ds has been subject to a few years at primary school now and each year so far the children have been grouped according to the teacher's perception of their ability except initially in reception until the children had been assessed. Different teachers have assessed the children slightly differently but I've been happy to go with the flow/let them get on with it and it has worked well for ds so I'm assuming it has for his class mates too.
This year there are just 2 large tables completely mixed up ability wise (small class of less than 20 children anyway) and now ds sits next to the one child in the class who......., well how can I put this in a pc fashion, needs the most support and attention from the teacher in order to control their behaviour.
This is the first time he has dragged his heels on the walk to school and dawdled his way through the routine of lunchbox on shelf, coat on peg etc etc. He simply isn't keen to start his school day sitting next to this child and has been in tears over getting a ticking off from the teacher for reacting to the child's provocation and silliness.
Basically, he's not a happy bunny and not enjoying school life so much any more.
Someone has to sit next to the disruptive child and maybe the teacher thought that ds would calm them down but if it is affecting his enjoyment of school life and willingness to be there should I say something and if so what on earth do I say and to whom, the teacher or the Headteacher ? (Reasoning for HT being that this teacher obviously believes mixed ability tables are the way they wish to teach/run their classroom so perhaps not willing to be challenged on seating arrangements).