Splitting year groups by attainment

[Bunnyjo]

Just had a glowing report and parents evening for DD (4yo in YrR). I went through her FSP with her teacher and she scored 109 and I am obviously very proud of her, especially given the fact she isn't 5 until late August.

There is a tiny concern though (probably me being PFB, but I am a little worried). A letter came out on Friday which said that class structures were yet to be decided. Her school is a small village school with 3 classes - Class 1 is YrR and Yr1, Class 2 is Yr2 and Yr3 and class 3 is Yrs 4, 5 and 6. I asked the teacher during the parents evening if these changes would impact DD and she said that whilst she coudn't confirm anything officially, she is sad she won't be teaching DD next year - meaning DD will move to Class 2.

Has anyone experienced schools that split classes by ability in such a way? I guess it can only be good for DD, but I worry that my teeny tiny girl is going to be lost, especially as it appears that only a couple of the YrR children are moving up to class 2. Please tell me I'm worrying over nothing

I guess it can only be good for DD, but I worry that my teeny tiny girl is going to be lost

How many children are in each class? With a school that small, I can't imagine anyone feeling lost.

letseat I hope I am being very PFB neurotic, but I mean lost in the sense that I have concerns about her being a just turned 5yr old in a class of predominantly made up of 7 and 8yr old juniors.

Academically, I am confident the school can cater to individual needs - they have been doing mixed year classes for a long time. What I don't know is, for lessons like PE, will she be with her age appropriate peers or with children 2-3yrs older than her? Although her report was glowing, physically she is very accident prone; her report highlighted her lacking spatial awareness during PE and also that she cannot catch a ball when it is thrown towards her.

Having asked the question here, I am now happy I can go the the HT and ask how they will organise lessons like PE and that my concerns are somewhat justified.

My DD got put up a year (overseas) in a small rural school that sounds alot like what you are describing. In her previous class there was a really tiny little girl who had also been put up. Although a teacher takes a mixed age class - they are on tables according to school year, and the teacher and assistant float round 3 work areas spread across two interconnecting rooms.

My DD is big and regularly taken for being older, and is averagely well co-ordinated with an appalling singing voice but despite not singing well and being the only one in her class who was truly dire, she managed to be blissfully unaware of this, as the teacher did music with the two younger classes as well.

Tiny girl, has coped very well, but the only thing is that I noticed her behaviour deteriorated as she tried to copy the older / bigger and less well-behaved to fit in once DD (her best friend) had left the class. I noticed the same with my DD to a lesser extent, but she was alot happier with the older class simply because she wasn't as bored in class.

When I was strongly advised she should go up, I was told I could decline. I talked about social issues with the teacher, and she was happy to talk, including how DD would get on (and was currently getting on at playtime) with the children in the new class. Don't be shy in asking who else will be going up, are they any of your DD's current friends / work mates / how do they think she will cope / is there anything you can do to help her at home to feel confident socially. I think teachers prefer to be asked in advance, rather than have problems come up.

The only other comment I have is that once in the class, the teacher forgets that they are younger, and therefore they may need more help resolving a social issue etc. but we've always had that problem as DD is too lanky. There is also the birthday issue - why am I not [insert age] yet too Mummy? - however I don't think that will be a problem in a mixed age class.

Maybe they will run the two years together for PE - and then split by age & size?

Sorry for such a long post, but hope it helps a bit.

Thanks ohmygosh. I am speaking with the HT on Friday (as an aside, they are trying to get council funding and a change of age status for the on-site nursery they have been running for the last year and the public consultation is tomorrow - so the HT is really busy) and I am going to raise my concerns about DD's physical skills in comparison to her older peers, and hopefully glean some information about who else in her cohort is also moving to Class 2.

As she's currently in a YrR/1 class, I already get the 'Why am I the youngest? Why am I not 5, already? Why are my teeth not wobbling?' questions daily... I fear it might be a loooong school year coming up

Bunny Jo- They would not have put your DD in that class had they not believed she had the confidence and maturity to cope.They will have considered that a long way ahead of academic attainment.

Thank you ariadne1.