Keeping in year 1 class, not putting in mixed year 1/2, any experiences?

[Clayhead]

My dd is 5 1/2 and in reception, she is with a close group of friends she has been with since they started pre-school in 2004.

Due to the reception intake this year, 4 need to bypass the year 1 class and move up into a mixed year 1/2 class and I have been approached by the school to allow dd to do this.

The teachers in both classes are equally good, I have nothing against mixed year groups in classes but both dh and myself feel that the right thing to do is to keep her in the year 1 class rather than 'promoting' her to the next class. Most parents at dd's school have put their children into the higher class given the choice but we just feel it isn't right for her at the present time.

I was just wondering if anyone else had made a similar decision and what the outcomes were.

TIA

not personal experience, but it worked v well for a friend's dd who was a) old for her year (Oct b'day) and b) what one would now call G&T. She made friends easily with the whole class and it meant she had the opportunity to do the Y2 work without any bother.

If you don't think it is right for your DD at the moment, then say no. I would be reluctant for DD to go into a mixed class like this unless it was absolutely necessary.

You'll probably find that the mixed class does mixed ability work ... but if you feel that it's not right for your DD, then you should say and/or ask for a chat with her teacher

I guess I didn't make myself very clear, we have already made the decision, I was just wondering if anyone else had already made a similar decision.

Mixed ability classes do not bother me at all, in fact the year 1 class I want her to stay in is a mixed reception and year 1 class. Whizz, you are right, they do mixed ability work.

Yes my dd went from a mixed reception/Y1 in to a mixed Y1/Y2 in January (due to a large intake), with 2 others.

Normally in september the y1's are split,the september intake go up with the Y2's and the January stay down with the reception. But because of the large inake in January three moved up. It was done by ability not age.
To start with it was hard as only 10 of the 31 are Y1 and being one of the youngest instead of one of the older ones. Also starting later in the year there was a bit of catch up to do.

Having said that I do think it has been really good for her. She loves it and has come on leaps and bounds. She's still got the same best freinds in the class below and now 2 new best friends in her class.
You will find they adapt very fast.

Mmmm this happens in my dd's school although my dd wasn't put into the mixed class.

My friend's girl was one of the ones who was put in the mixed class and for her girl it hasn't been a good experience. She says her dd feels that she is bottom of the class and struggling in everything, compares herself to the other kids and gets disheartened.

But another kid who also bypassed year 1 and was put into the mixed year2/year 1 class is exceling in the class. He's a bright boy and is doing year 2 work no problem.