Are smaller class sizes better?? worrying over primary school decision

mrsbez_2

Hi,

My DD (4) is due to start primary school in sept. She currently attends the nursery at the local school with three of her best friends she has grown up with since birth. We are all very close, moms and kids.

I have put my daughter down to start in september at the local school, where she goes to nursery, and she has been offered a place. They will be full, a class of 30. One teacher, one teaching assistant.
One of her best friends is staying at this school and the other two are going to a small village school nearby.

Everything was going ok but for about 2 months DD has not wanted to go to nursery. It has started to worry me that she will not be happy when she starts school. She says that there are alot of people and she feels sad. She only plays with her 3 best friends and hasn't really made any new special friends.

Anyway having discussed it with her teacher, she does get sad sometimes and gets quite withdrawn and takes herself off and sits on her own. They are working on it with me and we are trying to make new friendships with other children.

Since these concerns i have been looking at other schools and have looked at the small primary that her other 2 friends will be going to. It is a small village school, mixed year groups and has only 60 pupils in the school, 8 in each year group. It is always oversubscribed but we have been told there is a place for my daughter if she wants it.

The question is, should i stay with the local school and see if we can overcome the situation?? Or should i take up the offer of the smaller school. Is a smaller class size a good thing?? Has anyone had a similar experience??

Both schools are lovely and i am happy and comfortable with them both. I am worrying myself sick about making the wrong decision and ending up with DD being upset starting school.

lf846

I am a reception teacher and would have to say that class sizes can make a real difference. The reality is that at the larger school your daughter would be 1 of 30 and it can be very easy to get 'lost' in the crowd. On the other hand it would help her develop very important social skills and independence learning to adapt to her environment. Children always go through a period of adjustment starting school but a few unhappy months does not mean that it will always be that way.
On the other hand I have also taught in a class of 15 children and found that this also had negatives. In the smaller school there may be small year groups but probably still only be 1 teacher to 30 children, it just means that they would be stretched further.
Personally I would go for the local school. But it is a very difficult decision and not made easier by the fact that all children change significantly during their first few months of school. I assume you have talked this through with her key worker? They would be able to give you more personal advice.

WolfSong2000

Most of my school life (including primary school) was spent at private nursery/school which automatically meant smaller classes...personally, it really worked for me, however one of my friends went to a massive state school and she loved that, so it's all down to the child. I reckon if your child is a little shy, then a smaller class may benefit her as she'll get more individual attention, but the downside is she wont have the scope for really making many new friends if classes are that small...

Have you tried talking to your daughter about it and asking her which scenario she'd prefer? I know she's very young, but she'll likely still have an opinion on the matter, which should be taken into consideration

mrsbez_2

I haven't discussed moving her to a smaller school with her current teacher, i don't know who her key worker is but i presume that it would be the nursery teacher?? Maybe i should be open with them about what i am considering doing.

I know that there would be one teacher and one assistant for the 30 children. In the small school there are two teachers and one teaching assistant for 3 year groups (26 children all in the same classroom).

I think my anxiety is made worse by my own experience at school of feeling very lost in a large school!!

mrsbez_2

I have discussed it with my daughter several times, in fact i think she is getting tired of me asking her. She would like to go to her cousins school because he is there,(he goes to the local school but will be moving to high school next year).But she also says she likes the small school, i took her with me when i visited. I am hoping she will lead me to the right choice.

shirlgirl2004

Personally I think the smaller the class and school the better for young children. My daughter will be moving from a class of 22 to a school which has 21 children. I think it will suit her personality so much better. Only you know your daughter but from what you say a smaller school will suit her. The older children may mother her a little initially and then eventually she will be able to play Mother Hen to all the little children which will boost her confidence.

Money_maker

You may also like to consider the implications of 3 year groups all in one class. I remember a mum complaining about this as the children weren't moving on very quickly in their learning. Different age groups need different styles of teaching and this could be a worry.

Also, what would happen when she gets to go to senior school? Will she be able to cope with many, many more teachers and pupils. Will she have the social skills, will she even know anybody.

A primary with one class per year group is still a small school (some round our way have three) but may be better equipped.

car25

For me I would probably be happier with the larger local school.

There will be a bigger choice of friends the same age in a 30 intake class, with them all moving up the school together. I would also think that it would be easier to settle into secondary school if you come from a larger primary school.

In my area, the larger schools tend to have better facilities and after-school clubs/activities. Whichever you decide on, if it doesn't work out you could always move her later.

shazrobo

personally i would go with the school that offers smaller class sizes, then your daughter will get more attention, and wont get lost in the crowd

Spendless

Unless it was absolutely dire (which it doesn't sound as if it is) I personally would want the bigger local school. Friendships were important to me when chosing a school and I wanted mine to be able to call and play with their peers when they were old enough to do so. I think I'd feel they would have limited local friends their own age if they went to the smaller school. I would worry about them having got used to very small sets of children when they went to secondary school and also be bothered in case the smaller school closed due to lack of pupils.

mrsbez_2

Spendless - the small school has been flagged as one that would merge with another.

Positives of local school -The local school is very good and is improving. The new head is very open to suggestions of improvement and is happy for me to go and see him to discuss my worries!! I can walk to the school (10 mins). My family can collect her if i am ill/out at work, they don't drive. Good sats results.
Negatives of local school - large class size, not as many sports but is improving, she is finding it hard at present

Positives of small school - small class size, nice headteacher, lots of sports, more individual attention, nice children, friendly staff, good communication
Negatives of small school - may close, have to drive, family cannot collect, 3 miles away.

The smaller school has what i would say more 'snobby' parents, lots of 4x4's!! As my one friend puts it, 'the children look cleaner!'