In multi-age schools, children are grouped across ages without consideration for the grade to which they might belong. For example, a child who is six years old but who is a very good writer may be included in a group with an eight-year-old who is a typical writer for his age. Some multi-age schools group children by interest as well as by ability level.
The benefits of both settings include allowing children to move along at their own pace. The drawback is usually seen when a child who has been taught in such a setting moves to a traditional school; she may be ahead of traditional school classmates in some areas but behind in others.