38 Children in Reception class? Legal?

[YellowH]

My friends little girl is in Reception at a school. The year 1 teacher left and so they've moved a reception teacher into year 1 and combined the reception classes into one class of 38. They have 3 TAs. From what I understand there should be no more than 30 in the class? The head says because it is an academy they can say that they're happy having the teacher and TAs. I'm fairly certain this isn't okay but can't find any actual law/guidance to support this? Can anyone guide me to some.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/10/note/made

the legislation is here

Academies are businesses with profits to make.

Teachers don't necessarily have to even be present as long as they oversee the TAs and lesson plans.

You can contact Ofsted but they won't do anything as adult/child ratios are likely met. They aren't teacher/child ratios.

I would expect this to become more widespread as there is a lack of teachers and a child population dip (which means funding cut for schools).

How depressing. How are these kids supposed to learn with that little amount of support?

Personally I would pull them out and put them elsewhere. But I understand it really depends on what are schools are close and what is possible.

I spend nearly 2 hours in the car every day on drop off/pick up to reach my child’s school and class size is one of the main factors that pushed it for me

It is legal, but not advised.

Our local primary school (great rep, over subscribed) averages 34 in the reception class and 38 in juniors. It's crowded and noisy. We didn't send DS there. It's not a suitable learning environment. But it's going to become increasingly normal.

They are qualified teacher/child ratios. See the link to the legal code above.

There is an infant class size cap of 30 to one teacher, but i think academies dont have to employ qualified teachers.

That’s shit.

On a thread about 4+ assessments for inde schools there are people wondering why anyone would coach a 3 year old for entrance tests. Here’s the answer.

It's rubbish but at the end of the day 38 children don't bring enough funding to a school to pay for 2 teachers, certainly not experienced ones.
The funding formula just isn't generous enough.