Split into ability groups at age 5?

[misdee]

dd1 class has had a rearrangment of groups over half term. they have been split into ability groups for phonics. now dd1 has an IEP as she is struggling with her phonics and has extra small group sessions with a different teacher. i feel a bit miffed, and others parents are saying they hope their kids are in the higher groups. i just feel like shite for dd1 as i feel that at the age of 5 they are all devoping at slightly different rates and to split the class is IMO wrong.

Good to see you are feeling better about it. Both of mine started out in somewhere near the bottom. Dd moved up to top set in a couple of years, but ds did need more help and in retrospect I am glad he was getting it. He has only just (Yr4) moved up from bottom set, but this represents real progress on his part and I am very proud of it. I would have liked it much less if he had carried on struggling due to lack of appropriate support.

It has to be remembered that there is almost a 12 month age gap between the youngest and the oldest child. Also girls develop earlier than boys.

A september born girl is likely to be on a different plane academically compared with an august born boy. Even if the August born boy has a higher IQ.

i know reallytired. when other mums have commented on how well dd2 has done, i agree with them, but gently remind them that if she had been born just 8 hours earlier she would be in the year above.

Ds is a raspberry, which considering his inherent cheekiness is quite comforting.

I think they are usually split into ability groups that are actually very flexible. The kids soon know where they stand.