Mixed yr 1/reception class or yr 1 only. Your opinions and experiences please

[Pesha]

Just had ds1's parents evening. He is an August baby so the youngest in his class and quite young for his age in some ways too. He is and always has been very impulsive and has little control of his emotions, if he feels something you see it! I was very worried about him starting school as he seemed so young still and you need to approach him in a certain way to get results, come down too hard or try and force him and he gets very upset and cross. His teacher is lovely and seems to really 'get' him. She sees all the wonderful things about him that I see and understands how he works and how to handle him as it were so I have a lot of faith in her. She actually said today that she loves him to bits and he is a little ray of sunshine in her class!!

Despite seeming young in his spontanaiety he is able at times to really focus well on something if it gets his attention. I remember at playschool his keyworker commenting on how on ocassion if something really captured his attention he could sit for a good 10 minutes or more completely focused on 1 activity.

He is doing very well with his phonemes and blending and his numeracy. Not brilliant or anything but for his age and the level he entered school at he is coming on really well.

So his teacher today said shes not sure whether next year he would be better going into a mixed class or a year 1 only class. Mixed would be more play based which might suit him better and allow him to take a slower pace with less pressure. However his literacy and numeracy is coming on well enough for him to be in a yr 1 class and she said his concentration and understanding of school rules and procedures is also coming on really well, if he went in a mixed class this would stay pretty much the same whereas in a yr 1 class he could carry on progressing and get even better iyswim.

She said they have until mid may to decide and asked me to have a think about what I would like and said she would watch him to see how much more he progresses.

Part of me wants him to be in the yr 1 class so he can come on more and I'm a bit worried a mixed class is sort of like, well not a step back but not really a step forward iyswim. But at the same time I really want whats best for him, I dont want him to be pushed too hard and get demotivated and give up trying.

So I wondered what other people's experiences were. Has it helped or hindered? What were the negatives or positives? Any teachers with any advice about the pros and cons would be great.

I realise my decision wont be definitive but it does seem like they want my opinion and it would be nice to be a bit more informed and also better able to understand whatever decision they do come to.

TIA and sorry this is so long, I could talk about my little boy all day

[Pesha]

Anyone...?

Or have I left it too late at night?

I did start writing before 9 but the phone kept ringing!!

[pooka]

Sorry - have no experience of this. But I like the sound of your ds's teacher - A LOT. She sounds fab.
Also it sounds pretty good that your school offers 2 different types of class - mixed and single year.
Surely if he was in the mixed class, there would be mixed ability work too? So wouldn't they still stimulate his learning with year 1 type work, but in a more relaxed environment?
What would happen at the end of that year? Would he have to then make a leap up into a straight year 2 group? That might be quite a jump in terms of behavioural and emotional expectations.
Hope someone can give you good advice.

[busymum1]

no experience that way but my daughters school is mixed yr1/yr2 we were bit dubious but works well they have class teacher and seperate literacy/numeracy teacher(English/Maths) works well, more chance of learnin at child's level can be stretched if needed or kept simple till learnt basics she made friends now with nearly every child in school as they all mix etc would go for it if offered also don't forget if child birthday 31st august may be one day older than child in year below birthday 1st September also found older ones behave better as feel proud to be example to younger children

[Pesha]

Thanks pooka - she is fab! I could have hugged her, it was so lovely hearing someone so influential in his life recognising so clearly how he is and how to get the best from him. I was so worried about him starting school as it could so easily have all gone wrong for him with the wrong teacher.

Its a big school, a bit less than 100 in each year group so for yr 1 theres two yr1 classes, one yr1/2 mixed and one yr 1/R mixed. But I think if they've been in a mixed class one year they try and avoid putting them in a mixed class the next year so he probably would go straight into a year 2 class and you're right that could be quite a leap.

I think it would still be yr 1 work and he'd still go on the yr1 trips etc but with a lot more play as well.

When dd started school she was in the mixed class but she was reception. She did very well and I think it was definitely a positive for her but obviously she was on the other side of it. I know some of the yr 1 mums were not so happy with their dc's progress. But then I think at least one of them is the sort of mum who would never be happy with anything!

[Blueblob]

My summer born son had a wonderful Reception / Year One teacher. During Year One he went up to a Year One / Two class where the teaching was much more structured and formal. In hindsight I wish he'd stayed where he was for an extra term, like a couple of his friends. They were provided with the correct level work in both classrooms. He didn't have a terrible time but I think he'd have had more enthusiasm in a more play based environment.

[Pesha]

Busymum - thats a very good point about older ones feeling proud to be example to younger ones. It could also give him a big confidence boost to become one of the top achievers in his class having already done a year of school rather than one of the lower ones trying to keep up in a yr 1 class. I hadnt thought of that.

There were a couple of children in his class this year who turned 5 right at the start of the year and there was my little boy who only a few weeks before had been a 3 yo!

[miljee]

Keep him with the younger DCs. There's YEARS in which he can shine amongst older DCs but I believe that the social aspect of school at this level is SO much more important than the 'formal/structured' side. Believe me, that becomes unavoidable all too soon. The school seem to be onto it, and as someone says, he'll still be doing yr 1 work, and also, yr 2 IS a lot more full on!

[Littlefish]

Pesha, I've taught a mixed year R/1 class. It was organised roughly as the oldest reception children and the youngest Yr 1 children. I taught the class by ability, rather than by year group if you see what I mean. It meant that all the children had the same opportunities to a play based curriculum, but I was able to stretch those who were ready (whether they were Reception or Year 1). Being in a mixed R/1 should not hold your ds's literacy or numeracy back in any way as long as the learning opportunities and teaching are targetted appropriately.

Would his current teacher be the mixed R/1 teacher? If not, have you met the other teacher?

I absolutely loved teaching mixed age classes.

[pigsinmud]

I'm going to be slightly negative.

Ds2 (now in yr 3) spent yr1 in a mixed reception/yr 1 class. It's a small school - 4 years, but only 3 classes. That year there was a mixed rec/yr1 and yr1/yr2 classes. The youngest of ds2's year were put in the yr1/reception class. It didn't work for him. He complained of being bored. He adored the teacher, but I think she struggled with what was a boisterous reception intake.

However, it depends on the teacher and your child. My ds2 wanted to be pushed and I don't think he was in that class. He was bored.

I do think reception should be a class on its own. I've experienced mixed yr1/yr2 class and yr2/yr3 class with my boys and they seemed to work fine.