streaming

[debs40]

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help with advice or share their experiences.

My eldest son is in a reception class and will go to Year 1 in September.It is a very large infants school (240 pupils) but he seems happy where he is although, not uncommonly, his teacher seems to be very stressed and does not really appreciate talking through concerns.

I have heard that the children will be streamed when they go into Year 1 and this, frankly, horrifies me. I think they are far too young for that. I raised this with his teacher and the question went down like a lead balloon. He was very hostile and told me, the children would be split on ?friendship? basis. He didn't want to talk about it further than that.

He then spoke to the Head who put a brief piece in the newsletter saying that the children would be split into groups with a mix of abilities, personalities etc.

I am still worried about the reaction I got when I asked this and I believe that there is probably more to this than meets the eye. The information initially came from someone who works in the school! Also, I don't understand why they are splitting up class groups if it is all to do with 'friendships'. I feel I'm being patronised and that no one is interested in discussing this further .

I am very active at the school and have always been really supportive of the teachers and staff so this is a rude awakening for me. I feel like I have asked something I shouldn?t have and that they have fallen at the first hurdle!

Do I have a right to this information? I know I can?t alter policy but I think it is patronising not to let parents know how their children are to be taught. What is the big secret?

I am inclined to insist on asking to see the Head (who is retiring this summer and is pretty ineffectual) but I don?t want to cause bad feeling.

Advice welcome!

Blimey - that is spot on 'a mum in scotland'! Thanks

I think it's really unlikely that they're planning to do that - I've never heard of it in Yr1. I'm sure the person who told you about it is just using the term to mean that the children will be taught in year groups from now on - a lot of people do use it to describe grouping.

(I had a quite baffling conversation with someone years ago because my high school had setting and theirs had streaming, and it took us both a while to work out what the other meant)

If you are still concerned, then it might be an idea to speak to the Head about the newsletter piece, but in a way that makes it clear you're just wanting clarification and not accusing anyone of a cover-up. I don't know how you've approached them in person, but I'm afraid your OP does come across as rather confrontational, and it may be that you've come across as over-reacting to things? It sounds like you'll have a chance to build up a more positive relationship with the new class teacher and head after the summer, and hopefully that will make you more confident that they are dealing with things.

Debs, one reason for the hostility of the teacher is that possibly that he had had lots of parents asking the same question and it was just exasperation on his part!

He quite rightly asked the Head to squash (quash?) the rumour in a letter to parents.

Classes get mixed for various reasons. Often one class will have a lot of older children in it or there are behaviour issues or unhealthy friendships that could be best dealt with through separation.

I can't believe that a school would stream this early. There's no point. Literacy and Maths can be set across the year group. Within the class there will be ability groups in these subjects.

Sorry if I'm repeating what others have said but I'm sure it will be ok

A lot of two form entry school mix the two reception classes in year 1. The reason for doing it is to avoid the affect where the two classes end up like seperate schools and to make sure both classes have a mix of ablities and ages.

At my son's school the children are setted for phonics. At this point of the year some children are free readers and other children are on stage 1 of ORT. The children move between classrooms for this lesson every morning. They are in groups within their mixed ablity classes for other subjects.

Some of the summer born children are bright but they have not been at school for a long time.

Thanks for tbis. Mum in Scotland, my original conversation was along these lines

'hello mr ..I know you're busy but could I bother you with a quick question? Someone has mentioned to me that classes will be streamed next year and I wondered whether this was true'

As far as I know, no one has approached the school about this.

How I posted here was simply me repeating what had happened. As far as the school are concerned, I asked this question and then got cold treatment. I then mentioned to the head when he got involved that I might like to talk about this more and made it clear that this would be entirely constructive and was just a matter of personal concern. I got no reply.

My son's class teacher is lovely but the stress he is under is obvious and he takes any queries personally, no matter how you put them.

I'm actually pretty diplomatic and careful about words having spent along time as a practising lawyer! I have made it explicit that there is no criticism intended but I feel I've been stonewalled so it does make asking further questions very uncomfortable.

It shouldn't be like this though!

My DS, aged 5, was put into a mixed year group of his calss and the year above after reception. We are now in the summer term and I have had concerns about it all the way through. Today the teacher has told me that his ion worried about my somes confidence and concentration. It seems that he cant focus on the work and gets easilt distracted. There is a problem with the older boys who take advantage of the yournger ones and "borrow" toys and personal items and dont give back.
My DS as an individual, I believe, has sufferd as a result of the class being a mixture of two year groups. He is very young for his year and I dont believe the teacher has been able to support him fully, while pushing on the more able children. I am very disapointed with this year and cant wait till next year when he will be reunited with his original reception class and be back to "normal". After 2 terms the teacher has realised that DS has been lost and now wont attempt work due to the fear of not being able to complete it. He doesnt volunteer or contribute in class discussion, his previous reception report sugested that he was happy to do this before.
I dont think "streaming" works at such a young age.

There was an article recently that relayed the outcome of a study that demonstrated streaming or setting young children can be harmful in the longer term because children in the bottom streams get labelled and demotivated and don't move out of them. Although there are benefits for the ones in the top sets. It was an article in the Observer I think, although I'll struggle to find the link.