Year size of only four for my DS

[emmaj1045]

Our local school is a small village one which my DS already attends. There are about 14 in each year, but this year coming there is only likely to be four children in my DDs year. I think they will juggle the classes and have a mixed class of Reception and Year one. Has anyone experienced a year this small as I am concerned for my DD?

Lots of schools mix years. I think it works very well. Generally a small class has a LOT of advantages. The school itself must be about 60 pupils? You will probably find there is more playing across the age groups than you'd find in a bigger school. Dd's school is a decent size but she is year 6 in a mixed class and all the girls who slept over last night are year 5. It doesn't seem to be a difference.

I once taught a class that had four reception children in it, the rest were all year one. There was also a 'straight' reception class. definitely wasn't the best for those four children. They didn't get to do as many reception type activities as the other children as I just couldn't manage it.

I think it depends on the physical set up of the room and the TAs that are going to be there and the number of year one children that there are going to be.

Yes, our local primary is small. And has mixed year groups, Y1 and Y2, 3 & 4, and 5 & 6 grouped together. DD1 was in a particularly small year, only 2 in reception. And then only her in y2,3 and 4. Two boys joined in y5 and 6. I'm sure that someone more knowledgable will give you the educational angle to this but this wasn't great from a social point of view. In Y2 DD1 was only girl in class, for eg. Social opportunities are limited, but there is lots of cross-year playing and usually v small classes e.g. 8 to 10 over 2 years. Dd2 at same school is in big year group of about 15, she has much greater social opportunities (and has much better social skills) but there are about 20 in class ( big for that school).

I think there will be approx 14 year one children. Thankfully, both the reception teacher and TA are very good and y are right, hopefully my DD will play with the bigger girls. I guess I am most concerned about how differentiation will be managed when the group is so small, or do you think it could actually be better?

Will they have access to sand, home corner etc? That was the problem when I was in that situation.

They do have a good set up for the Reception class at the moment so fingers crossed that will continue.

Differentiation is easy with a small class. They should all be able to have individually tailored lessons with only four in the class.

Our DCs are in a mixed Yr/Y1 class with 17 kids. It's fantastic. Differentiation works as in any other school - but it tends to be done on an individual basis rather than kids being assigned to tables.