Is this setting / streaming in my child's primary school~?

[beeman10]

Hello. I am a dad of 5 year old who has started year 1 and was in foundation last year. I have a question about setting or streaming as it seems like that is what is happening in my child's school, but I've been told by her teachers that I am mistaken.

Last year my daughter settled into her foundation class at her primary school. There are 3 forms in each year in her primary school. At the end of the year we were told that they were going move the students around so that they could be with their friends. What felt strange was that her friends were in the class that she was moved from. I am now told that the group that she was moved out of has become a "mixed" class with students from year 2 and year 1. That they are taught in more "formal" manner than the other students in year 1 and that there might be different expectations of those students. For example they are expected to do silent reading at the start of the day where students in the other classes might need more support. The reason it bothers my daughter is because the mixed group has different lunch and break times and so my daughter does not get to play with the friends she made last year. The reason I have a problem with this is because I cannot believe that it is a senisble thing at such a young age. Firstly, am I reading too much into this or is this streaming/setting?

It’s probably not setting exactly.
Depending on numbers in the year groups these mixed classes sometimes become necessary. If the year 1 and the year 2 year groups have, say 70 children in each year group then that is too many for just 2 classes (infant class sizes are legally not allowed to be more than 30) but not really enough for 3 proper classes in each year. It becomes financially unsustainable. So it is reasonably common to have some year 1 classes, some year 2 classes and maybe one mixed.
Who goes into which class will have taken a lot of discussion to decide. It might be on age, balance of genders, personalities or abilities.
Personally I’d be much happier that my child was in the single year group class. Much less complicated.

I think you are reading too much into it. When children are placed into the 3 reception classes the staff do not know anything about the children - which children get on well or clash, their needs/abilities, behaviour levels. Many schools shuffle the kids around before moving to year one - they need to make sure that any children who distract each other or fight are separated into different classes, that each class has a good mix of abilities, that each class has a share of the children with additional needs, and many other factors. They will not be splitting them into sets in year 1 quite the opposite - they are spreading the children equally between the three classes.

Yes it’s unfortunate when they are moved to different classes from their best friends from last year, but they make new friends quickly. And it’s good for children to learn to make new friends, be resilient and adapt to change.

Sounds they have enough pupils for 2 1/2 classes and they obviously can’t afford to pay a teacher for half a class.

I dont know but y1 so 5-6yo seems young for any to be silent reading even if they can read chapter books.
Our school seems to stsrt them in y3.

It is sad re the friendships but classes often with over one class do mix them up. But yes annoying about the diff break times

The kids are likely moving faster in maths too

I imagine they have selected the children who are ready for more formal learning as they will be working alongside the year2 children. I guess you're right - it is a form of setting but they will all still being taught the ks1 curriculum just in different ways. I should think the children in the y1 classes will be much happier as they will have much more fun! I do think I would ask why it's not possible for the children to have the same playtime's though!

DC school had mixed classes from year 1 also.

Don't do silent reading I'd say they're young in both classes to be doing that.

It's sad they have been moved from the friends they've made but I expect a lot of planning and decisions have gone into it.
It's also still early days in regards to making new friendships in new class.
You could be saying the same thing next year if she's moved from friends she's made in current class.

I do wonder why they don't mix and lunch or breaks though?

It will have been a financial/practical decision to have a mixed class. Now they only need 5 teachers to cover years 1&2, instead of having 6 smaller classes. The kids chosen to be in the mixed class will most likely be the autumn born Y1's & summer born Y2's, possibly with some tweeks to factor in ability or social development.