mixed rec/yr1 class

[sallyst123]

hello, can anyone tell me there experience of mixed yr1 classes. my middle child is going into yr 1 in sept. there are 2 yr 1 classes 1 of which is dedicated to soley yr 1 pupils & the other will be mixed with reception. im v upset with this already the cliquie moms are saying how the other class is for the advanced yr 1 pupils and mixed is for the 1s that fell behind (of course all there little darlings are in the other class) nothing has been said to me about my daughter struggling at school her bday is in the middle of the year so i wouldnt say she will be a young yr1. i honestly dont think i would mind so much if she was starting school going straight into yr1 because being with older kids can motivate other children, but im worried that the teachers will be so distracted looking after the reception children they wont have the time or energy to teach the yr 1s what they need.
My youngest is also starting reception this yr although he isnt going into the mixed class, i think being able to see so clearly the difference between the ages of 4 & 5 starting school & being there for a while, im struggling to see how it will work. ive been looking online & there are lots of positive reports from parents of reception children but id l;ike to hear from parents of children that have been in yr 1, does it hold the children back, the teachers have assured me its not like doing reception again, but really it must be, dont the 2 classes do complerly different work?
sorry if the post is long and confusing, the kids education is so important to me.

the cliquie moms are saying how the other class is for the advanced yr 1 pupils and mixed is for the 1s that fell behind

feckers. The mums who say that, not the kids, sheesh.
There's a pack of us hoping our current receptions will go into a y1-R mixed class next yr (haven't heard yet). The mix works fine ime, btw.

Our school often splits year 1 due to being a small rural school having 4 classes over 7 years.

This year there has been a mixed class of 10 reception and 10 year 1 and 12 year 1 with 9 year 2. It's not a problem - the year ones are treated as year ones and the reception children are treated as reception - we currently have two years in each class and it works just fine. The ones in the mixed class aren't necessarily 'behind', ours were split on who they felt a more relaxed approach would fit and who a more formal approach would work for. If it's a school that usually does this (and it sounds like they have a 1.5 form intake so will do) they will be very used to catering for different needs and ensuring each child gets what they need.

this is the first time the school is doing this! i have to say my eldest attends, and this school & staff have been fantastic, we live in the sticks & 1 of the big reasons why we havent moved is because the school is so good. i usually dont get sucked into playground politics but i hate the fact that people are generalising the few that are going into the mixed class, i was so upset yesterday, because honestly the teachers have never said she was struggling or behind. from doing her reading & writing at home i got the impression she was right on track. my oh thinks im just daft but i just want the best for all my kids and a good education isa the start of that.

If you have concerns or questions then I really don't think the school would mind you asking them. I would ask to speak to them and explain you really don't understand how they will be able to differentiate for Yr1 children in the mixed class.

I have no experience myself but I have friends who have been quite happy with a set up like that.

My daughter (just finishing reception) could probably have coped perfectly well with being taught at a yr1 level this year to be honest so perhaps the reception children who are put in the mixed class will be the oldest ones and they will just be taught more advanced stuff/more formally than reception? There seem to be an enormous number of overlaps in the EYFS reception requirements now and Yr1 so I suspect that in practice there won't be any issues really but I can see why you would be worried. Much of Yr1 if I understand it correctly recaps and builds on reception so I expect they will do the same overall topic but then the groups will work at their own level which is what should happen in a normal class anyway.

Ask - don't worry about it. and yes the other parents can go jump... they have no idea how the class has been split. it could be based on many things, it could be birthday, it could be ability, it could be personality. It could be that the best match teacher wise to your child was that one. it could be purely random.

I'm in Scotland and mixed year classes are very common here (lots of smaller and rural schools etc).

DS1 has just spent a year as a P2 child in a P2/P1 mix class (roughly same as England Yr1 / Rec) - it was absolutely fine. He is in the top half of the overall P2 ability range (including those in a second all-P2 class).

DS2 is about to be a P1 child in a P2/P1 mix class.

As long as there's a decent teacher who will differentiate work for different ability groups - as they should for ANY class - it will be fine.

There's also an advantage in that class sizes are typically smaller for mixed-year classes (legally so in Scotland).

Hi - retired male TA here -

If the school is good and you have confidence in the teachers, I really don't think you have much to worry about.

I worked several years in a small school with a class that combined Reception, Yr1 & Y2. The teacher differentiated work appropriately and was very organised, so the needs of each child were met.

As a lot of the Reception day will be 'learning through play' the teacher will set activities going, and the children get on with it. Hopefully there should be a TA, or other additional support.

A child's school career can last ten years or more, and whilst the first few years do lay the foundations, it is not only academic work that is important; PE, games, art, music, ICT, clubs, visits and visitors, can all be part of the learning experience. And the 'ethos and atmosphere' also count for a lot, so please try not to be disappointed for your DD's sake, and don't let her sense anything 'negative' about her new class.

thank you for your responses. this mixed class thing is all new to me, i didnt have any experience of it growing up in my schools & as previously posted this is the first time this school is doing it. think i will enjoy the holidays with my babies settle my youngest into reception & just monitor how dd gets on over the 1st term back, if i feel she is suffering i will say something then.
thank you ferguson i will try to give my head a wobble, you are right, it wasnt until i listened to the other parents that i had any concerns about this class,and only because of the idea this was for the kids who are slower learners which i know she isnt. but i would never voice this in front of her anyway. i get to meet her teacher soon & the head & dept head are just wonderful anyway, so i should give them credit to know what they are doing.
Wow school has changed soooo much since i was there!!!

Hi Sally, my son's school have mixed yr r/yr1 and mixed yr1/2. We heard he is staying in the younger group for next year. He is a July birthday so I wasn't surprised although a little bit disappointed for him (smaller friendship group). However I have seen how the class works this year, the work is really well differentiated and all children taught to their ability, regardless of year group. Friends with children in this year's year 1 group are happy with it too. I am not worried about his education, good teachers manage this
situation fine.

I honestly don't think it works like that (with the cleverest going in to the single class etc), although I could be wrong, but I think they tend to keep a good mix and balance. Aren't they more likely to do on ages (just a thought) for example in my class it was the youngest from upper year oldest from lower year. In that sense there was rarely more than a 6 month age difference between us. It could be different for your dd's school though. Coming from a mixed class through primary school myself I honestly don't think it made too much difference socially. Everyone mixed with everyone. In terms of work we were often given different work sheets for similar topics, eg two levels of reading books, Maths papers etc.