Reception class allocation

[hellosummer23]

Are children allocated to classes based on an internal test/assessment from their preschool teachers, or is the allocation process completely random?

At state school: it’s not entirely random (otherwise you might have all the girls in one class and all the boys in another!)

of course the schools want to find out what they are getting - hence the forms where you disclose known SEN etc - and many schools will send the reception teachers out to Preschools to meet the kids, or invite them to a stay-and-play. And where possible they will talk to the preschool teachers to get an idea of readiness for school (toilet training etc)

They will be aiming for a balanced group but, definitely not streaming on ability or testing!

Some kids don't go to nursery/preschool, so it could never be based 100% on that

Schools will be looking for a balance across all classes, so will be trying to ensure that every class, as far as possible is allocated a share of boys and girls, a share of ages across the year, a share of SN ( if known) , a share of children with EAL, they will also want to ensure that each class is ethnically mixed. They might also take some account of known friendships from pre school, and also known combinations that don’t work. It is not always possible to get the mix right, because until they are all in the same room you don’t know how the dynamics and personalities will work out.