Reception in September - with best friend or separate?

[Usernameemanresu9]

My daughter starts school in September, she attends preschool and has a best friend who she plays with all the time in and out of preschool. Teacher has recommended for reception that they go in different classes to allow them
to branch out, my daughter in particular doesn't really play with anyone else and others try to but she only wants her best friend. I understand the reasoning and to encourage new friends is a really important thing. Can see that it would be positive but worry that it may make my daughter sad to go to schooL and not be with her best friend I'm very torn. Any wise words would be helpful.
thank you

Birth rates were low in 2020-2021 - in many areas you can be as good as certain your child will have a place. All parents applying to the school where I teach know their child will have a place, for example, because we haven't been full in years. We very much speak to parents of children with younger siblings with the assumption their younger child has a place before they've even applied!

My children go to a two-form entry and they very much do take parent views into consideration as well as nursery. It is of course school's decision to make but children can name a couple of friends they'd like to be with and are generally placed with them. What isn't possible is to state a preference for Y1. All schools are different.

Why are they involving you in their class arrangements?
Also, your child is 4, they don’t really have a best friend as such.

Children absolutely can have a best friend at 4. It might be through circumstance as much as anything else but they can certainly have a most special friend. It's arguably easier if they don't but I disagree it's not a thing at 4.

Yeah they are absolutely best friends, just naturally happened.

I raised it with the teacher as a previous poster said I know it is a low birth rate year again and with having older siblings they are very likely to get a space.

I know ultimately it is up to the teachers but she was really happy to have the discussion and asked me to think about how I would like to proceed so feel very lucky about that.