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Original poster

ds and 4 others being "promoted" from Reception to Year 1 after 4 weeks. Discuss.

117 replies

northender · 27/09/2006 20:12

ds has settled in really well to school but then today, completely out of the blue he came home with a letter saying that because the intake was 35 this time but the max class size is 30, 5 of them including ds are being promoted to year 1 on the basis of a "Durham Univ PIPS test" they all did when they started. (Phew, didn't even pause for breath!)

We had no warning of this and the letter invites us to a meeting about it in a weeks time. I feel really stressed about and have loads of questions already but a week seems like ages to wait to ask them.

dh and I feel very uneasy about the whole thing.

OP posts:
FluffyOHaraOfSnugglesville · 28/09/2006 10:39

Wouldn't be happy with this at all.. .I think I'd rather be labbelled a stroppy parent than potnentially ruin my childs education...

SoupDragon · 28/09/2006 10:39

Haven't read all the replies but, whilst I'd be chuffed to bits that my child was considered bright enough for this, I would be appalled. Reception is learning through play, Y1 is more work based learning. If refusing was an option, I would.

SSSandy · 28/09/2006 10:47

OK I think start drafting your letter. If other dp want to try it, let them. Start stroppy if you like but then I think the trick is to hone your letter down till it's very firm but unemotional.

My first paragraph would be crisp and to the point that my dc will not be moving up to year 1 "as recommended in your letter dated..." . I wouldn't leave any leeway for discussion. Then I'd list my very factual and brief explanations of reasons that speak against "promoting the dc". My final paragraph would be absolving myself totally from any blame or being further involved. You know putting it all back in their court. I trust you will find a satisfactory solution for this problem - kind of thing.

Has to feel right for you but I always find the less emotional the better.

Blu · 28/09/2006 10:49

Northender, it isn't in the least bit stroppy to say 'tanks but no thanks - I would like my child to have the benefit of the foundation stage, and don't want him to have the pressure of being with children who have far more reading experience than him'

I would guess that they judged their admissions wrong and have had to admit extra children on appeal or something.

If he was being moved because he is easily capable of the work in Yr 1 I would consider it, but Yr 1 is markedly different - they are expected to concentrate / sit still for longer - if=n fact use all the behavioural practice that Reception seems designed to introduce.

Also, it's a big disruption, he has just made friends - the Yr 1 kids will have made friends with each otehr.

You don't need to be stroppy, you won' seem stroppy. And what it has to do with any other school gate parents, I don't know! I would talk to the Head and make your views known asap - so that they can come up with another solution.

DCIMaloryTowers · 28/09/2006 10:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DCIMaloryTowers · 28/09/2006 10:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oliveoil · 28/09/2006 10:51

Isn't MN fab?

MN has spoken and I think you have had a universal NO to moving your son.

Good luck, let us know what happens.

x

TinyGang · 28/09/2006 10:57

I wouldn't want my two moved now that they've just started in Reception. The big build up with visits and getting to know the teachers/classroom etc. Then the gradual settling in period. It's such an important time. You can't yank them out now they're on track- that could do no end of damage.

I wouldn't be happy at all. Have never heard of this happening anywhere else. Does that mean the five children will only be at infants for two years instaed of three?

tiptoes · 28/09/2006 11:16

Hi northender-As far as the LEA are concerned check out their website for your area.They should have a who's who section which will tell you who is in charge for your paticular school.Find out who is the schools advisory person who works on behalf of the school and parents.Also if the school has a website they should list the names of the head and chair of governers also the parent governer.The only thing I found was to contact the governers you have to go through the school for them to give you their contact numbers and you may not want to alert the school at this stage that are you doing this.

Do you have a local LEA office near you?

Hope this helps.

kickassangel · 28/09/2006 11:39

the primary school i went to had 1 1/2 classes in each year, so there was always a combined class. but we all knew that before we even started. i was put into year 5 when i should have been year 4 (along with others), but we all knew about it in advance, and had some 'introduction' lessons at the end of the previous term, as well as sharing a playground, so we knew our new class. i quite enjoyed the year - a lovely teacher that i worshipped, and we were allowed extra time to complete maths/english work. when i did year 5 'again', it was a completely different set of topics, with a different teacher & didn't feel boring.
if properly managed, it can be done, butask questions about how this will be managed both this year and next.

crunchie · 28/09/2006 12:14

I haven't read all this comments, ut I wanted to mention my experience. My dd's go to quite a big primary school where the classes are often mixed up. Currently there are 3 (I think) year R and Y1 mixed up. DD2 is in Y1 and IMHO it isn't that different to YR, except she has spellings and harder reading books. They are all grouped by ability throughout the year so maths lessons are mixed between the 3 classes etc.

I hope this makes sence.

Therefore I would not necessarily go in 'ALL GUNS BLAZING' I would find out what your child will be doing first. They have suggested a meeting in a weeks time, I think that is fair. Often school don't do this.

IN fact DD1 is now in a mixed Y3/4 classes and loving it.

Yes they are doing it to help themselves as there is a big intake, but what do you hope to achieve here? Are you demanding your child be a YR when they cannot fit all the kids in?? Are they suggesting that by next year he will repeat Y1?? You don't know. They have asked for a meeting to discuss everything, fair enough it is in a weeks time, but somethimes getting all diaries together for the teachers, and giving parents fair warning (what if other parents needed a week to sort work/childcare out) I would give the school a chance to explain first before you contact all and sundry and threaten to pull your child from school.

Enid · 28/09/2006 12:16

bet the other mums will love it as it will look as though their kids are the brainiest - so don't count on support from them

NAB3 · 28/09/2006 12:19

My school built a new Reception building as they had so many children!! There are 3 classes in Reception and Year 1. Don't do it!!!

My 3 year old daughter is exceptionally bright, can write, read some keywords, knows all her numbers and letters, and has amazing vocab but I would still be cross about her missing out on Reception. She will only be 4 and 1 month when she starts but year R is so much more then starting to learn.

Original poster
northender · 28/09/2006 12:32

I'm back! Blimey, can't keep up with this!

My problems with this are that they've known since June that this was going to be the intake but this was never mentioned as a way of handling it.
To just send a letter announcing it after they've been at school for 3 weeks making friends and settling themselves without any prior warning or discussion is not right.
It's presented in the letter as a done deal not as a choice for us.
I do think that ds could probably cope academically and may respond better to the more structured nature of Yr 1 but he would find it very difficult going into a class where friendships and alliances were already formed and that is too big an issue to ignore. At this stage we are more concerned about his emotional and social wellbeing than what he's doing academically.
I've never said I was going to go in all guns blazing but will be raising all these issues one way or another!
Don't worry MT and others, if we do write a letter, it will of course be submitted to the MN editorial panel for scrutiny!

OP posts:
Original poster
northender · 28/09/2006 12:41

Tiptoes thanks for the tips about the LEA, will look into that

OP posts:
tiptoes · 28/09/2006 12:46

Northender-your last post really struck a chord with me,it was exactly how i felt about the schools decision.
.
As you say the decision for this to happen would have made awhile back and as I found we were not notified ethier and the letter we recieved also said it was a done deal.However I managed to get things changed and I am sure you could also.

As you say your ds will have already formed relationships with his peers and it is cruel to change all that now.Like you I was more woried about his emotional wellbeing than his academic at this age.

Have you managed to talk to anyone from the school yet?

LIZS · 28/09/2006 13:06

northender, I actually think you post @ 12.32 contains the basis of a good letter outlining your concerns or youcould collate it to take as a prompt for your meeting. When do they propose to do this from, is next week going to be after the event ?

Original poster
northender · 28/09/2006 13:14

LIZS this letter doesn't say when this would be starting, presumably after meeting the parents!

OP posts:
tortoiseshell · 28/09/2006 13:19

I would be SO unhappy about this. Ds1 has just gone into year 1, and it was a real surprise to him - he is exhausted with the increased emphasis on work. Reception is about social interaction and play imo, learning about what is acceptable at school, how to mix in a class situation with other children, how to cope with school lunch, playtime in the playground etc. They really need that introduction imo.

riab · 28/09/2006 21:52

I think the key points are:
its presented as a done deal - not something they want to discuss with you
its recpetion to year one, which is very different from a move from yr one to yr two for example
they have based it solely upon 'academic' with no word of the emotional state of the children
they havn't told you what the long term implications of this are
good luck!

PS on the continent they are changing some systems so that the 4-7 curriculum is more about learning through play as they feel too much 'structured' work is in the long term not good for any chlids creativity and self confidence.

Original poster
northender · 28/09/2006 23:12

Spoke to the reception teacher briefly today. This is the last year this situation will arise (just our luck!) as the "set" number for admissions is going down to 30 next year. The assessments have been done on social and academic grounds and they will still be working to the foundation curriculum.

I feel slightly more reassured for talking to her but I need more convincing that moving between peer groups will not have detrimental effects.(They'll essentially be treated as reception children but go to work in with Yr 1 in the mornings. Have to say I wasn't given any bullshit about it being for their own good. She was very up front about it being a numbers issue. Still feel this shouldn't have been sprung on us.

dh is still on the warpath about it so we'll wait for Wednesday's meeting and see what we feel then. Think we may email the Head with our thoughts/concerns prior to the meeting

OP posts:
Blu · 28/09/2006 23:26

How long are they saying this situation would go on for?Just this year, or due to the numbers in reception, would it go on all the way up the school - and then what happens in Yr 6?

Original poster
northender · 28/09/2006 23:31

Up to juniors when the max class size goes up to 35 blu

OP posts:
puff · 28/09/2006 23:44

Do letter to Head with all your concerns, cc'd to the Director of Education at LEA.

No point in beating about the bush, going through different levels of seniority if it is something you feel v strongly about. As a parent and an ex early years teacher, I would fight tooth and nail to stop this happening. Ds1 would have coped with being bounced into Y1 because he's bright, mature etc, but it would not have bebefitted him in the long run. It's nose to the grindstone from Y1 onwards. Reception year was like that for a while until educators realised that it wasn't doing 4 to 5 year olds any favours.

puff · 28/09/2006 23:45

lol benefitted