Pros and Cons of mixed YR/Y1 and Y1/2 classes?

[bluegiraffe]

Hi - just wondered what people's experiences (good and bad) have been with mixed Infant classes; YR/Y1 and Y1/Y2 - and what happens when DC's are age-wise in Y1, how do schools decide whether they mix with YR or Y2?...

They decide it on how well they've progressed in yr R. If they are progressing well and showing good maturity, they go into a Yr1/2 class, if they need some more nuturing, they stay in the R1 class.

Interested in this as DD school have mix years. Not YR but all other years. And I have been categorically told it is done by age only and never ability. I await more posts.....

Subbing. We were told the same as mayday...

We have a Y1 class, a mixed Y1/Y2 class and a Y2 class.
Allocation was apparently done by a combination of age/maturity, ability, friendship groups, keeping a good gender/behaviour/personality mix in each class and finally there were a few cases where parents asked for children to be put into separate classes (e.g. siblings only a year apart).

This is the first year it's been in place. Some parents were very sceptical initially, however the Y1/Y2 teacher is fab and things seem to be ticking along pretty well now.

Strange Mayday, because in Ds1's school I've been told that "Ds2 is one of the more likely ones to move into a yr1/2 class next year, as he's very capable"!

It was strictly by date of birth which led to huge imbalance in girl / boy ratio. There was no account of personalities or abilities or maturity. Was very unsatisfactory.

Nearby school goes by surnames. eg A-M yr1 boys & girls with N-Z yr2 boys & girls. Again avoids having to think / explain to parents but does mix up maturity/ ability /gender more.

mixed R/1 and 1/2 classes - exactly the same as Colditz describes, not just academic ability but also emotional maturity etc.

"need some more nurturing" is a good description.