Transition from Steiner?

[Louplet]

Hi

Has anyone experienced transition from a Steiner Kindergarten or lower school to a more traditional primary or secondary level school?

I am thinking of a Steiner kindergarten for DS1 (he will be 4 in Jan and would be going in Sept next year so reception equivalent) but we are likely to move house in a couple of years to a non-Steiner area and I am worried that he may find this hard.

Lx

[Octavia09]

I have been told by one mum that the kids play till they are 6 and learn to read and write by 7. Here the kids must learn that and that in their reception year. Most of the kids in my DS class know letters and numbers, can write words, can count and some can read.

[MollieO]

There are loads of threads on MN about this. One of the more interesting learning styles is children are not permitted to learn to read until they have their adult teeth (not sure about writing). Probably fine not to have any formal education before 7 if you are planning on home educating but it may be hard to integrate into a mainstream school.

[Malaleuca]

Yes - if teaching of reading does not begin until about 7 years of age, your child will be up to two years behind the others at a state school, where they start at age 5 learning to read. That would not be a comfortable place for a child to be.

[Goblinchild]

I've taught Steiner children in mainstream who have transferred at 7, 9 and 11. They found it very challenging, the academic side actually causing less difficulty than the entirely different philosophies and attitudes.
So I think it depends very much on who your child is, and how long they stay in an alternative system.
I've liked a lot of the ideas and children that have come out of the Steiner school in Forest Row.

[Louplet]

Hmm. Food for thought. Thank you

[nicp123]

In my opinion, if you have the chance to educate your child at a Steiner School, PLEASE DO! Children educated there are very well rounded, and they would cope well with transitions.(From my experience) The problem is the parents... children pick up if adults are anxious. I must say that a very good practitioner/teacher would not judge a child and do their best to integrate them and plan for child's individual needs in a way in which the child will succeed.
I come from Europe, and I have close relatives with children who are doing brilliantly after their transfer from Steiner School to English state schools. We would be visiting a Steiner School in Brighton on Monday, as I think that my child would enjoy more the Steiner Education.