There has been quite a lot of mobility in my dd's class and over the years a number of her 'best' friends have left. These children are never replaced and the class has shrunk in number. At every point, my dd has managed to make a new friend - until now (her last best friend left at the end of last term).
The girls in her class are quite a tight group and my dd had had real problems since the beginning of term in establishing any form of rapport with them. I have been told by the school in the past that part of the problem is that she is 'different' from the other children in that she is extremely articulate and is mature (in terms of her understanding) for her age.
I find the situation quite hard to accept, as she has another two years to go with this class. I don't just mean that the other children don't really accept her in a passive way - the sort of behaviour that I'm referring to is another girl sitting in her seat at lunchtime, so that she has nowhere to sit and another screaming at her and calling her a 'snitch' when she told the SMSA. Telling her that she can't go swimming with them; telling her that she is 'not allowed' to play with the new friend that she has made in another year group and so on...
We have an parents consulatation evening next week and I really want to address the situation. The school have been good in the past, so all is not lost. I am sure that sadly this type of problem is all too common, but would be interested in hearing from any parents/teachers who have resolved a similar situation for the better - and how they did this.