Mixed reception/year one for a reception child - any experience?

[Arielthelittlemermaid]

My DD's new school have some classes that are mixed reception/year one. I was just wondering if anyone had experience of this for their child's first year in school, and how you found it?

dtds went to a tiny school which had only three classes for the whole seven year groups. The Infants was Reception, Year One and Year Two when they joined. It was lovely, the older children really helped the younger ones.

No ours has Reception and Nursery together then Y1 and Y2 then 3&4 then 5&6. That seems to work very well.

At my DS's school it's Reception/Y1 in one class and Y1/Y2 in the next.

My DS was one of the ones who did two years in the first class (august born) and it was brilliant for him. He still did certain lessons in the next class on, and more this term as he gets ready to move up. It's a small school though (only 4 classes) and there are usually only 4-8 year 1's in the first class but they all mix really well.

My DD is currently a reception child in a mixed YrR/Yr1 class. It is a small village school with 100 pupils in 4 classes, so all mixed.

It has been great for her this year. She has had some slightly older ones to look after her, there has been LOADS of differentiation and she has also been challenged as she has progressed. We have been very happy with the whole set up. I'm also not worried about her being held back next year when she's in the class as a year 1, as I know they will stretch them all, which must be a good sign!

Do you have any particular concerns that you want to discuss or is it just generally?

Yes, both of mine did this, it's a long time back now, they're at High School!

There were no issues with it and it was fine.

As a TA in a class of mixed year R and year 1 it's absolutely fine - we have all of both years (small school) and the work they are set is different. Carpet time is more aimed at the year ones with simplified questions for most of reception, the Y1 children then go and do more formal written work while reception go on to more play-based learning. My children have all started school in mixed age classes (and have had them all through primary) and they have all thrived.

Yes. Ds2 in reception was placed in a year 1 class with six other reception children ( only one other boy) following initial assessments. Academically it did him no harm whatsoever, although he is a bright confident boy with an older brother and not easily fazed. Socially however, friendships were formed between the reception which DS and his companion have since found slightly difficult to join. They are all now year 4, yet DS still often plays with the year 5 boys who he started out with. I have mixed feelings tbh.