Big free flow entry reception?

[CrapColdCoffee]

Can anyone tell me their (hopefully positive!) experiences of such?
My PFB is due to start in a 3FE school with such setup: three large rooms with sliding doors between them, only closed for phonics etc. They're also all joined with large outdoor area to use in all weathers.
We visited during the open days, with few people in, I'm feeling quite antsy she won't settle with so much noise and activity. She's neither particularly shy nor outgoing.
She was due to start in a smaller school but our housing situation has changed and this school is the nearest... I can't really cope with a big school run and this school is a short walk away.
Thanks!

I prefer primaries of this size.
Yes, it can be chaotic in the early years, but it is also brilliant in terms of opportunities within that space, because there is also nearly always something happening that is of interest to you.
It is astounding what the teachers and TAs can achieve in terms of order from 90 small children. It needs to be seen to be believed.

There are also, imo, massive benifits further up the school of a larger cohort.
Between my 2 kids weve done 6 primary schools (no, not recomended), and I would go for a 3 form entry by preference.

@KarrotKake did your children manage ok with the noise? I'm worried as DD was initially deemed shy and suited for a smaller setting by her nursery. She seems to have come out of her shell recently.

We managed to get her into an out of catchment 2FE in the area we're no longer moving to, I suppose I could drive there but I thought it would be so much easier to walk. Feeling a bit of mum guilt I'm choosing my convenience over perceived 'better' school setting, so I'm glad to see you like the 3FE size!

It will be (should be!) Zoned and controlled. It won't be a massive free for all with loads of children running about screaming. Although that is what it can feel like! Your child won't be the only one who is a bit more reticent. There will be built in quiet times and areas. Mine was a bit liked that going from small nursery to 3FE. I was very much oh my gosh this looks like chaos. When actually it's planned and structured.

I think it sounds great, free flow, loads of choice who to play with, and then coming together for phonics!

My daughter is at a big school like this, she's just coming to the end of reception and has loved it. She has learnt loads, made new friends and is coming on well with reading and writing.

I had reservations about how the teachers would control so many kids but they soon licked them into shape! The kids know which classroom is theirs and where they should be when. I've no idea how they do it, but it really works.

Our school is the same. Advantages are the interesting environment and massive friendship pool. Teachers are very good at managing it. A school on doorstep is fantastic as they get older as all those friends are close by.

I think it really depends on your child and the schools in question. My child with hearing and speech problems would just never have learnt anything in this setting at all, and really only gets anything much out of small group work in quieter environments. My older one was in a big free flow 2FE and thrived, particularly as a bright older one because between the 2 forms she could find her tribe. My friend's child has had to move from a v large to a smaller school because his speech problems were just not catered for in large spaces and the school seemed v unconcerned about it.

My preference for school choice would always to be to go with what is easy and walkable. School runs happen everyday, multiple times a day and if it's far or hard it will eat into the rest of your life.

@TopKnotch I appreciate different schools suit different children thus my worries. Makes it more difficult her being my PFB!
No known speech problems, she's quite bright but rather rambunctious so might fit right in... fingers crossed.

Also, it's MN that made me really question importance of school run, most of my friends choose to drive! I did a trial school run to the farther away school and didn't love it.

My DSs are in the 3 or 4 form entry (depends on demand) and we’ve loved it. Reception was free flow and it meant that they could work in lots of different splits with DC at their level or with the same interests.

Honestly, it's not as noisy as you would predict. My quiet child never struggled. My sociable child was in his element.
By quiet, I mean he will sit, and watch, and evaluate exactly what is going on before involving himself. He was fine. He still (Y6) has only had a handful of friends, but they are scattered across the 3 classes.

CrapColdCoffee · Today 07:47

Also, it's MN that made me really question importance of school run, most of my friends choose to drive! I did a trial school run to the farther away school and didn't love it.

I think starting from the school you can walk to and then changing of it doesn't work out is the best plan in most cases!

DS's school had this, and I was a bit worried, but it wasn't nearly as uncontrolled as I feared. The children largely stuck to their own classrooms but mingled in the joint sheltered outdoor area the classrooms opened onto, which is fenced off from the large infant playground. He never found it overwhelming and it all seemed intuitive to the children.

Having a short walk to a decent school is worth so much IMO. Parking near schools is always difficult, you have to load the kids and their stuff into the car. By the time you've done that you could have walked to the local school. Also it's lovely walking home from school with their friends and having friends over for play dates after school.

We had this last year in reception but 2 form entry rather than 3 form - free flow with the nursery as well though, so very similar amount of children.
It worked amazingly! My DD was completely new to the school and new no children or staff (and had no settling sessions due to covid) but she settled amazingly from day one!
They did phonics in one reception class (as that one had the phonics resources) and maths in the other class (with the maths resources) and honestly don't think any of them struggled with all the moving - if anything it was a good thing as they were stuck in one place all the time!
She's almost finished year 1 now (how time flies!!) and continues to do brilliant, they now do phonics across year 1 and year 2 (4 classrooms) and that doesn't seem to be an issue either :)

And being able to walk to school is the best! We meet with my daughters little friend to walk to school each day and to walk home again at the end of the day.
She went to nursery at a different school and we had a 10 minute drive, a fight for parking and obviously then no local friends. Definitely prefer walking to school 5 minutes away!

We've recently agreed an in year transfer for reception aged ds, partly due to school size. It is very organised but still loud and a lot going on, and just not the environment I we want for our kids (we have 2 younger children also). The school nursery had 60 kids in one unit then reception has 90 kids, in a similar set up to as you described. It depends on your child and to an extent how well the teachers manage that setting - we had a lot of part time staff in the nursery and reception and it was just too much.

We viewed a 3FE for Sept 22 intake. In the end we opted for the 2FE. The 3FE just felt "too big" and like an education factory. It wasn't what I wanted. I know larger schools have bigger budgets etc and therefore more resources etc. but personally I felt in a cohort of 90 a child could get "lost." That was just my perception. However, on the local FB community board local parents really rate the school. I went with the 2FE as it felt calmer and generally had a nicer feel about it. We were torn between 2FE and 1FE, but the 2FE just had more going for it and it is also a short walk from the house. Good luck with your decision making. It is a tough one.

I was shy and went to a primary school with 5 classes for each year group. I was fine, I'd never know any different. I did remember moving up to secondary without giving it a second thought and not bring able to empathise with the DC from smaller schools who found it stressful.

Our primary school is 3 FE. Reception have separate classrooms but shared outdoor space and free flow. It’s been a positive experience for both my boys. Younger son now in Y2 and is ‘behind’ (pandemic hasn’t helped) although no identified SEN and a larger school means more resources to support him. I’m happy with a big school.

Older son now in a 13 form (324 children in year 7) secondary school which did alarm me. But I don’t think they’re as aware as we are. And the choice of subjects and facilities is excellent. And they work hard on pastoral care probably because they have to and it seems to work well.

Thank you all.
We had confirmation from the council that my DD will be going to the 3FE starting September. In the end it came down to distance.
I'm not going to lie, I still have some concerns she won't enjoy it and find it too much- she attends a very small nursery- but in the end it came down to distance.
When walking 3FE is 0.7 mile away, 2FE 1.4. Could always drive to 2FE but traffic that way is horrendous, plus the parking woes means it would still take much longer. Not to mention cost of petrol!
Plus I heard that the 2FE frequently changes teachers, which was confirmed with another parent recently.
Fingers crossed DD will like her big school.

She will love it, and you will be grateful every morning for the shorter distance, especially when you are in a hurry and when it is raining!

One of mine started in a school that was just one form entry but the reception, year 1 and 2 classes were open plan, so a wall half way across but the other half open into the next class.

I don't think it was a problem in reception and the year 2 kids seemed fine but year 1 in the middle was difficult as they got all the noise from both sides. In the end the PTA raised money for expensive carpeting to reduce the noise. I believe the walls were closed up after my son left the school.

Only reception is free flow. They're in separate classes from yr1.

Yes I realise it is just reception, I was referring to the noise of 90 children in an open plan space.