PARENTS have slammed a bizarre school rule banning kids from choosing who they play with at break time.
Pupils at a Yorkshire primary school are instead divided into strict colour-coded groups and have to take part in a pre-set activity decided by staff.
A "blunt" letter sent by the school's headteacher has raised further concerns among parents after telling them teachers "actively discourage" socialising even in the classroom, Hull Daily Mail reports.
In the letter, parents are told of the benefits of their "very positive" strategy, involving kids having to switch class groups every year.
'KIDS ARE DICTATED TO'
The briefing also reminds parents that "the classroom environment is a learning environment" and that socialising "is a barrier to high pupil outcomes and disrupts other children's learning".
It ends by revealing the child's class for the September year, adding: "It will not be possible to make changes to this."
One mum, whose child will start at Y1 at Welton Primary School in September, described the lack of socialising as "horrific".
She told the Mail: "The kids are dictated to about who they are to play with – it's weird.
The kids are dictated to about who they are to play with – it's weird. It's the only free time they have. It would be like telling a colleague they had eat lunch with somebody specific.
"It's the only free time they have. It would be like telling a colleague they had to eat lunch with somebody specific.
"The kids are banded like yellow etc and that's who they have to play with.
"They should be able to free play. Apparently the 'children come in calmer.'"
'HARSH' SENTENCE
The mum said she was not told about the rules until her child joined the school at foundation level last year.
She thinks the change was in response to a perceived need for "classroom control".
The concerned parent continued: "The sentence seems harsh and at odds with children's need for socialisation and their mental health and wellbeing. Is this child focused and is it nurturing?
They mix the classes every year. Sometimes it's been a disaster for us and sometimes it's been a positive.
"Other schools keep children together as a class but here they also purposely split them, even from foundation. I don't like that."
Another mum, who has older children at the school, told the Mail: "They mix the classes every year. Sometimes it's been a disaster for us and sometimes it's been a positive.
'A MENU FOR CHILDREN'
"At playtime they have a band system for activities so if the children don't get there quick they miss out – once you are in a zone you can't swap – a bit like a prison."
Headteacher Nikki Pidgeon said both mixing up the classes each year and discouraging socialisation had helped pupils make "good progress" since they introduced the measures eight years ago.
This approach offers a menu of things the children can choose from every day
In a statement, she said all children had friends in their new classes but children were taught to work as a team "regardless of their external friendship group".
Ms Pidgeon said the school had "adopted a national scheme for supporting safe and active playtimes about 10 years ago".
"This approach offers a menu of things the children can choose from every day," she said.
"A typical selection of activities each playtime would be traditional playground games, den building, rounders, tennis, inventions shed, drawing, top trumps, table tennis and the cricket nets.
"There is a quiet area for children who just want to sit and chat to their friends. The peer mentors look after children who can’t find anyone to play with."
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