ability groups

[molk]

my son is in a mixed reception, year one class - he is the reception part. The whole class was split into ability groups after half term in october. i think my son is in the bottom group but has learnt loads since october. his writing is quite good, he knows all his phonic sounds, he is on ORT level 3 and sounds out words he gets stuck on well. however, the other children in his group are not near that and i am worried he will be stuck in this group. i feel guilty that i should have done more before he stated school so he would have been in higher group from the start.

IME they move groups all the time - they are very fluid. If it is a mixed age class, then I would have thought that you would expect the reception children to be in the bottom half so I would not read much into that - bet at the moment it is largely done on age. Towards the end of the year I suspect they will focus more on ability but in dd's Yr class the lists change every week.

There are 10 reception children in the class and a few are 3 are particularly forward with literacy. they didn't really do much reading etc. as far as i can tell in the build up to christmas. i wish i could just relax about it but the children he is with now do mess about a bit and i don't want that to effect him, though the teachers say my son always listens and behaves well.

Do remember that there is more to Reception than the three Rs. The teacher will be looking at social and emotional development, creative skills, physical abilities as well as what your DS can do with a book or a pencil. It is all about rounded development not academic advancement. Relax a bit and let your son enjoy whatever he does about school. He is only little, let him find what he likes and what he doesn't, what he's good at and how it feels to do things independently of adults. Give him space and he'll learn more than anyone can ever teach!

you are very right. i am lucky that he is happy to go to school and always seems to enjoy it. i will try to keep things in perspective.