Does anybody have experience of any 'alternative' schools ? (I know this is not really HE, but...)

[TheodoresMummy]

...maybe there are some like minded people lurking here ?

I intended to HE, but DH has decided he's not keen (and DS does love his nursery).

So I am looking for a natural extention to his nursery really.

Particularly interested in:

Park School - Totnes, Devon.
Lewes New School - Lewes.
The New Forest Small School - Lyndhurst.
Summerhill - Sussex.
Sands School - Ashburton, Devon.

Any info/pointers would be greatly appreciated.

[StripeyMamaSpanx]

One of my friends went to Summerhill - she's coming over for a bottle of wine or three on friday so I'll see if she will post her experience/opinion for you.

[FillyjonkisCALM]

What do you object to about schools?

I have looked at a number of small schools but concluded that they were basically all just schools, really. They had the same problems as any other school, and I would have to make the same compromises.

Summerhill is the exception to this-my main problem with summerhill is that the kids there are not out in the real world.

Would your dp really accept summerhill but NOT homeschooling? Am impressed!

[snorkle]

Don't you mean Summerhill, Suffolk? One of dd's friends went there - dd was quite .

[ahundredtimes]

You could also add Dunhurst to your list - which is the primary school for Bedales.

I know a boy who goes there.

pricey though.

What else? Are you interested in Steiner? Where do you live? Also there are some Montessori schools about. I know one in London.

[ahundredtimes]

Though I went to an 'alternative' school - not the most brilliant one it should be said, has been closed down now - and I have reservations about them. But that was secondary, not primary.

[ahundredtimes]

Sorry if I've got this wrong - but do I recognize your name from the SN boards Theodoresmummy? If so, are you looking for somewhere that will cater for that too?

[TheodoresMummy]

Thanks for all replies !!!

Stripey - that's very kind, thank you.

Hundredtimes - yes, DS is being assessed at the moment (for autism/aspergers I suspect). If he is diagnosed, I don't think it will be severe (hopefully). He is fine at nursery because they are very laid back and supportive.

I have looked at Dunhurst and Bedales prospectus' and they look quite special, but they do look much more conventional than the others I am looking at. It's quite hard to tell about Dunhurst tho from the prospectus. And yes, they are pricey !!

Filly - I am looking for something that is a natural progression from his nursery. Ideally it will have no uniform, it is very important to me that teachers and pupils are on first name terms.

I want plenty of outdoors/physical activities/play for him - it's his big strength and he needs it or he gets very wound up.

Many of these schools arrange their curriculum around project work and are happy to allow children to follow their interests and work at their own pace. I just think that this feels like a much better set-up than the state schools that we've looked at.

I would only want him to attend part-time until he asked to go for longer (if he ever does). I can see that it is good for him (not neccessarily all children tho ) to have a bit of independence, but strongly supported by the adults he is with.

Will post more a bit later, I have a flippin' assignment to write up.

[marina]

You can get a different perspective on Summerhill in the forthcoming children's TV drama series based on the school (and made with their cooperation).
It deals with the events - in 1999 I think - around the time Ofsted decided to get Summerhill closed for good, and the school's successful campaign to remain open.
I honestly think my dcs would hate it there - but am glad it still exists.
There is a an alternative primary in Tickhill on the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire borders which sounds totally wonderful btw

[mrspink27]

Think I have posted on this to you before but still worth looking at Trefoil in Sussex - montessori based farm school, no uniform, teachers on 1st name terms, loads of outdoor stuff.... very different from conventional school, beautiful setting, I'll be quiet now!

[TheodoresMummy]

Yes, saw the first programme on Monday (thanks to my brother telling me about it ), but missed the second. Think it is repeated tomorrow tho.

Is that school Dame Catherine Harpers ?

I have only recently found out that one, so don't know anything about it yet.

We are in Warwickshire, BTW.

[TheodoresMummy]

mrspink !!

I left a message for you a while ago thanking you for all your help before.

I lost your email when my computer died.

I had a prospectus from Trefoil and was impressed with lots of it, but they said that they were making changes including introducing a uniform. It sounded like it was becoming less laid back.

What's it like at the moment ?

[StellaBlue]

We have just sent out younget daughter (10) to Summerhill (it's her second term)after struggling with mainstream education (both state and private). Long story.....

She is now very happy . The thing that she likes most about the school is the meeting where the day to day running of the community is discussed and voted on.

Summerhill runs several visitors days each term (not just for prospective parents) so you could go and see it for yourself.

If you haven't already found it here is a link to the school's website www.summerhillschool.co.uk

[hertsnessex]

just looked at summerhill, i never knew any place like this existed, how utterly fabulous!

[marina]

Yes it is TheodoresMummy.
I bumped into one of the parent-teachers at a meeting once and got chatting and it sounds a wonderful, enviable place to send your child

[TheodoresMummy]

StellaBlue - Does your DD board ?

I don't think I would ever want DS to board (as I said before, I would prefer part-time for a while anyway, prob until he's 8 or 10). But if he wanted to board when he was much older, I suppose I would have to let him. It's his life after all, but I wouldn't be keen.

They say on their website that they do have some day pupils, but i'm cautious as to how they 'fit in' if the vast majority board. It does sound like a very 'accepting' place, so I would hope it would not be a problem.

Park School sounds like a good compromise, but I have yet to visit. Sands would then be close by for a secondary option if he was keen to continue at a free school.

The New Forest Small School definitely takes children part-time and looks lovely. I wonder where they go to after that tho... Will email them.

Thanks for replies.

[yurt1]

A mumsnetter's ds went to Park school. They loved it.

Also have a look at Barrendoch (think that's the name) perhaps- I like the look of that one!

[TheodoresMummy]

Will look at that yurt, thanks.

Do you know which mumsnetter that is ? Could you guide her this way at all ?

[yurt1]

I haven't seen her for ages....

DS2's school (small independent) seems pretty good for kids with SN (esp AS)_ tbh

A friend's ds with severe autism has a home programme but goes into a small private school for 2 afternoons a week- that's working well as well.

If you want outdoors deinfnitely check out berendoch - agh can't remember its name but there have been some recent threads on it- its [prospectus has pics of kids climbing trees and wading trhough streams. Outdoors is a big part of school life there.

I would be a little bit unsure about summerhill for a child with AS - ditto sands.

[yurt1]

I hope this link to bendarroch works

[TheodoresMummy]

Thanks for the link yurt, am off to look (should be finishing my assignment, but...)

Why do you feel that Summerhill or Sands might not work for AS or HFA children ?

Is it the lack of adult involvement/direction ?

That is one thing I have thought DS might have trouble with. At the moment he loves to play with the adults at nursery, but he does like some of the other children.

It's a bit hard to know what's foor the best as he's only 4... Why aint life simple ?

[yurt1]

Yes. I think (from the little I've seen) that Summerhill and Sands wouldn't provide enough boundaries for AS/HFA. Of course all children are individuals but the children I know with AS who have thrived in school have thrived in schools with quite obvious boundaries and structure iyswim. Small helps, especially if any sensory problems and it provides an opportunity to be treated as an individual but if expected patterns of behaviour are clear I think its easier for the child and leads to less anxiety.

[yurt1]

I know some children with AS have done well in Steiner schools which might be a bit unexpected. They do have a lot of structure though in the day (might not be academic enough for some, and also I think can be quite infelxible, but perhaps worth visiting).

[yurt1]

BTW woirth readin 'home educating our autistic spectrum children paths are made for walking' btw as it talks a lot about AS and a number of the contributers have done part time school and full time school at various stages. 90% of the book is about AS/HFA.

[Elf]

Re Summerhill, don't you think it is strange that it is boarding? I've read some of their website and they say the pupils prefer it but I just think it is strange that home ed/alternative school type people would want their child to board and miss out on family life all term. What do you think?

[TheodoresMummy]

I don't like the boarding idea, personally.

I won't even send DS to school (any type) full time until he is a few years older. Exactly how old would depend on how he changes as he grows up.

No, I would move to wherever the school was.