Is your child going up with her friends next year? Or have the year's classes been mixed up? Hilary Pereira investigates this practice of mixing infant classes

Some infant schools have started mixing up school classes each year before the children go up to the juniors. At this age, children are beginning to form strong friendships, and some find the split from 'best friends' harder to deal with than others - especially if there is a group of friends from whom they've been separated. It's hard, too, to explain to a four-, five- or six-year-old the benefits of going into a new school year with children he or she doesn't know so well. So what is the thinking behind mixing the classes? And how can you help your child to cope?

Why classes are mixed together
Some head teachers believe that mixing infant school classes gives the children better social skills, and ensures that by the time they go into the juniors they know all the children in their year. This gives them a broader experience of children with different personalities, backgrounds and cultures, and helps them to learn how to relate to them.

Children up to age six are very sensitive to adults' personalities, and some schools place each child with the teacher with whom they are likely to respond best, instead of necessarily keeping them with friends.

Some schools have moved away from the idea of 'streaming' by ability in the younger years of school. Different skill levels emerge in different children with each year, from Nursery through to Year 2, and some head teachers believe in mixing children of different abilities so that they can all encourage each other. Plus, a child realising he is in a less able group can be demoralising at a stage when academic ability is less important than social and communication skills.

Sometimes relationships are formed on which one child is more dependent than the other, and this can hold both children back developmentally. In this case separation is often the best solution - however harsh it may seem - with both children eventually performing better. Dr Rona Tutt, President of the National Association of Head Teachers, adds: 'Each infant school is different in size and in the composition of its classes. If a school has a policy of not keeping class groups together as they move through the school, it will be because it has been found to work well, giving the head and staff greater flexibility to consider the mix of pupils who will work well together and matching them to the teacher who will suit them best.'

How to prepare your child
How you approach telling your child about his new class structure will depend to some extent on his personality and level of maturity. It's best to be open, but you might want to allow him to enjoy the summer holidays oblivious to the impending change, then tell him just before the new school term; alternatively, he might cope better if he has time to get used to the idea.

You can reassure him that he'll still see his best friends at break times, and that they can still get together after school. Go on to explain that class time is more about learning than playing and chatting, and that his new teacher will help him make friends. Rona Tutt suggests that: 'Parents and carers can help with any transition by talking in positive terms about the change, which will help the child accept what is going to happen'.

What you can say
Be prepared for some upset, but try not to be over-sympathetic as your child may take this to mean that the situation is truly dreadful! Don't make promises to ask his head teacher if she can swap him into the other class, either. Try to sound cheery and optimistic. Say: 'Think of all the extra people you'll want to invite to your next birthday party!' or 'Imagine how much more you'll look forward to seeing your best friend in the holidays!'

Arrange to meet with your child's new teacher a week or so into the new term to discuss how your child is coping. Some schools arrange a 'Meet the teachers' evening once the term is underway for this purpose.

Encouraging new friendships
There are ways you can help your child to make new friends:

• Chat to the mums in the playground - if you get to know and like them, you're more likely to socialise together with your children
• Find out about some of his new classmates' after-school activities, and join your child up, too
• As your child's teacher which children he spends most time with, then arrange some after-school tea parties
• Encourage your child to take part in school activities such as show-and-share sessions, where other children will get an idea of his home life, and his likes and dislikes
• Talk to him about his school day and see whose names crop up most often - and in what contexts!

How to spot a problem
Your child may be having problems settling in if:

• he is unusually quiet after each school day
• he is consistently reluctant to go to school
• he starts complaining of feeing ill or wanting days off
• he lacks interest in any homework
• he seems depressed or cries a lot for no reason
• his behaviour at home deteriorates

It's important to keep lines of communication open between you, your child and his teacher. Don't worry: most children will settle happily after a few weeks. If not, arrange to meet with his teacher and head teacher to work out a solution.