BVPS YEAR 1 AND 2 CLASS ORGANISATION 2012

QUESTION: Why have you decided to go with this arrangement and not three mixed classes of year 1 and 2 children? Wouldn’t this be fairer?

ANSWER: We believe that this arrangement best meets the needs of all the children. Children in each class will typically be 8 months apart in age compared to the normal 12 months between the oldest and youngest; which is better for teaching and learning. If we went for 3 mixed Year 1/Year 2 classes there would be up to 2 years’ difference between the oldest and youngest children in each class.

QUESTION: Why can’t you just continue to have four smaller classes and teach year groups separately?

ANSWER: Like other 1.5FE schools, our school budget and accommodation cannot sustain this structure over time and we have to group the children into standard size classes.

QUESTION: How will this look in the future? What will happen in 2013? Is it forever?

ANSWER: In 2013, we are currently planning to remain with two small Reception classes (up to 45 pupils in total between them), a Year 1, a Year 1/2, a Year 2 (each with up to 30 pupils), a Year 4 and a Year 5 class (each with up to 30 pupils). The Year 3 pupils (those currently in Year 1) would return to being in two small classes (with up to 45 pupils in total between them). However school organisation is always subject to review given budget constraints and changes in future admission numbers and we are still in transition between a 1 form entry and a 1.5 entry school. (See diagram below)

Lower Ground Floor / Upper Ground Floor / Extension
Classroom Name / Apple / Cherry / Magnolia / Willow / Hazel / Ebony / Oak / Silverbirch / Sequoia / Baobab / Cedar
September
2011 / Rec
23 / Rec
22 / Y1
23 / Y1
22 / Y2
30 / Y3
30
September
2012 / Rec
23 / Rec
22 / Y1
30 / Y1/2
15/15 / Y2
30 / Y3
30 / Y4
30
September
2013 / Rec
23 / Rec
22 / Y1
30 / Y1/2
15/15 / Y2
30 / Y3
23 / Y3
22 / Y4
30 / Y5
30

QUESTION: Will my child have to repeat topics? How will teachers plan for three classes?

ANSWER: Like other 1.5FE schools we will be introducing a two year cycle to ensure that topics are not repeated and that there continues to be breadth and depth in terms of coverage. All three classes will have the same theme each half-term and teachers will continue to use age-appropriate learning objectives as the basis for their planning, the same as we currently do in every class of our school. We will still be organising school trips which are central to our vision and ethos and will consider on a case-by-case basis whether to do these together or separately in line with health and safety and other requirements.

QUESTION: Will the classes interact or be taught separately?

ANSWER: We intend our year groups to work together just as they do now. We will make opportunities for the Year 1s to come together and the Year 2s to come together as well as mixing between all three classes. As we do now, we will continue to maximise the use of our free flow learning environment and we continue to look at how we group children across the whole school for phonics and reading in particular. Children will still have a home class with one teacher overseeing their progress and needs.

QUESTION: Is my child being kept back? Will my child have gaps in their learning?

ANSWER: Along with careful monitoring of teaching and learning, teachers’ assessments will continue to be rigorous and every child’s progress carefully tracked with interventions put in place to ensure that every child succeeds in every class.

QUESTION: Where will my child’s classroom be?

ANSWER: Year 1 and Year 1/Year 2 classes will be on the lower ground floor and Year 2 class will remain on the upper ground floor. All Year 1 children will therefore have access to an outdoor area – as our current Year 1 children do.

QUESTION: My child might not be with their friends.

ANSWER: As we did last year when our current Year 1 children moved from Reception and changed their class groups, teachers will again look closely at friendship groups amongst other needs when deciding the classes. Changing classes can also help children develop socially and emotionally as they learn to make new friends and learn and play with different children. Our transition plans will help make sure that all the children have friends in their new class. Children will still play together at playtime and lunchtime.

QUESTION: What about ForestSchool?

ANSWER: All the children will continue to receive an entitlement to ForestSchool which is central to our ethos, and a wonderful ‘extra’ in our school.

QUESTION: What if I have concerns about the class my child is in?

ANSWER:We believe that the organisation of the Year 1 and 2 classes will best meet the needs of our children. We are happy to talk through any individual issues with parents and carers but class decisions are final.

Thank you to our Focus Group of Parents, Governors and Staff for their contributions towards this information.

May 2012