Mixed classes

[giggly]

My DD has just started P2 and has been put into a 2/3 class with 6 others 4 boys and 3 girls including DD. the P2 class has 9 girls and 10 boys remaining in it.
My DD moved to this school in December along with her older sibling and I have worked hard at establishing new friendships within their peer group.

I am very unhappy with the class numbers as I feel DD will miss out on the extra contact with her peers as well as restrictions in the social /emotional development of being in class with more than 2 other girls.

The group of 7 P2's are taught separately from the P3 kids but join them for gym etc.
There appears to be no other contact with the larger P2 class.
I am due to speak to the HT later this week but wondered if anyone has had any luck with the school changing class size once back in term (Scotland)

[giggly]

The two groups are taught separately, P3 are at a different level. I don't want it to settle down my point is I don't want her in a class with 2 other 5 year olds and the rest 6/7 whom it is likely will not be in her class next year therefore she will be back with the original group and be one of 3 that have not been with this group all year.
We are being forced for her to be separated from her previous class without any consultation which of course I realise is the point as let's face it how many parents would actively put their kids in a mixes class?

[Littlefish]

Many people "actively put their children in a mixed class". I too don't believe that they will be taught separately. I work in a large school which has mixed age classes and the children are taught in each class according to their ability, not their year group.

Your daughter will have every break time and lunchtime with other children from her year group, in addition to getting to know children from the year above.

I think it's a good idea to go and talk to the headteacher, but please go in prepared to listen to what they say, rather than just demanding that things be changed.

[BackforGood]

I am confused about the whole "being forced for her to be separated from her previous class" thing too ~ I know the Scottish Education system is different in many respects from the English one, but surely they still have playtimes and lunchbreaks when they can play with whoever they like ? ??

She is also one of 7 from her yr group in this mixed age class - that's not a small number by any means. Nor do I see why it's a problem for her to become friends with dc in other yr groups - these dc are only one school year older. There are children within the same school year that are virtually 12 months older than the youngest ones (I think more, in Scotland, from what I read on here?), so why are these dc a particular threat to you ?

[Millymollymama]

I actually do have sympathy with the OP. The school should have mixed all of P3 and P2 up so everyone was in a mixed class and have taken the financial hit. Same for everyone. By just taking a few out, the older ones, it does not mean they are educationally advanced and could be several years below the brightest P3 children in respect of reading, for example. 7 is a small and strange number to deal with (not one table or two tables) and even within this small number you could have a very low achieving child and an extraordinarily bright one or two. The teacher will have to work hard at differentiation.

Years ago my sister and about 9 others were put with about 25 younger children - this was even worse as she was never extended (she was very bright and had to hear the struggling readers read to her). My Mum did all the catch up work with her. This is not a scenario I think is fair. At least in small schools you know it will be the case and agree with it. Just taking 7 is not fair. What happens next year? More change? Will the youngest 7 be removed next year to join the incoming P2? I would ask the school what their plans are.

[Millymollymama]

The remaining P2 class has 19 children remaining in it. These are not mixed up with the P3 children. Only one class is. I thought that was the point of the OPs question! For the reasons I outlined, where I live, parents hate mixed a age group class for one class only. I assume there is another P3 class with around 20 children in it. It would have been possible to have 3 x P2/3 classes so everyone is the same. What have I misunderstood?

No I am not a teacher but I am a governor. It is not true to say that older children thrive with more challenge. They won't if they are really struggling with the curriculum, or have SEN which stops them making good progress! These children can easily be the older children in a cohort. It may make more sense to give off the brighter ones but lots of parents do not like that either. That is why it is fairer to mix them all up. It is all about how children make the best progress. It might be a trend to mix like this, but if the teaching is poor, it is a big problem! You can snort all you like!

You obviously don't manage a school budget, CBM. If you require more teaching time because there is a need for extensive differentiation, often schools employ additional teachers or TAs in these classes. This costs more! It is also why there is only one P2/3 class, isn't it?

[Bogburglar99]

I don't think I quite get the numbers - is the class cap 30 children as in England? In which case why not a P2 class of 19 + 7= 26? Is the P3 cohort rather small so they are trying to give both years the benefit of smaller classes rather than have P2 at 27 and P3 at less?

Don't discount the benefits of mixed classes. My DD is an autumn born child and she has hugely enjoyed being in a Y1/2 class and formed some great friendships with many of the Y2 girls.

[kippersmum]

I was in exactly your situation a year ago with the same concerns. My DD blossomed & the extra challenge of being with Y3 children certainly helped her achieve good academic progress.

It will take a while to settle down so be patient.

Another DD is about to enter a mixed 4/5 class this year, I have one DD or other in a mixed class every year it seems!

I always have concerns but so far it has always worked out for the best.

[kippersmum]

I also don't agree with the concerns about different abilities. Any standard class of 30 kids with an age range of a year will hugely different abilities.

A mix class of the oldest from 1 year & the youngest from the year above has 2 advantages. 1 - the class size here is capped at 25, not 30. 2 - the age range is normally 7 or 8 months.

In my experience the range of different abilities can actually be smaller, and with 5 less children in the class that also helps.

[Indole]

DD was in a mixed Y1/2 class (P2/3 equivalent, I think). The range of attainment was no larger than in her current unmixed class.

[Enkopkaffetak]

OP I am in England but I actively put my children in a mixed class and for all 4 of them it was a great situation. The ones who needed a little extra help got it and then ones who needed to be pushed got pushed, I personally think mixed classes are great. So please do not let that be a concern for you.

However.. as you obviously feel that this has not been communicated well and you have concerns about the children being left out of social circles take those concerns to the school. They are legitimate concerns that the school should have answers to. It is also much more likely they will listen to that type of concerns than " my child should not be in the class you put her in"

Good luck