Size of Reception Class

[aroomofonesown]

Would you put sociable August-baby in Reception class of 6 or in Reception class of 14?

is that the only difference between the schools? I would be most interested in the teacher, the over all feel of the school etc.

Both class sizes are tiny to me! But if this really is the only issue distinguishing the two schools, I would go for the larger class, I think. More scope for friendship.

6 or 14?! Where are you?!

It's 30 and That's It where we are

I've a sociable August born but she's not 3 yet

I'd probably plump for the 14, more scope for varied friendship groups and still a small class size

How lovely for your dc

14

DD has 14 in her class and it is fab. There were a couple more initially but they have since moved out of the area so left school.

DD's school does have one very small class (had a blip year for some reason; picked up again since though fortunately!) and it doesn't work as well. In DD's school they mix that year a lot for practical and hands on subjects to help matters.

DS1 august born and in reception class of 18 which seems to work well.

I think 6 is way too small especially for a sociable child.

I would be concerned that a class of 6 would not have enough funding- are they mixed with another class?

6 is too small a class. Go with 14.

I'm gobsmacked at these class sizes - how do the schools manage it financially? They're funded per child. Round these parts it's 30, 31 if there's a Statemented child with 1 to 1.

To answer the OP - 14. 6 is too few - if your DC falls out with a couple of them it will be harder to bounce back from.

Message withdrawn

6 is FAR too small socially. 14 would be a lovely size.

A school with 6 in a class does not sound financially viable, be it private or state anyway.

NO way is 6 too small! My children went through a school with no more than 5 or 6 per year group and they played with people older and younger than themselves. 6 or 14 are fine afaic, as long as you like the school. They are both small enough classes for your child to get all the individual attention he or she needs. Mine were in classes of 35 at reception age (also summer borns). It was awful.

14

6 too claustrophobic

14. 6 is way too few.

Is it a year group of 6 or a class of 6? Both my dc are at a very small rural school - ds's year group has 5 and dd's 8. One year has 3 only. But the classes are 16 (P2-P4) and 19 (p5-p7). The children play across the year groups and are taught both as mixed age classes and in their year groups. They get plenty of individual attention as well as benefitting from being part of a larger group. In that situation, the smaller year group is preferable (in my opinion) to 14 as I woudl asume that if it is a state school 14 would also be in a mixed age class.

I think 6 is too small for a class - not a big enough mix of personalities.
If it is per yr group in a mixed age class you might well end up with reception/yr 1 and Yr 2 all in together and then all the juniors in together and just because that doesn't happen now doesn't mean it won't happen in a couple of years.

Hello aroomofonesown. I've asked the same question this morning so we must be psychic! I think I've been persuaded that bigger (in the case of my DS1 (April baby) 17 in the class) is going to be better.

Thank you so much to everyone who's come back on this one. I really appreciate your feedback.