How to help DS find and make friends at break time?

[flamencoheels]

My 4 yo summer born son is struggling to find anyone he knows in the playground at break time and lunch time and is coming home quite upset about it. It's a big 4 form entry inner city school, so there are 120 reception kids running around, plus 240 year 1 & 2. He says it's just so hectic he can't find anyone he knows to play with and when he does, he asks if he can join in and sometimes they say 'no', which upsets him more! He said today was a 'walk around and watch other people play' lunch break which just breaks my heart a bit as he is normally a happy, confident and outgoing boy.

I wondered if anyone with more experience at this mothering malarky can give me any advice on things to advise him to say or do to help him find people to play with at break time? He says there are supposed to be playground buddies who wear hats but he can't find them either! Thank you.

Speak to the staff. At 4yo he is too little to resolve this on his own if he is struggling to actually see people to play with.

I'd speak to his teacher tbh. DS struggled a bit when he first went to school - I spoke to his teacher and the TA from his class kept an eye on him and helped him on. He gets on totally fine now!

Thank you, yes I will do in the morning. The TA has helped him in the past, I guess I just need to keep asking for a bit more support for him. The teachers seem to have a break when the kids go outside so I'm not sure what she could do. Seems ludicrous to me that there are only 12 TAs outside with 360 kids, but maybe this is normal these days?

That is a seriously busy play ground. They absolutely should be keeping an eye out for children who are struggling.

Blimey. Those are huge years!! No wonder he is feeling a little lost. I would expect the school to have something in place for the wee ones. Our school only has 12ish in each year and they have something set up for kids who have noone to play with so a larger school certainly should!! Do you know any of the lunchtime supervisors? They're your best bet. I'm not sure if its usual but none of the teachers or Ta's work outside at lunch in our school, so they have no ides what goes on.