Multi-Age Model

Our multi-age model (also known as family grouping) at the Tinning and Mitchell Street centres enables siblings and friends of all ages to mix together throughout the day.

Research has highlighted the benefits for both teachers and children in a multi-age setting:

• Younger children are challenged; older children learn to nurture, support and lead others.
• All children are engaged at play at their own developmental level, which encourages individual differences to be embraced and celebrated.
• Children develop a connectedness between learning experiences and build co-operative learning skills such as sharing, turn-taking, mentoring and negotiating.
• Children interact with others who have similar or different capabilities, needs and interests, which in turn deepens and extends their own understanding.
• Children facilitate and scaffold each other’s learning.
• Children show increased pro-social behaviour (caring, tolerance, patience, support).

The multi-age grouping model describes learning as ‘phases of learning’, rather than ‘age or year level’ appropriate learning.

Children are encouraged to work and play together, fostering a strong sense of identity and belonging.