how many children in your child's reception class?

[pofacedandproud]

Ds just started reception in a city school. Class huge, 32, and another class with open doors to his also has 30 ish children. They do most stuff together. They do have two teachers and two TAs [all very good] but it is just mayhem in there. Thinking about options. Small rural schools [would have to move] or private [would have to sell a kidney]

So, can you tell me, how many children in your child's class? Private and state? Trying to get a good idea of what the alternatives are.

yes I think it is more structured as years progress. I still feel 30 is too big. It is also to do with my own experience, I went through the State system and then went to a private prep for 18 months - I remember enjoying it so much more and having so much more individual attention.

I think it also depends on your child and if you think that scale of room and number of children works for him or not. I think my ds would be a bit overwhelmed. I can't say I'd make a decision this early though - would wait a bit longer as still early days.

Ds' school is a class of 30 but only one form entry and I like the fact this means it's smaller and people get to know each other quickly. The older kids come and visit the reception ones a couple of times a week at least and help which is nice too.

18 in DS3's P1 class, 17 in the other P1 class.

State school in small Scottish town. In fact this year i suspect that the P1 classes in the local independent school may actually be bigger .

I think we have lower class size limits in Scotland, it was an SNP manifesto policy, however not all schools have managed to stick to it so it is to be raised again i think.

37. Its a bulge class, usually kept under 30 but sudden increase in numbers meant the school had to take in more children last year...and this year...

They have two classrooms, two teachers and one TA and a free-flow system between the two classes. Its a smallish state primary in London, and dd is now in Y1. In YR, they kept the class split into two groups for half the activities - now they're in ability groups for periods of time, and all together for main events. The timetable is well structured, and it seems to work really well...so far...

22 in ds1's class with 1 teacher and 1 T.A.
State village school

Independent- 3 form intake; 20 children, 1 teacher and 1 TA per form

Squiffy is right about other costs in early years- lunches are included in fees, but they all have to have a school lunch- mainly about helping the children social and interpersonal skills.
Uniform- always plenty of second hand available, and no-one seems embarrassed about purchasing it.
Trips this term are £20, but that includes a christmas party, and a trip to safari park too.

Of course, you have to bear in mind how many children you have...

2 classes of 18 - not sure how we manage it in a state primary but we're not complaining!

There was 16 in DD's class when she was in reception. One full time teacher and one full time TA.

In the school I work at we have 30 in each reception class - full numbers from January intake. Each class has a FT teacher and FT TA afaik.

thans CaptainN, I'm hoping by the time the second dc starts school I'll be back in full time work...that sounds great gremlin lucky you!

53 in reception

22 in DD class - officially 1 teacher - 2 TAs

But the two class intermingle with each other and nursery, so about 3/4 teachers and 5 TAs.

State - edge of city

There were 11 in my ds's class.

my prep had 11, and it was the happiest year of my schooling.

I'm a student currently on placement in an independent school reception class. There are 12 pupils in total but not all attend everyday. There is one teacher and one assistant. It it lovely play-based environment and I would have loved for my children to have gone there. Instead, they attended my local village school in a very cramped class of 27 where they did endless worksheets and read to the teacher once a week if they were lucky.

I think small village schools can be victims of their own success as people want a 'better' experience but don't think about the physical limits of older buildings and tiny playgrounds. A bigger school with investment in facilities would be better I think than the crowded start my boys had.

I know there is a lot of debate about the rights and wrongs of private provision on mumsnet but I have been completely blown away by the different experiences the children I am currently working with are having. I always looked down my nose at the thought of paying for something that our children should have as right. I now can see why people try to afford it.

For the person who was worried about lunches: this year, the school I am on placement in has imposed school dinners on all year groups instead of just in the senior school. Some of the parents were upset and sure that their children wouldn't like the food. All has been well. If the children don't like the main meal options, there is a huge salad bar with lots of bits like boiled eggs, roast chicken slices, tuna and salad along with a bread basket. Everyone finds something they like.

I really, really didn't want to like the school, I thought I would find a hot-house atmosphere and children sitting in rows. Instead there is lots of work outdoors and hands on constructive learning. Anyway, the whole experience has really challenged my prejudices.

That s very interesting IWAPAP. [that advert is hilarious] very much tallies with my own experience of state vs private.

State,Village school - 1 full time teacher 2 full time TA's. 16 children.

unlike pooatpauls experience, we have a huge playground and field and lovely forest school area too. we are very lucky

my older dc's have maximum of 21 per class throughout their first school.

where do you live ouch? [don't worry if you don't want to say]

we are worcestershire/cotswolds border - not long moved here and very happy.
the old school was also village school but class sizes were creeping up..and it was small buildings/playground etc

17 kids (private, SW london).

State village school (two villages actually!)
12 Rec + one Yr1.
Full time Teacher, almost full time TA (who is also trained nursery nurse)
We have HUGE grounds, forset school on neighbouring farmland, Victorian school building, but large hall extension.
Biggest class in our school is a mixed Yr3/Yr4 class with 25.

some of these schools sound lovely, both state and private. Oh bum.

Whereabouts in UK are you, po? (only if you want to say )

Is it possible the mayhem in ds's school is down to beginning-of-new-academic-year-itis? Or new systems in place, or new teachers? Only ask because dd's YR started a bit chaotic but got much, much better as time and experience kicked in.

2 form groups of 9 children - private school. The teacher knows each child inside out and cater for their individual needs.

My DS would not have coped well in a class of 30 + which is what it is around here, the termly fees stay with what they say on paper - no hidden extras, it is not cheap but not as impossible as I initially thought. We are not a high income family at all and I went to see the headmistress to talk to her about education and she did give us a small discount from the fees, which helps enormously.

If you are thinking of moving schools visit some private schools and discuss money - I found if you were upfront about your situation 3 out of the 4 schools I looked at bent over backwards to help me - even in some small but really useful ways.

Elibean, don't want to say the city trying to keep more anonymous nowadays You may be right, I just keep remembering my experience.

sausageandbeans that sounds interesting - maybe I should be more upfront as you say [though I can imagine the looks from some we've visited! The best are oversubscribe around here.

I think the best ones will always be oversubscribed tbh. It's the ones that are not so good that will see numbers decline. However many have bursaries which are often not publicised, so it is worth enquiring.

There are many rural schools that have smaller class sizes, but I imagine in cities (and certainly this applies where I live) all classes are full.

Bah! posted, and meant to ask how he was doing this week?