Can my school reject my twins in the same nursery class?

[Skysha]

So my girls are due to start nursery in 2021 I know it's a little while off but I would rather look into potential nurseries now.
The school I work at have said they dont allow twins in the same class as it goes against their admissions policy and I was wondering if that's actually true?
I want my twin girls to be in the same nursery class and when they go into reception they can go into new ones as do most nursery children and I'm not looking for advice on weather I should keep them together or separate them

Sorry I can’t answer your questions but do think it’s an odd rule to be honest. I’ve worked in a one form entry school - when there’s only class twins obviously have to be in the same one. I really can’t see why a school would have a policy against this, what are they worried about?

They can make their own policy for this. It's the school's choice. To be honest I agree with them when there is more than one class.

Schools can set whatever policy they want on this so yes, it is possible/true - you might want to ask for a copy of the policy to check the details yourself.

TAMBA guidelines suggest schools should be flexible and work with parents and other caregivers to identify what is best for each child/set of twins rather than having a blanket policy. If you contact TAMBA they may be able to provide support to help you challenge the policy.
That said I would not have sent my twins to any school which had this policy in the first place as it suggests to me that they are not putting the children first and that wouldn’t be the sort of school I’d want my twins to go to (for what it’s worth mine are at a two form entry and in different classes but I would always have wanted to option....indeed there are several sets of twins at the school who are in the same class, and others who are separated like mine)

My son had four sets of twins in his preschool two of which are in his class only 1 form school. It does cause issues now they older and can't be split but not all nurseries have this policy.

Ask to see their admissions policy

As a nursery they can set whatever policy they like - though I think it is not very good. As a school they have to abide by the admission guidance there is no way that there can be anything about separating the twins in the admission criteria. Having said that they might well have an internal policy that they want to split the twins up but that is something that as TAMBA say the school should be talking to you about not sticking to a rule,

Would check with TAMBA. my twins have always been in the same class. I wouldn’t say there have never been issues but I think there would have been different issues if they were in different classes (even as simple as not being able to make events/parties/share play dates/manage parents’ evenings. Etc)

At nursery level I think it is totally OTT if parents are okay to restrict twins from being together without having a trial run

Why do you want them together out of interest? Perhaps having them apart is beneficial

Actually they can't insist on this. There is legal precedence that twins cannot be separated because of 'school policy' it should involved the wishes of the parents. The evidence is that twins do best together until 8 then separated although obviously every day of twins is different.

Set... not day !

Mine were together until year 7 when they went to secondary where the school had a loose policy of keeping them separate, they are in different tutor groups but have the odd lesson together, it's done them the world of good, but so was being together at primary . To be fair there was only one class per year at primary.

Why not choose a nursery with only one class/area - one not attached to a school might be better

Actually they can't insist on this. There is legal precedence that twins cannot be separated because of 'school policy' it should involved the wishes of the parents

That is wrong. The school cannot refuse to admit a child just because they are a twin but there are no legal precedents that prevent a school putting twins in separate classes regardless of the parents' wishes. Schools are not under any obligation to consult with parents on this. It would be sensible for them to consult and to take the parents' wishes into account but there is no legal requirement for them to do so.

Maybe look for another nursery setting? I am a twin-it’s the best thing ever! Was together till 13 then in separate classes! Pros and cons to both like everything. Too much put on individuality nowadays, recognising then as individuals. Equally...we are twins!

It's certainly not unusual for twins to be in separate classes at school and imo not a bad idea, makes them more individual, independent and not always called 'the twins'. If I'd had twins I would have wanted that, however I don't know about nursery/preschool, doubt it would have mattered much at that stage.

Nursery isn’t statutory schooling and as a result can have their own admission criteria. Choose a nursery where they can go together then look at schools carefully regarding how they will organise twins.

I think it’s too easy for people to refer to them as “Twinnies” or “The Twins” and not treat them as separate DC with different names and needs. They don’t have to gel with the same friends and do everything together to make it easier for you. It’s what is best for them that matters and I’m sure that’s what the nursery is thinking about. Treating them as individuals.

My twins were in the same class due to only one class per year when we moved house and school we had the option of splitting them which we did they are now back together the year they spent separated was a great thing in mine and the teachers opinion they suddenly became individuals rather than a pair they made their own friendship groups and became confident to manage without the other and if it was at all possible they seem even closer now than ever.
When I looked at schools I was told its down to the individual school to have a policy. I know of twins who have deliberately been separated and those where the parents have had a choice and also those like mine who have no choice due to size of intake. Best option talk to individual schools regarding their policies.

Thank you for all your replies. The school is a 6 form entry with a 3 form entry for nursery. I want them there because their provision is amazing, its outstanding in all areas and I work there so its convinient for me.
I want the girls in the same class only for nursery and once they move up I'd want them to be apart and yes I think I will contact tamba and ass what they say.

Maybe it's their policies which are making them such an outstanding school. If you start asking them to change their methods, maybe they'll end up being like all the others!

6 form entry for primary!? Wow. (Not point I know but theres a 4 form here which mix classes each year and seems huge. I had no idea other areas were bigger. I'd want to split it into 2 schools!)

It might be so the staff dont get them mixed up Are they identical?

Hi I'm an education advisor for Twins Trust (used to be TAMBA) in short there is not legal guidelines at all they can have any policy they want but we advice that it should be done case by case. If you get in touch with is via the website we can support you with this (happens all the time!)

With us sorry...

They'll be together at playtime and lunch though.

It's bad practise to have a blanket policy. Parents should work with the school to make a decision in the best interests of the children.