Schools for quirky kids ♥️

[Hubhubba26]

Bit of a long shot...

But can anyone recommend the best primary school for a quirky, creative neuro diverse 6 year old based in Southampton. If not Southampton anywhere else. Current school not really cutting it. Mixed large classes seem to be making symptoms worse. Teaching style of reading and writing is so very dry.

In my head I'm hopingto find a very creative environment which positively fosters friendships and celebrates differences. Current school trys it's best but only so much they can do when they are based in a very non diverse village. My DS sticks out like a sore thumb, bless his heart. We're not BME just.... Different to the folks around us you could say.

Fingers crossed this post leads to some good advice 😊

I don't live in the area but school admissions are usually based on distance, siblings, or children of staff, aren't they, so don't think you can just pick any?

Not sure if an EHCP might bump them up the list a bit.

Unless your willing to go private or get a named school on a ehcp you won’t get to just pick and choice. You’ll have to join a waiting list and everytime someone who lives closer joins the waiting list or an echp child or a in care child joins the list they will come above you.

I don’t think you’ll find a state school that meets your criteria. You’ll find state schools that are nurturing, or highly academic, or creative, but state schools have to follow the curriculum requirements. It might be dry, in your opinion, but there are constraints.

Not sure what you mean by quirky either. As has been said, you need to apply for a place and if there’s a space you should be offered it in the year group. Otherwise, you go on a waiting list. Your alternative is to look for a private school.

Montessori??

https://www.educaresmallschool.org.uk/

Yeah this.

it will be pricey and private and probably not really worth it. It’s rubbish, school, but it’s better than you working all the time and never seeing your kid.

School is primarily about academic learning. There'll be some differences, but reading teaching is quite standardised now even to the extent that many schools will have all the children at the same book level at the same time, both those who struggle & those more able. This is because the books must be matched to the syllabus.

So if you have a year one child, they are probably on "green" level books, phase 5 phonics and will be moved to "orange" level books after christmas.

There's only so much flex as the children have specific stuff they need to learn

very creative environment which positively fosters friendships and celebrates differences.

Also what do you actually mean by this? I think most schools celebrate difference now but this won't ever extend to tolerating poor behaviour for example, or antisocial behaviour that interferes with others learning like interrupting, pushing in, boisterousness. Education in any group setting requires some degree of obedience from children and not always getting what they want etc.

If you can afford private and move to south London or Surrey.... https://www.libertywoodlandschool.com/

Have you tried the outlying villages? Lyndhurst had a lovely, small school with plenty of variation. Avoid the beacon school in Portswood. Was big and lacking in pastoral support.

Schools in the University of Winchester Academy Trust allow for a lot of free-flow learning all the way through KS1 and into KS2. There's minimal time spent sitting at a desk and some forest school mixed in.

I think I know what you're getting at, I have a 7 year old autistic daughter and I think her school is great in many ways, I taught there for several years! But the curriculum and the way things have to be done is rubbish! She is struggling because she doesn't fit the mould, she's creative and loves learning but I worry she'll be turned off and 'squished' by the formality and heaviness of the curriculum. I have come to the conclusion that at the moment we will watch and wait, we can't afford private schools which are sometimes more flexible as they can set their own curriculum, but I'm prepared to consider flexi-schooling or even home schooling if things get too bad. Sorry that's not very encouraging!