Reception table colour

[Fourunderfourx]

DD just stared reception and has told me she's at the red table, there are 3 different colours. Does the colour of the table have anything to do with the child's ability or is it just random? She attended the nursery attached to the school and they did an assessment and report for the transfer to the school so was thinking it was maybe based on that?

Ds has just gone in to year one. In his school, in reception they have groups by colour, he is in blue group, and they use this for team sport and house points type stuff. He was allocated his colour before he started. It's definitely not based on any ability, because I've already been told his sister will also be blue group when she starts next year, as they have coloured tshirts and it means those can be handed down.

They also have groups for phonics based on what book band they are working on, so all the kids in the small phonics group are working on the same set of sounds and reading the same books. But those groups weren't set up until they'd got a way into the year and into their phonics learning. They are also reassessed every six weeks, witb a lot of movement between groups.

So I'd say it's most likely they're being told to sit at the red table because the teacher knows that Jessie, Becky and Katie sit at the red table, and it's a way for the teacher to learn their names, and help the kids learn a bit of consistency and behavioural expectations.

I've named my tables this year and have allocated the children by personality/friendships for now.
I've named the tables now so that it's there at the start of term. Then if I want to work with a specific group for a subject I can ask them all to come to a specific table. It could well be as simple as that

It could also be that, given that school transition can be tricky, they've allocated a coloured table so children can show some autonomy and they know where to sit.

Its not really going to make any difference long term so no need to worry about it. Some are ahead now, so a bit behind and most even out over the next few years.

How does that work?

@SarahAndQuack so if I've done maths input and I want to work with a group of children that I have noticed have struggled, i would ask them to come and join me at the "blue" table or whatever I've called it. Then I would work closely with those children. The children who normally work at that table would move as they can access it independently

I meant allocating children by personality/friendships!

@SarahAndQuack I work with slightly older children who have established groups and peers etc. I am aware of children who won't sit well together so at the start of the year this is a consideration whilst we build routines

Oh, I understand! I'm sorry if I sounded combative - I was thinking of someone making judgments about reception-age children. Of course when you know they have established peer groups, it's different.

@SarahAndQuack absolutely no offence taken. If I was potentially doing things to the detriment of the children I would much rather someone raised their head and asked the question!
I only know as much as I know and I can always learn more.

It won’t be anything in reception. Ability setting is very old fashioned at primary school until you at least get to upper KS2. Quality first teaching is used to allow all of the children whatever their ability to access the curriculum. At my school the only differentiation is in phonics groups but those are very small anyway. Other than that it is free flow learning through play.

I suspect the only reason they have been given a table is so that they know where to sit and there’s no arguments about who gets to sit by Julie for example.

Oh, goodness, I don't think you are at all!

The reason I wondered about it is I have come across situations where someone presumes very young children are friends/are similar personalities, and it's so tricky. Obviously, when they are a bit older you can really tell, but when they're newbies at age 4/5, I think you can't.

Really surprised by the number of posters saying this is ability grouping. I am in education (primary) and seating children in ability groups is pretty outdated educational practice , especially with the younger years. However table groups are often given names / colours just as a way of identifying eg yellow table come to the carpet now, tiger table put your coats on etc etc

I went to view a independent school and they did this to separate the autumn, spring and summer kids.

I don’t think it’ll be done on ability, certainly not at this stage in the year- they’ll be spending this first few weeks getting to know the children and their abilities.

In DC’s school, tables for general topic work are mixed ability and then they move into ability groups for phonics and maths.