Does anyone have recommendations for primary schools in and around Cambridge that they would recommend for those who subscribe to gentle/ attachment/ respectful parenting styles? We have been very disappointed with our sons school (he's in Reception) despite it's village location, its Ofsted outstanding rating and being one of the top performing schools in Cambridgeshire (in terms of SAT results). We have found it very pushy, focused solely on ticking boxes and forcing children to reach, what we see as, unrealistic targets. They never seem to praise or celebrate the child's individual achievements, effort and progress but focus on what they can't do. As the mother of a summer born boy this has been very frustrating and has had a visibly negative impact on our sons well-being, confidence, opinion of school and view of himself - which is understandably heartbreaking as a parent.
I realise the school system in the UK is very pressured and teachers and pupils are all under a lot of pressure to achieve certain quantifiable standards but I am sure some schools manage to get a better balance. We aren't focused on academic results alone, but on effort and steady progress - going at our child's pace. We want him to remain cheeky, funny, enthusiastic, curious and to continue to ask questions and explore. We love him getting dirty, spending time outside and learning from real world experiences. We are creative and music, drama and the arts are valuable in our opinion in terms of education as is sport is also something we are keen on.
I know it looks like a huge wish list but a caring environment where the school works in partnership with parents to meet the needs of the children whilst nurturing their natural passion for learning, and encouraging intrinsic motivation (not simply chasing rewards) is integral to our belief system. Children spend a lot of time at school and are there for many years, so a positive and welcoming community is what we are searching for. We are moving so would like to focus on areas around schools that most closely fit with our family - and avoid any that clearly won't. Thanks in advance.
I am in no way suggesting that our values and ideals are any better than anyone elses. Every parent does what they think is best for their children, with the options they have. Just looking for advice from those who can relate to what I am looking for
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Schools recommendations for Gentle/ AP parents
19 replies
RonnieHall · 11/04/2018 14:41
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