ds doesn't seem happy at school (Reception)

[Looksgoodingravy]

I feel up and down at the moment with ds school, think it's more to do with how happy ds seems, don't know if he's just tired and ready for this term to end or if it's something more.

His teacher seemed lovely at first but these days she doesn't seem to smile much and ds has noticed this, even dp at the recent nativity play noticed that his teacher didn't smile much, arrgh, seems petty written down. This is her second year of teaching and she has already informed one of the classroom assistants that this years group is more demanding than last years (classroom assistants dd was in last years group) there are at least 3 pupils who are more demanding, ds tells me who's been on red and who's been to see the HT, I'm hoping they will settle as it's a totally new experience to some of these children but it does seem to unsettle ds, there has been a recent incident in the boys toilets caused by one child but now all the children have to ask for a ticket before going to the toilet, this alone is a step back for ds who has been going by himself since the age of 3.5, perfectly ok without incident.

I don't know, think I just need to vent, you know when you have a feeling about something but can't put your finger on it, other than that I'm just a paranoid mum and need to chill and see how things go in the New Year.

Well, she is probably exhausted. Working with 30 4 and 5 year olds through December when they are getting more and more overexcited about Christmas and overtired themselves, plus organising a Nativity Play and Christmas Party etc etc is really knackering! If she also has 3 children with behavioural difficulties, then this will also be taking its toll! You don't know how bad the behaviour difficulties are. They may be bad enough for school/parents to be thinking of getting child assessed and may even in time lead to a statement of SEN and 1 to 1 support for child, but obviously this would all take time and as they are only in Reception none of this is likely to have happened yet! She is also a young teacher who is still on a considerable learning curve!

I'd be really positive and encouraging with her. Write a nice card saying thankyou for anything she has done particularly to help your DS and let her (hopefully) have a good restful Christmas.

Some forms are more demanding than others. Form below me at primary was so bad that I think 3 different teachers moved/retired before they had them. Our form was considered delightful. So delightful that we used to miss out due to this form. Several times we were told that we couldn't do something every other year had done at that point because they couldn't spare staff away from that form to do it with us. We were told we were sensible and so wouldn't complain
With all dc year groupings it has worked out with one class more demanding, other less demanding.

I also wouldn't particularly look as having to ask to go to the toilet as a step back. Often in year 1 they will need to ask, and certainly in secondary school so you could look on it as being "advanced".

I'm not sure the teachers do really smile much at the nativity play. Except at the end in relief. They're busy making sure Joseph doesn't push Mary, the inkeeper doesn't demolish the stable by leaning on it, the shepherds don't hit each other with the sheep, the Kings don't pick all the jewels off the crowns...

Our Reception class is small, class of 15 and she has support from a teaching assistant. Don't get me wrong, she's lovely but there's something that just isn't sitting right with me at the moment. I have talked to her about how well ds seems to be doing with his reading and thanked her for putting together (part) of a great nativity, I have thanked her for the progress ds is making, I'm just hoping it's a blip and the NY will bring with it new found enthusiam from everyone.

My main concern is for my ds and that he is happy in school.