Proposed "bulge" reception class:Help!!

[MariaFormosa]

Does anyone have any experience of so-called bulge classes? The great local school my dd is due to start in September (also have one there in Y2) has just agreed at v short notice to take an additional 30 children in September, as the LEA is desperate for places.

My concern is that this hasn't been properly planned, and may adversely affect everyone in the school, as it is at present fairly stretched re: playground size, no playing field etc ... also, one of the great strengths of the school at present is that it is pretty small (one class per year) so has a great community feel and manages a v diverse population brilliantly (32+ languages spoken by pupils at the school).

Does anyone have any experience of how this has worked out, either as a parent or teacher? Also whether there are any legal/statutory barrs to the LEA going ahead with it?

Trying to figure out where You are Manky!
This years yr has 11 siblings out of 15 I believe! Not heard about the incoming year yet but I know there's a lot of worried parents!

We had exactly this situation with dd1, in REception - it had been the local 'overflow' school for years, so no one was prepared for a bulge class that year. I was worried too, as had no experience of any sort of school - let alone a bulgy one!

It worked beautifully, and as it happened again the following year the school is now moving from one form entry to two form entry - we had plenty of space for new building - and so far, the community feel has not been lost. It does change things, but not as much as you'd think.

We did and do have a big playing field and plenty of outdoor space, so not sure abotu that side of things, but as long as there are enough teachers and TAs per class, it could be great. dd ended up with more friends to choose from, more input from different teachers/TAs, and in her case the natural diminution of class size over the years (foreign nationals going home etc) means she ended up in a normal sized non-buge class by Y2.

That said, we didn't take an extra 30 - just an extra 10, so there were two tiny classes of 20 in her year in Reception, rather than two full sized classes.

Bulge classes are a much better alternative than having children starting at a completely new school though. The reason most LEAs are doing this is because of a shortage of primary places and that there is no money for new schools (unless they are free schools or academies).
It can become a problem if it is long-term over several year groups but a well-managed school should be able to handle this without any difficulty.
My own experience of bulge classes when I was at primary school in the 1970s and was in a year group of 67 in a school building built for 30 per year group. I still received an excellent education.

Is interesting to hear that not all experiences of this have been negative - in fact, some are positive, which is encouraging...

However, the general consensus here seems to be that the situation is definitely sub-optimal - people are coping in spite of the circumstances, it seems, not because of them ... I think it would be better for us if we had a scenario similar to that described by Elibean: ie - taking all the children in the designated area, and making two classes of 24, but I think the proposal is to fill two full classes of 30, which will obviously create potential problems further down the line, with an increased number of siblings needing to access the school ...

I'm as near Manchester as you can get and still be in Tameside - Denton Area!

I'm practically in Derbyshire. mottram.

While understanding your concerns I have to agree with schoolnightmare's original post. I had a bit of hostility when I fought and won for a bulge class. My pat answer became "I understand your concerns but if it is that much of an issue, you give up your place at the lovely school and go to another one. That will reduce the numbers at the lovely school." Of course, no one budged. OP - Sorry but it smacks of shutting the door behind you...

We have a massive shortage here - something like 15% and bulge classes are expected (not at our school though - they've already got a 'classroom' in the lobby FGS, they'd have to put extra kids in the loos or something).

I don't actually mind the concept of bulge classes and I know the staff would do their level best to make it work (as they always do whatever is thrown at them by the LEA). Mayhem seems to work best with small people anyway, they think it's funny when they are shepherded through the lunch hall at high speed to scoff and then play.

baffledmum How did you fight and win for a bulge class? I'm on the other side of the equation - DS1 didn't get a preferred school choice (and before anyone asks, we put all 'local' schools on our list of varying standards and wouldn't have minded him getting any of them) and being sent 1.8 miles away to another school and I have been having a very interesting email conversation with my ward councillor and the head of admissions at my LA (representing the director of children's services) but am not sure how I can really have an effect (as opposed to having a very long rant! )...

My borough has put bulge classes in all primary schools over the past 3 or 4 years. We are experiencing a baby boom, folks! You need to get your heads round it.

I was born in the 1962/63/64 baby boom and did an awful lot of my schooling in temporary classrooms called portacabins that were basically like caravans in the playground. All the way up to 6th form. Twas fine.

My 'objection' at the moment is that they are putting bulge classes where they schools are willing to take them (it sounds that way from the emails as well as the info released so far!) as opposed to where they are actually needed. I think my last email to them was basically asking them what did they think I prefer, my son to be educated in a portakabin 0.2 mile down the road or 1.8 mile down the road...

Dd is in a bulge year, but I think subsequent years will be similar. It's ok. Not great being the first - all the little probs will be ironed out by next year - but ok. Neither are full but we get funding for 60 as if they were full

www.dailyecho.co.uk/education/9664455.Radical_plans_to_deal_with_Southampton_s_rising_number_of_pupils/

looking at converting an Infant school into straight through to 16 because central Southamptonn has NO Secondary school

5 years ago LEAs were being forced to close and sell schools that were half full

goes around comes around