Is it normal for a child to be utterly devastated when leaving class teachers at the end of school year?

[CantShakeItOffShakeItOff]

I was hoping to get some advice or info from teachers or parents that might have experience with this.

I have asked my teacher friends and they seem to think this behaviour isn't really normal and I'm now worried for DD.

Dd is 6 and she really adores her teacher this year. Her teacher is lovely and I can understand why Dd likes her so much.

Things have slowly started winding down for the end of the school year and Dd has recently realised that this school year is ending and she will have a new teacher next year.

Dd is utterly utterly distraught at the thought of no longer having her teacher and doesn't want the summer to come.

She is a VERY sensitive child so I think this might be contributing to ber emotional state. To give some examples, Dd has been crying every day after school and is inconsolable for hours as she only has limited days left with this teacher. She's now started waking multiple times throughout the night as she's having nightmares and worries about having a new teacher. She also started struggling at bedtime and can no longer sleep alone without getting upset or having 'sore tummies'.

We've tried our best to reassure her however It's all getting out of hand and I have no idea how to deal with this or how to help her manage these extreme emotions. I don't ever remember feeling like this at school so I have no idea what to do.

If you are a teacher, is this something that happens often? Or should I be concerned?

If you are a parent, have you been through similar with your own child?

Help!

Transition day? Between different year groups? I’ve never heard of that. Between nursery and reception, yes, but only then.

@Choppedcoriander I think it's very common for the classes to go up for half a day or so to meet the new teacher and see how wonderful year +1 is 😀

Yes transition day is a thing in our schools too. Announce the new teacher to the kids-they spend the afternoon/day with them and the parents get a text at the end of the day telling them who it is to share in the excitement. Usually a week or so before the end of term. Do the school have an elsa? My friends daughter is receiving a lot of support from the elsa as their trusted adult and emotional support in school outside of their teacher. It sounds like they could help?

We have it for all years every year. It’s really helpful. I’m prepared to accept that not every school does this.

My DS was like this, he would be absolutely bereft. He has autism though. It didn’t help every teacher he had up to year 4 left at the end of the year and he fell in love with his female teachers. By year 4 the school arranged that we pick him up earlier on the last day and that helped. Also getting older and his school making a special effort transitions.

Good luck.