Composite class / starting school worries

[shouldistop]

Can any teachers shed any light on how they decide which p1s go into the p2/1 composite class?
It looks like my wee one will be going into the composite class which I'm a wee bit sad about because of the bubbles he won't be allowed to play with the other p1s, I'm also worried he'll miss out on some of the p1 play experience.
Afaik p1 is meant to be play based learning but how can the teacher provide that for the p1s in the class and learning for the p2s?
Can anyone reassure me?
Just feeling a bit worried as ds2 still hasn't met his teacher and won't be allowed to visit his classroom then will start full time on his first day.

Ds1*

My DDs all experienced composite classes at various points in primary. Their school based the classes on age so my DD with. March birthday was often in a composite with the year above, my Feb nor DD the opposite. My Set and Oct DDs were usually he dividing line so experienced both but usually in the "straight p whatever".

Infant teachers are absolute wizards at differentiation- some primary one pupils arrive counting, writing and reading, others still need to learn how to sit quietly and listen for short periods of time.

There is usually a SLA and the class will be smaller (by law) so one could easily be leading a play based learning activity and other hearing a reading group.

The only negative experience of a composite any of mi e had (and I was apprehensive prior to my first experience) was the one who was a P7 in a 6/7 as she felt like her class weren't given all the P7 privileges so the P6 weren't left out.

They did get to know their year group and the ones above and below really well and the teachers observed that there was much less rivalry between the classes.

I'm not sure how it works in tiny rural primaries where there might only be 2 teachers.

Our school definitely doesn't do it by age. Do you have any experience of how the class have activities with the rest of their year group during COVID?

The rule is to do it by age. I've never heard of it done any other way, it wouldn't be fair. If you think it's being done differently then ask. I'm a teacher btw, and I've taught many composite classes.

I'm also in Scotland which I see you are too. Definitely by age - be careful not to listen to rumours from other parents!

Our school did it based on groups. Not necessarily the 'top' groups but the group which fitted best size wise with the other class they were merging with. This was to keep those who were roughly the same ability together and working in their groups, I assume it made it easier for the teachers.

It's definitely not by age. My nephew was put into the p2-1 composite and he's a December birthday.

my kids' primary did it by groups as well rather than by age. DD had a totally standard class size so stayed out of composites the whole way through but DS's class was the largest in the school so had composite classes most of the way up (apart from P1 where it was two classes). I'm afraid I don't have any covid experience of bubbles, etc but I would hope by August those rules have relaxed - I know that a friend who was forced to have her twins in the same class this year in case of home learning has been allowed to have them in different classes for August.

Was doing a quick google there to check the class size thing but it looks as though the limit for both P1 and a composite class are the same so not sure whether it is brought down further or not in those circumstances but actually found this: www.strath.ac.uk/whystrathclyde/news/newresearchshowscompositeclassescanboostpupilattainment/

I'm a teacher in Scotland and there are a range of factors that will come into choosing the classes, depending on the children. Age might come into it but so does personality and support required, the stage the children are at in their learning. Some schools might put groups that are closer in levels together, others might mix them so that the children can learn from one another. It really varies and there's no hard or fast rule to it, it will depend on the children and what management wants to prioritise for that specific group. I actually love teaching composite classes (I once had a p. 3/4/5/7 class) as the kids learn so much from one another, including the older ones learning from the younger ones.

In terms of them being together during covid, in my school groupings are by class, so the composite classes are their own bubble and can all mix and do activities together.

As a PP said, teachers at this stage are generally solid when it comes to differentiation and teaching kids of all abilities, even in a straight p. 1 class you will have children who have never picked up a pencil or book with children who can already read at an early level. Try not to worry too much.

I think a lot of my worries come from how badly the school has been communicating with us. I only think ds is going into composite class because of the document title of a letter they sent.

And they've cancelled our teams parents induction on the day twice now.

My son's primary definitely do not do it by age. He's been a P2 in a composite P2/1 class this year and there are both older and younger children in the P2/3 class. OP I understand your feelings, in fact I was quite upset that DS was going to be composite and separated from many of his P1 classmates (they were altogether as a P1 class last year but it's a small school so usually has mostly composites). It actually worked out really well though as he's made good friends with one of the P2 girls and a couple of the P1 boys, and he may not have had that chance if classes had been organised differently. Kids are adaptable.

@Saltnsauceta I don't know about other authorities but in Edinburgh there was a review last year and it is no longer a 'by age' arrangement.

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/26695/composite-class-procedure

Some councils have an age rule and some don’t.

As the P1s will be a unknown, they’re more likely to spend a lot of time classifying the 2s. They might choose P2s who are doing very well and can work independently, which helps the P1s in so many different ways, or they might have a little group who need the lovely supportive P1 atmosphere for another year.

Either way, teachers know it’s a delicate balance and lots of thought will be going into it. Usually it’s a very experienced teacher who takes a 2/1.

Please don’t worry. It will all be fine.

but I would hope by August those rules have relaxed

I hope so too but it's June and he's not even allowed to visit the school due to covid

Staffing is a big problem just now. We can’t get supply for love nor money and of course, if anyone has to isolate, everything goes to pieces. We all know how frustrating it is.

If it helps, we were all astonished at how well last year’s P1s came in in August, without any visits either!

My children both have been in composite classes throughout their time at school, my daughter is in one this year. It’s been a really good experience for them both. The teachers are excellent at differentiation and it’s meant they’ve both been able to work at their level - in my DSs case he’s been able to stretch himself into work set for the year above, and in my DDs case she’s been able to dip into work set for the year below, which supports her developmental delay.

I think composite classes get a bad name, but I’m not sure why tbh.

Last year the p1s actually got to visit the school (I'm assuming because there were no other children in it).
Ds1 is very excited about school so I'm keeping it all positive for him but I've no idea what's going on!

My eldest has been in a composite since starting primary school 2 years ago.
The benefits have been that the class size is notably smaller, she's made some lovely friendships.
She didn't get along with the P1/2 teacher at all, but has loved her P2/3 one.

Our school picks kids based on a range of factors, like age, temperament, friendship groups.

The downside is because of Covid she has not mixed with any kids from the P2 class in 18months now (and there are only about 6 P2s in the composite class, and she's not friendly with them), so I'm really hoping she goes into a composite again next session rather than lumped in with kids she doesn't have any attachment with (she's a sensitive soul).

My middle one is starting P1 next session too, and I'd be quite happy with the composite class for her, but that's because I know the setting and school quite well now.

@shouldistop

I think a lot of my worries come from how badly the school has been communicating with us. I only think ds is going into composite class because of the document title of a letter they sent.

Are they not doing any transition over the Summer? That's when our school/nursery is doing school visits. There are about 8 or so visits planned during the summer break (our council nursery is a 50 week per year provision).

@UltraVires I don't think there's any plan for that. He's been invited to visit the playground for 30 minutes next week but we're on holiday so he'll miss it. Apparently their teacher will visit them in their nursery garden at some point too and that's all we've been told about.
Ds is also in nursery over the summer.

8 visits sounds amazing!

@shouldistop - for sure, we are super lucky.
Our nursery staff and the school are very focused on the best outcomes for the kids.

Does your school have a Facebook group/parent council? Maybe your school is terrible at communication (ours isn't great at it). I know I wouldn't know half as much as I do if I didn't go to the council meetings (easier than making masked small talk at the school gate at pickup time ).

Yeah there's a parent council. I don't know about a Facebook group.

Our local primary school separates the kids by date of birth. Each class forms its own bubble and I know some of the parents in composite classes aren't very happy about it because their DC can't mix with the rest of the kids in their own year group. At some point, perhaps next year or the one after, the kids in the composite classes will be back in a straight class as new composite classes are formed. Now that we can meet inside parents are organising play dates to try and maintain friendships out of school.