1L South Parade

I have changed how I organise the groups since January 2008.  Children are assessed when they first enter Year 1 and continue to be assessed throughout the year.  I am now splitting the children in to four tables; Starfish, Jellyfish, Angelfish and Seahorses.  These table groups have a mixture of children of all abilities.  This will allow the more able to help the less able and allow the children to form varied relationships.  Each child is then assessed and put into an ability group for Literacy and Numeracy activities.  The groups allow me to give the children work that is applicable to their ability.  This is done by giving them different work, varying the amount of work or by providing Teacher/ Teaching Assistant support.

I know from past experience that parents can worry about which group their child is in.  Please don’t!  In Year 1 children move groups often, and their abilities vary dramatically.  A child can start the year in one group and by the end have moved up or down a couple of groups.

Year 1 is the first year of their formal education, and we take them from Reception where they have enjoyed a lot of learning through play to having to work most of the week.  Children often develop at different rates, and some children have had more time in Reception before joining Year 1.

I aim, by the end of Year 1, to have narrowed the gap between the top group and the lowest group, whilst ensuring that all children are working to their true potential.