Can anyone tell me the advtanatges and disadvantages of composite classes?

[Hulababy]

I know very little about them or how they work, but want to do some research into it.

How does a composite class of reception/Y1 children work?

Are there any benefits, and who to?

What are the key disadvantages?

Thank you.

Sorry. Yes is the answer. Been to see HT and feel much much happier. Know much more about how it will work and for what lessons, and how they will decide if the children involved will become permanent members of their class, thereby always being one year ahead for secondary, for GCSEs, for uni, etc. They also have the option to repeat the first year, and thus being one year below where they currently are, but chance to move between years later.

Hadn't realised that this was fairly normal in the school anyway, with children skipping a year if academically ready too. Plus they have one child who is one year behind where she should be as she came to the school as a non English speaker.

And there will be a FT teacher and a FT experienced TA.

So at the moment I feel fine about it. And I know it will be monitored constantly.

Helps as DD had parent's evening this week too, so we know how she stands in all this.

I didnt think that a child was able to skip a year & go up to secondary & uni early. You certainly couldnt do that in the state sector. I suppose if you go private all the way through you are paying for this privilege. Not sure a child could start college or uni early though unless they are extremely gifted.
Im sure someone on here can confirm either way.

You can do that in the state sector, and skipping a year does happen at some state schools. I have known of this before, have also known of state school children repeating a year too. Have taught in state school that had both of these situations.

So long as you meet the entry requirements for the uni, and are deemed suitable (normally via interview) universities will take children younger than the academic year.

However I do envisage, having spoken to similar parents, that some children will take a gap year out anyway.

There have been 12 and 13 years olds at university.

Hope it works out for you, your dd and for all the other girls. Seems a big ask of a 4/5 year old completely new to the school though, are they generally believed to be "mature" for their age ? Can't help thinking it will still have to be pitched to the lowest common denominator, whatever curriculum is taught, but that might happen within a single age range as much as a 2 year one. Not sure it is quite so common to omit a year en masse, seems very convenient for your HT to be able to say so !

There will only be 3 girls involved. One child is here for just a year, parents on a fixed placement at the hospital. And at least one other parent has asked for their child to repeat PP1 at the end of the year. So only 2 involved, and will be determined on their own merit.

nd good news for year after. They have a decent sized class already signed up, with more possibilities from the preschool, which is looking to be very successful.

Normally with whole class teaching it is taught to the middle of the class.

Howver in this first year of it Literacy, Numeracy and French are not included in the mixing of the girls. The only subjects affected are the practical stuff: ballet, PE, music, drama, art, etc. and some humanities which is easy to differentiate anyway.

I do believe that DD will be fine.

oh that makes more sense , so the KS1 elements will still be separate for year 1 to the fundamental Foundation Stage subjects for Reception. Do still feel a bit sorry for the newbies trying to make new friendships in an established group though, hope mroe join them later on otherwise it could get a bit limited socially!

It is the social aspect that is making the composite class happen. TBH hopefully it won't a problem to much. DD very quickly knew the girls from the class above and was playing with them in the playground - and that was without being in their classroom most days. I am sure they should fit into the class quite nicely. It's only a small class anyway, so not too daunting really, and will be done gradually. That's the advantage of a small school - very quickly everyone knows everyone and they all play togther very well.

I really hope it works out for your dd hula. TBH I wouldnt be happy about paying for this sort of set up in the independent sector when you can get exactly the same thing for free at most village primaries.
Also, ive found that although small schools & classes have their advantages, they have distinct disadvantages too from a social point of view. For example a child is split up from all their friends? This is whats currently happening at our school, only a few are being kept down & its causing uproar. At least two families that I know of are pulling their children out of the school. Theres also a problem if there is an imbalance in the sexes. My dd will be one of only four girls in her class this September (5 in actual year group) & this year has been so bad for her socially were considering moving her to a one form entry school.

At present we are exceptionally happy with the school, and we chose it after a good deal of looking. DD has thrived there. So we are willing to give it ago and see what happens. I have enough faith in the head and the staff to know that should anything be amiss at any time they will seek an alternative solution. So long as DD continues to be happy and making such wonderful progress then we are very happy.

SP - the set up in our local state school is very different to this: 75 children across 2 classes, in one big classroom seperated by a couple fo steps. Although a very good school based on repitation and OFSTEd DH and I hated it when we visited.

The local school set up does not sound good. Im not suprised you didnt want to send your dd there. Our school has around 110 pupils spread out over 5 classes. It usually works out quite well, but due to them having a larger than usual reception class this year they are having to do things differently for this September & a lot of people are very unhappy about the way its been handled.

TBH I think people are always unhappy with changes from the norm. I know that was part of our problem here - changes from the cosy, friendly set up we currently have. No doubt by the end of this next year all will be fine.

I think the parents of the ones who are being left behind are upset that their child has been singled out as bottom of the class & left with the Reception babies. I understand how they feel. There will also be about 20% of children with statements in that class & various other SEN`s & they are afraid their child will be held back further.

Thanks for that, it's always good to hear the results and I'm glad you're so content with it. As you say, so long as dd is happy and progressing well, then no worries. x

My son goes to a school with composite classes. One class is Reception / Year 1 and the other is Year 1 / Year 2. One thing I like about the school is that children of all different ages mix together.

It also seems to be very flexible in how they cater for the individual child. The tables can comprise of children of different ages. The Reception / Year 1 room has a pretty informal atmosphere. Which helps chidren like mine who are summer babies. They still do the appropriate year one work but still more of a fun atmosphere!

Some of the year ones are then slowly fed into the other room. It is pretty much Sept ones go first. Fairly sensible as Sept and summer babies are a more similar age to those above or below a year than each other!

Every term there is a class topic, like jungles, dinosaurs, where we live. So the children have group time to discuss then go to tables to work at their level. Even if a child is in the room for 2 years they won't repeat these topics.

My son is now in the Year 1 / Year 2 room and often joins the year 2's for science history sort of work but reading and maths is on a mainly year 1 table. It's nice that they can cater in this way.

I do wonder how a parent could take it if they saw other children the same age going up and theirs staying behind. I suppose it's how it's presented to the parents. The decision of what child goes where has much more to do with school intake numbers than who's brighter than who competition. Also to do with maturity, personality, listening ability etc

My son does have one very good friend who stayed in the reception / year one class. I know he's on the same reading books as my son but he's such a wriggle bum . Whilst he's a very capable young man he just needed to be in a more informal environment for a little longer. My son is also a wiggle bum and listening skills of a gnat but they decided he's react well to more being demanded of him in this way. Suppose that's children for you different methods work for different children.

Oh my I've waffled on. I think with many teaching/ school issues it's not what's done but how it's done.

Hulababy I am glad that you are now comfortable with things and hope it works out for your DD. I would feel the same way about you and infact the big downside of our local school is the composite classes. The difference is though that it sounds like your school handled it very well indeed.

Thanks all. And great info too Bluebob.