Dear Parents/Carers,
At Coleham, we mix our classes at the end of EYFS, Year 2, and Year 4. Soon, our staff will begin organising the new classes for the next academic year. We want to inform you about the process and its benefits to help you support your child if they have any worries.
Mixing classes widens our children’s social horizons, allowing them to form new relationships. This experience helps them transition more smoothly to secondary school. Many children make new friendships while retaining and strengthening existing ones, which further grows our school community. Additionally, it can help break negative relationships.
It’s natural for children to feel wary about being in a ‘new’ class. However, they already know most of the children in their year group. Any children mixed into a different class will still be there at playtimes, lunch and year group events and they will remain with many of their current classmates.
Mixing classes is an incredibly thoughtful process. We know the children well and understand their relationships. We use a combination of sources to ensure the best mixes:
- We consult the children in a child-friendly way about their preferences.
- We work as a team, using our professional knowledge of social and working relationships. Current and previous class teachers; Pastoral Team; Leadership and our SENDCO all contribute.
- We also consult parents for any strong feelings.
Attached is a link to an optional form where you can confidentially share any strong feelings about the makeup of the mixed classes. The form is not compulsory, but we will seriously consider any parental recommendations or feelings. We may contact you about your responses if we need any clarification or further details. If you choose to use the form, please fill out one per child.
These forms will automatically close at 11:59 pm on Friday 14th March.
EYFS Class Mixing Form
Year 2 Class Mixing Form
Year 4 Class Mixing Form
Thank you for your continued support
Tom Larkham
Headteacher
