DD(5) has been through 1 year of Reception at a private school.
Over the year, DD has become very withdrawn and sad and her confidence has suffered enormously. Any task is met with : I don't think I can do it and often she talks of her fellow classmates being able to do this and that. I try hard to influence her by asking her not to compare herself with others etc., but inevitably, school experience seems to sabotage my efforts.
During the end-of-the-year 1-1, her class teacher implored me to consider "genetic intelligence" being a factor in each child's attainments and that they have to group children to facilitate better teaching. I wanted to leave the room and walk away when I heard the term "genetic intelligence" used while discussing education for 4 year olds.
The school does implicit and explicit performance calibration and group them on their supposed attainment levels (which stays the same for the year). I feel doing this at 4 is not the right approach to primary education. At least, it is not the kind of primary education I want for my child.
So, what are my options?
Home-schooling isn't an option that I can do.
We are in West midlands. The nearest Steiner and Montessori schools are far out. What else can I consider?
We are paying nearly 1000 quid per month for this school and are foregoing a lot to be able to afford it. The class size is 20. The price tag goes with supposed "faciltiies" like on-site swimming pool. We sought none of it; all we wanted was a school which will nurture her as an individual to be a positive, happy child. And it has not turned out to be one.
I am aware that children have to eventually face up to the real world where comparisons and performance calibration will exist. But, I feel that they should face it when they have developed the emotional maturity to process it. Not at 4 yrs
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47 replies
childhood · 15/08/2016 12:21
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