How can one teacher teach three different age groups?

[fedu]

My son has been at a private school and gone through reception and year 1. At the end of the term we were informed that in September the reception class, Year1 and Year2 will all be taught in the same class by one qualified teacher and 1.5 TA's. We would welcome comments as don't feel at all happy with this.
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[GraceGrape]

This happens in some very small schools. I know someone who teaches in a (state) school with a rec/1/2 class and a 3/4/5/6 class. If the class has fairly low numbers and a strong TA I think it can work ok.

[GreyAndGoldInTheMeadow]

That does seem unusual, there is a world of difference between reception and year 2. My ds will be yr 2 next term and his class this year and next have/will been working closely with the year above, which has worked well, but they have time in separate year groups and come together at other times ( the 2 classes together is still less than 30 children)

[spanieleyes]

I currently teach 3 year groups (32 children in 4/5/6) and have previously taught R/1/2-with 30 children. It just takes organisation, a good knowledge of the curriculum and plenty of practice!

[LIZS]

If it is because pupil numbers are low then I'd suggest viability will become an issue if not already. Look elsewhere.

[marmaladegranny]

My 3DC had this situation in a village primary school - but without any TAs, just some mums and grandmothers going in to hear reading. They had a fantastic grounding for their education, even DS who has really bad dyspraxia. Much depends on the teacher and how many children in the class.

[Only1scoop]

Dd begins at a school in September which has years 1 and 2 combined. There will be 13 children.

Kindergarten are separate though.

[howtodrainyourflagon]

If this is at a private school I'd worry about its financial viability if it's having to combine 3 classes.

[Ferguson]

I worked in a R/Yr1/Yr2 class, with a well organised teacher and TA, plus other PT help.

It can almost be an advantage, because the brighter R children can share some of the 1/2 lessons, and conversely the less able Yr2 can 'recap' lessons with younger children.

Provided that it is well organised, and the class is not too large, it should work.

[mrz]

Mixed ages isn't any different to mixed ability in many ways. The teacher plans for the needs of each child.

I agree with howtotrainyourfkagon about the viability of an independent school if numbers falling.

[Chocolateteabag]

This is very normal in very small primary schools - DS1 is starting in reception in our village school which has 2 classrooms. He will be with Yr1 & Yr2 children - total class size of 18-20.

But as PP's have said, that is a state primary school where we have very small numbers of children. A private school combining classes would worry me a lot.

[Bunnyjo]

The school my DC go to have 3 classes for the 8 year groups (nursery to year 6) so there are always 2 classes that contain 3 year groups. DS (reception) will be in a mixed nursery (am only), reception and year 1 class and DD (year 4) will be in a year 4, 5 and 6 class.

This kind of structure is very much the norm in small rural schools. However, as others have pointed out, I would be very worried about the viability of an independent school which is having to do this following, what I can assume is, falling numbers of children on roll