her teacher has posted a video walking around the class room to school the kids. It’s like a Victorian class room. Each table has one seat and they are in lines. It makes me feel so sad.

No real point of this post just feeling sad. Everything will be so different and not at all exciting like it should be :(

For a 4 year old it will be exciting. She doesn't know she was meant to be in groups. And it won't be forever.

She'll be fine, kids are actually very adaptable and the teachers will make it all seem fun and normal. Be positive and don't let her see your negative reactions to it if you can avoid it.

I am a retired Reception teacher and the pictures I have seen of Reception classes at the moment make me sad too. Its the way it has to be unfortunately. I'm 100% sure the teachers will be doing their very best to make the children's experience as enjoyable as possible.

It'll still be exciting and new! She won't know the difference and the reception teachers I know will make it a great place to be.

Yes it’s utterly shit- and I selfishly hope it’s back to pre-covid next year when my one starts. You have every right to feel gutted. Just don’t show her that!

I'm going back to work teaching in September. I'm dreading it because all the things I see like this are just cruel and unnecessary. It's ruining school and education for an entire generation of children.

Obviously I will do everything I can to make sure the kids have a great time but it will be with an incredibly heavy heart at how school has become.

Not Victorian. I started school in a classroom laid out like that, and seem to have survived.

I just don’t understand what the point is. Children that aren’t going to be socially distancing and, now that we’re in that topic, covid is not going to go away, why make this pretence at such great inconvenience.

Ds3's school has said that children in Reception will not be in rows. Children in reception should be playing not sat at a solitary table all day.

I’m a reception teacher and other than scaling back the resources that are out, it’s pretty much back to normal in my classroom! Definitely no sitting in rows, although they are doing that further up school.

Ours is liks this now but we have been told it will be back to normal by September.

Reception teacher here too. Business as usual come September - sitting together, sharing resources, playing etc. Only difference will be not mixing with other classes.

It really won't do your child any harm and it will be perfectly all right. It's not sad at all, stop being so dramatic. I'm old enough to have gone to school when we did all sit in rows from the beginning, it never did us any harm.

Unlike in my day, modern schools have fun lessons, lots of stories and play, the buildings are modern and colourful etc. Not Victorian at all and therefore the fact your child isn't sitting in a group really won't have a major impact....really it won't.

It is sad, but the most important thing is the teacher won't be Victorian.

It's shit though.

My Reception class is pretty much as it always has been. We've just moved the things that can't be cleaned easily.

I think the children sitting in rows is much better. So many children cant see the teacher or the whiteboard because they are facing the wrong way when the are grouped together

We had a video tour too of my ds new school and the head said it would be different in September to how it looks now (a bit empty in the reception classes) . The guidelines do not say children need to be sat at desks in reception.

My DD has just finished Reception and went back to school at the end of June after lockdown. Her classroom was set up very similarly to how you describe. Yes it is sad to see but the teaching staff are amazing and honestly the children were fine. They did lots of activities outside (in all weathers!) and the social distancing guidelines for schools accept that younger age groups can't always stay 2m apart.
If you are concerned please do let the school know. And as PPs have said she won't know any different and it is only for a short time.
Unmumsnetty hugs to you.

My dd has been back in reception since half-term and it hasn't been like this at all.
Fewer toys/resources and no sharing between groups & a split reception outdoor area but within the bubble interaction has been allowed.
She's had a lovely time & learnt loads & benefitted from it being much quieter & calmer separated from the other class and less free flow.
I know layouts are different but it's strange how different schools approaches have been.

Don't pass on your anxieties, it is new to her so she doesn't know any different. Be excited & positive about it for her.

I dont find that that bad tbh. I think its more sad obviously singing will be out. Baking. And because of lack of measures it is highly likely they will miss at least some of the year.
Groups really dont suit all kids anyway. Having people that close arguing etc. I particularly dislike carpet time so hope that goes. They are literally sat so close. (Plus not very clean sat on the floor).
Our school are also 45min less per day, which is fine in yr r as it really is too long anyway but obviously they will all be behind other year groups who had longer days.
And i cant see the ta/teacher wanting to sit close enough to listen to reading as they should be 2m away

Reception doesn’t have to be like that. It sounds like the school is applying the Primary guidance even though there is specific Early Years guidance too. Ours will not be in rows and continuous provision will be as normal.

I think the children sitting in rows is much better

er No it isn't for a little tiny child who has just turned 4.

What on earth is the point of it?

But it doesn't need to be? Reception is still under the EYFS which allows the children to be in groups? And to not have to social distance.

I mean, they're there to learn in class right? They can talk to each other just not in spitting distance . They'll be fine

@Wecandothis99, have you ever heard of learning through play?