anyone got any experience of classes being split?

[puddle]

My son is currently in reception. There a currently four reception classes - it is a big infants school but a good one and we are very happy with it. There is a possibility that the receptioon classes will be split as the children go into year 1. This has happened before at the school and is mainly to ensure that the children are on a balanced class in terms of behaviour management plus ability. The Head has told me that they are looking at it but that it is only something they do as a last resort.

Has anyone any experience of this happening to their child? I am naturally worried that ds will be moved out of a class where he has now made firm friends and he'll have to start again in year 1.

Anyone?

This happened to me! (a long time ago!) they split our reception class into two forms for year One, then for some reason we were all back together again year two upwards? I have no idea why, in fact I may ring my mum and ask her!

Ds' class was split when he was in reception. He started in the Sept, in a class of 31, because of the extra child there was two teachers, in the january they split the class and put 15 in one class with 15 of the new starters and the other class had 16+14 new starters IYKWIM. Ds didn't have a problemw ith this and the class adapted easily.

Our school run a split class system as they have an intake of 45. Reception is split into two classes, then in year 1 those with their Birthdays in the Autumn term are in a class with the summer term birthdays from year 2, while the spring and summer term birthdays in year 1 are in a class together. In year 2, it's the autumn and spring term birthdays that are together, while the summer term birthdays go in with the autumn term birthdays from year 1. And so on through the school.

If you can follow that, you're a genius . And it seems to work fine .

They did it with my daughter's class. They asked each child to write down teh name of their 2 best friends and they try to ensure that they will be in a class with at least one of them. Big problems in her year though, boys outnumber girls by 2:1.

Just reread this thread and you're not talking about that at all are you?

Tinker I think that's how they do it at my son's school. I don't know why I'm worrying - partly it's that I feel I've just got to know some of his new friends (and their parents) and it's partly me who feels weary about the thought of starting all over again!

puddle - it's not been too much of a problem tbh. Kids do make friends quite easily and can still see their other friends at playtime

My ds1 was very shy and did have a problem with this. He had one very domineering friend who moved with him, all his other friends were in a different class. He and the bossy friend fell out and he was left friendless in the class. I had him moved back in with the other friends and he's been happy ever since.

DS1 has been through this a few times. His school had a single reception class at the beginning. When he moved up to yr1 they mixed year groups, so there were two yr1/yr2 classes - he got separated from his best friend, but they still played together at break, and the classes mixed for certain subjects. When he went into Yr2 some children swapped again, the two teachers have totally different teaching styles and I think they thought certain children would benefit more in the opposite class. DS's teacher is quite ditsy, but a brilliant child led teacher. The other one is scarey

The upshot of this is that DS1's class has changed every year, he's been fine with it and has lost any friends. I think the two classes mix better because of it.

hasn't lost any friends, I should say!

They do this at my dds' school. When dd1 (now in year 3) was in reception, there were 2 classes, and they mixed them up for year 1. They said they tried to keep friends together, but I'm not convinced they tried that hard. Anyway, dd1 was not phased by it, and has made firm friends in the class she is in now.

For dd2 (now in year 1), it was a similar story, although they had 3 reception classes, and could only have 2 year 1 classes, so didn't have a choice. Again, dd2 has not been phased by this. Interestingly though, she has remained friends with those in the other yr 1 class, and plays with them at break time. Not sure if this is different personalities at work, or just that there has been more time for dd1 to 'forget' those who were originally in her class.

Anyway, to sum up (hurrah I hear you shout), it has not been a problem for us.

Worst case scenario, my very shy quiet withdrawn dd had made friends with 4 girls. At the end of reception the class was divided those 4 in one class her in the other.
I was distraught and crying and snot wiping saying to the teacher that she was just a number to her and being at the end of the alphabet shedd thrown her in this other class without a thought....still stand by that
However after a few months dd had made friends with 3 girls in the new class and they are all still friends going into the juniors....

Flashingnose, it's abit like that at my DS's school. They have 40 in reception. I think the 10 eldest go into a mixed class with the youngest of the current yr 1, so throuhgout the school the classes are 30. or soemthing. Haven't a clue exactly how it works and when I asked the teachers neither did they!

Puddle I wouldn't worry too much, IME they tend to mix classes around for literacy and numeracy etc anyway. Don't underestimate the resilience of your child in making new friends.

They do this every year at dds school. 2 classes each year which are mixed up at the end of every year. Seemed a bit scary in reception, but means that by the time they've been there a few years they know all the kids. Also works well if you want your child moved from a particular child/group, as it's easy to do without making it obvious.

Hi Puddle
Judging by your other threads, I suspect I know which school you are talking about. My dds friends at school down road had this happen when they were in reception, and understandably parents were really anxious. However, think in the end it was handled well and the kids adapted fine. At dds school they all have to go from a 4 class a year infant to 3 class junior so some leave and the rest get mixed up. I think its harder for the parents in some ways because we put our adult emotions onto it, iyswim. I know its not a nice thought, but sure it will be fine and your ds will adjust with no problems. PS have you seen coffee in park thread? do you fancy it?

it happened to my dd1,and she is nearing the end of her first year and has loved it.

when the school told me she was in a different class away from her friends she had made and the security, i was devastated, she was fine about it.

when the term started again for a new year i was so worried as she never knew the kids like in reception, all her mates trotted off to their class ans my dd, well she trotted of to hers with not a care in the world.

the way we handled it was i never ever showed my dd tht i was upset, i beefed the whole thing up to be a great thing, and made out she was special for being moved, i also said that she would have loads of friends as she kept her old ones at playtime, and made friends with new ones in class.

all positive in my opinion, makes them independant, imagine being with the same people all through school, it gives kids a false sence of security.

mix em up, thats what i say.

the only negative.....tons of parties!!!!

Thanks to everyone who's posted on this thread - really reassuring. I think you're all right - I'm putting my own feelings onto it a bit. My ds is very sociable and mixes well and I'm sure he'll be fine.