Question for educators - combined classes(?)

Incognito because people may recognise me and I live in a small community!

I live in a really rural place in the south west so small village schools are quite common. The one in our catchment is a bit old school with their teaching style (think opposite to gentle parenting) so I went to see another school that's nearby that's unsubscribed (there's 4 houses in their village and terrible parking).
The school has about 40 pupils. There's like 2 kids in year 1, 6 in year 2 and few more higher numbers in years 3-6, reception and nursery. Apparently there year 6 test scores were excellent but I can't make sense of it on the government website(?) maybe because of the low number of pupils but there seems to be a huge range from below average to above average(?)

Anyway they have to combine the classes and they mainly do this for 'topic' on a 4 year rolling curriculum and can combine up to 4 year groups when doing 'topic' (e.g. Romans, fire of London etc). They have TAs in every class and differentiate the work for different years. They also do maths and English in smaller groups (with teachers). They have excellent extra curricular provision as the PTA raises lots of money and they expect new parents to join this (which I would gladly do). The kids were amazing, autonomous, mature, respectful. There's free flow between all the play areas at break time. There's an allotment garden, forest school, animals, adventure playground, all weather pitch etc. Clearly the PTA fundraising has provided a lot of great things for the school.

I'm so blown away by the school and it seems that despite their small numbers and class combining they have figured out a way to individualize the curriculum for each child.

Am I being realistic here or do you think this could be disastrous?!

Thanks for reading xx

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.
Add a comment
Avatar

I think it sound’s idyllic!

Avatar

Having gone to a mixed year primary it really helped me as you can work at my own peace and this made me grow. I wish there was a school like this is my area now.

Avatar

If anything, smaller numbers make it a lot easier to tailor a curriculum. There are pros and cons to every school and whatever arrangement they have, but it sounds like this provision ticks a lot of boxes for you, and you should always choose the school, where possible, based on what feels right and what’s important to you- if the school reflects values and provides opportunities that you think are important, as well as getting good statutory outcomes, then that’s a win win scenario!

Avatar

Thanks everyone..the local secondary school has 500 pupils so also wonder if I'm setting my LO for heartache later on? Although she's a little on the shy side so feel that maybe a small school while she's developing her confidence could be really beneficial? X

Read more on Peanut

Trending

in our community

Resentment and placing blame on partner

Firstly, please don’t judge me - I’m aware all my thoughts aren’t rational and I do already feel badly about them

I’m finding myself becoming easily frustrated, annoyed, and placing a lot of blame on my partner for many things. Now I’d get it if he was rubbish but he’s not - he has the baby straight away when he gets home from work, he lets me get ready and shower before he goes to work, he pitches in with the chores and gives me any time I ask for off. He doesn’t go out loads either.

I do a lot of the mental labour - realising we need more of and purchasing clothes, milk, groceries, deciding dinner, cooking, cleaning, thinking about what baby needs, etc.

However I just find myself annoyed and blaming him for so many things I find difficult. I know this isn’t fair, but it’s almost like I’m angry that he’s finding it easy and I’m not. Angry if I’ve just got the baby to sleep and he doesn’t think and closes doors to loudly. Angry when he doesn’t dress baby warm enough, or when he puts him in a car seat with a coat on. When he forgets a blanket or doesn’t wash his hands and plays with him. When hes snoring and I’ve just got the baby to drift off.

We have had many conversations and he has tried to take loads off me but it never feels like enough for me to stop being annoyed with him.

Am I experiencing some sort of post partum mental health issues? I find myself upset and crying a lot. any advice would help.

Avatar

6

Nursery lunches?

My daughter is nearly 10 months old and starting nursery next month. I want to send my daughter in with lunches so I know shes eating healthy meals but I'm honestly so lost as to what to put in her little bento lunch box that will keep till lunch time and doesnt need reheating. Ive been doing loads of baby led weaning at home, but I tend to make it fresh or pull stuff from the freezer I've previously made and defrost and reheat.
Could you show me some of the lunches you've been giving your baby? Or have you been been letting the nursery deal with the food?

Avatar

2

7

Parenting 24/7 is harder than going to work full time?

I’m having a debate with my partner as he’s done nothing to help since. Our 14 month old was born, I’ve done it all alone all day and all night. He gets a break when he comes in from work all night I never get a break
He try’s to tell me it’s harder going to work full time 5 days a week than parenting ALONE 24/7?
What do you think

Avatar

1

50

Partner is giving me the silent treatment

So I was struggling with my postpartum anxiety bad yesterday. My partner and I was out for drinks with family. He kept making jokes about treating me a bit shit.
Which no one thought was funny. I am usually quite patient about him using me as his jokes, but yesterday it hurt.

When we got home I told him it made me feel disrespected. Now he is giving me the cold fat shoulder?! What do I do ?

Avatar

4

FTM

Hello,
FTM here. At what age do you stop applying cream on nappy area during nappy changes? My 2 year old boy isn’t toilet ready yet but uses both nappy pants/pull ups and regular diapers

Avatar

4

I live in a small 2 bedroom flat. How do I keep my home smelling nice?

Especially bedroom considering dirty laundry lives in there too. I do laundry once a week because I don’t use enough to do more frequent.
But I just want my room smelling nice and cosy.

The more natural the method the better ladies 😣
I open windows everyday. I don’t get enough sunlight for plants 😭

Avatar

14

Read more on Peanut