Steiner / Montessori

[tall1234]

Does anyone have any experience of Steiner / Montessori schools for kids struggling to cope in mainstream?

They are VERY different OP.

Montessori is a mainstream education theory based in early years (3-7). There are schools expanding into older age groups.

Have you explored Forest Schools?

Both my girls have attended Steiner and Montessori. My eldest went to a Steiner school aged 9, and my youngest went to a Steiner mother and baby group for 2 years, and then a Montessori nursery for 2 years. Both are Neurodivergent. Ask away xx

I am a Montessori 6-12 teacher. Ask away...

Yes, I agree they are both very different. My neurodiverse children coped very well with Montessori abut at times have struggled with mainstream. Each Montessori will be different though and there are two different ‘groups’ of Montessori in the U.K. from what I recall.

Steiner. well if some form of SEND is involved, I would certainly steer clear. Look into the philosophical underpinnings of Steiner beliefs and you will see why.

Thanks all, it's for a child with anxiety (not asd but general anxiety) who struggled with the transition to a huge mainstream school. I wondered if the smaller class sizes / alternative ways of learning would work for him. He is arty and musical and into creative writing. Not totally mainstream boy (into more geeky pursuits I guess you could say).

Do you think these school environments can support children with these alternative needs (more anxious / quiet types I guess).

Steiner is a bit cracked, to be honest. There may be amazing teachers within it but it will always be a bit cracked.

Montessori, yes. Visit and see what you think.

@shipwreckedonhighseas what do you mean by cracked?

How old is your DC?

Is Steiner on the curriculum?

12

@stealtheatingtunnocks I believe so but not entirely sure, seems to be from the website.

Rudolf Steiner's philosophies were bonkers, but each school is very different in how much of them they include. The school my daughter went to did not teach his (frankly awful) beliefs to the children. It was however a Waldorf school so maybe that had an influence, but having attended a number of Christian Community summer camps which encompassed children and adults from many different Steiner, Waldorf and home ed backgrounds (and countries) there has never been any mention or indication of his "philosophies". Most people take the good and leave the bad from the ethos. I have always found anyone involved to be very caring, friendly and nurturing towards everyone else.

Montessori is very child led in its pedagogical approach. Steiner is more teacher led.

Do you have the schools near you? Are you in the UK?

For Montessori, you want AMI trained staff. Beware, the name Montessori was never trademarked so it can be used without the staff being qualified, sadly.

We have quite a few 'rescue' children, for whom the local schools haven't worked. It works well although an adaptation period is required.

In my experience, the children who have not done the 3-6 programme often wander around, wondering what to do for the first few weeks, until they realize that they are in charge of their learning. We obviously give lessons (called presentations) but they are not done in accordance to a structured timetable, and in small groups, rather than the whole class. Google cosmic education and the five great stories. The programme is brilliant. I really believe in it!

Just saw the child is 12, which is too old to enter the 6-12 programme.

This is a 3rd plane child. Our school goes to 15, but we are not in the UK. I reckon you will struggle to find it in the UK. Schools are in Sweden, Germany or such.

Sorry ...

Tell people where you live, perhaps. Our local Montessori was great and as others have said, followed the direction of the directors which was very balanced. Our local Steiner attracts the loopier parent wholly focused on their child’s needs to the exclusion of all others. If you have sharp elbows that might suit you. If not, it wouldn’t. I dipped my toe but it was too much for me

@feckoffbrian our local Montessori has a teen hub

There are support groups for those who went through Steiner schools
Read the philosophy behind it and then hopefully you won't touch it with a barge pole

How do these children do in later life?

curious to know how their fair again their counterparts who were educated in the main stream

i follow an Instagrammer whose (many) children are educated in a Steiner school and it seems a world apart. They spend a lot of time knitting and focusing on things like that. Is that honestly what it’s like?

Steiner is a bit "Lord of the Flies " isn't it? Not sure I'd choose that for any vulnerable child.

The Steiner school near us closed as they couldn't get through an OFSTED inspection. They point blank refused to acknowledge that some of the practices were putting kids at risk. Multiple safeguarding issues. Male teachers having kids sit on their knee - even into teenage and just getting defensive and saying it was loving and 'OFSTED just don't like that we're different."
Other locals sing their praises.
Good idea to do your research, which is exactly what you are doing.

Most of the state Steiner schools have been forced to become more mainstream, in great part because of their failures with SEND children.

forest schools are great if there is one in your area

Montessori stuff is usually good

I’ve had some experience of Steiner and don’t recommend. They teach some odd stuff like fairies are real and encourage the kids to be anti-mainstream for the sake of it. More importantly, have at their exam results. It’s not pretty reading, but more importantly, what does that say about how much they value education and children’s futures?

There are other schools out there that are smaller and more nurturing but not necessarily Steiner or Montessori. Whereabouts roughly in the UK are you OP?

I work in a Montessori school and my children attend. It has worked absolute wonders for their confidence and education and they’re thriving in a way that I don’t think they would in a different school. I love Montessori.