why did you choose private school at reception?

[mumat39]

Hello

there are so many comments on Mumsnet about the fact that Private school from reception age is unnecessary so I was wondering why those parents that chose the private route did so?

We have a few good state primaries locally but all go to Y2 only. there seem to be fewer junior schools and even fewer secondary.

There is a good private school nearby that goes from reception through to a level, so for a number of reasons that is the one I'm leaning towards. But as there are so many views that inthe early years its not money well spent, i'm windering why this one is still popular and what ultimately are the reasons for parents to choose private over state.

I am genuinely confused so any views would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Based on experience from 2 x Reception Years in 2 x different Indy Schools, because...

1. Childcare: 0800 to 1730 max. flexible schedule suits working parents and is no longer a day than in daycare for younger children.

2. Quality of Life: school near home or near work means working parent can nip out of workplace to be there for assembly/other events and get back again or that aupair/grannie can walk home. Similarly when afterschool schedule includes on-site swimming lessons/football/tennis/reading practice etc. then evenings and weekends are completely free for precious parent/child time.

3. Class Size: if you are working and already feeling guilty that you should have more time for your child then the thought of your child being in a class of 10 with a teacher and a teaching assistant makes you feel better than being in a class of 30. 4) Choice at Reception Stage: it's wider and there are more options available and without the stress of state school application processes with their interminably lengthy response rates. In most out-of-town places you decide exactly where you want your child to go, you sign up early, you pay a deposit and you are assured a place. You might want a purpose-built environment, single-sex, a particular faith school or your child might have a serious illness and you want an indy school for the on-site nurse/medical facilities.

4. Choice at Next Stage/Keeping Options Open: you do not have to sign up to a particular Reception Class in order to get your child into the next school onwards when you have no idea at 4+ how s/he will turn out at 7+ or 11+ and which school is most appropriate or what your family circumstances will be then.

5. Broader curriculum - eg. I had one child in a school where swimming lessons and RAD ballet lessons were part of the Reception class 0900 to 1530 timetabled curriculum.

6. Value for Money: by the time the early years discount + tax saved on childcare vouchers are taken into account then it can be £90 a week cheaper than having a summer born child in a state school which finishes at 12noon and then you have to pay a nanny for the afternoon. Similary no extra charges for the swimming and ballet referred to in 6) above.

7. Customer-focussed and time-management orientated: we have experienced parents' meetings which take place in the evening + parents' meetings by phone to suit + uniform organised and billed for us + all school play costumes provided + child does reading with teacher or teaching assistant after school + consistently wonderful happy engaging service.

I would expect fewer than 20 in a Reception class if I was paying. About 15 would be right.

Certainly you are right to be concerned about the increase in classes. But do have a chat with the school. It is unlikely that they will have jumped to 2 classes of 24 (which is v high), but may well be 2 classes of 16 or 18.

That said, my experience of a bulge class was mixed. On one hand we benefitted from an initially smaller class (16 instead of 20). But it meant that clubs, sports teams, choir etc were hugely oversubscribed, and the opportunities that one might expect from a prep school simply weren't there.

My Dd is in a fee paying school - there were 21 in her reception class, and 28 now she is in year 1. I have no problem with the class size. We chose it because it is very close to our house and work, it costs less than a third of what it cost us to send her to nursery full time ( as a baby) and as a late August baby, she was intially in a class made up of spring and summer babies so the gap wasn't so glaringly obvious. It also offers before and after school care on site, which was a huge help to us. where we live (not UK), over 40 per cent of children are in fee paying education, I believe.

Interestingly, as a teacher, I would say the early years were most crucial for setting up the the right kind of learning attitude. If I could only finance one set of years in private education, for me, it'd be the primary years.

My DD is in reception in a private school at the moment. There are 20 in her class and there is a teacher and 2 TAs so plenty of people to be around etc.

We chose it because the local state schools are poor. The secondary schools are very poor or with minute and very expensive catchment areas and the local private schools are very very academic. We therefore decided that it was easier to go in at Reception and get her used to the school etc than move her at 7 or tutor frantically to try and get into a good secondary. The childcare around school hours and convenience for my work is a bonus.

It also helped that it would cost the same in moving fees, solicitor fees and stamp duty to move into the catchment area for a good primary school as it would to pay for 5 years of private education. That is disregarding the extra the houses in the better catchment actually cost.

For us it was the following:

Small class sizes
Keeping flexibility
Not sure what is going to happen to everything (including education) with the austerity measures
Feeling we would be on the border as to which state school we would get in to and liking having some control over it!
Investing in education - I really feel after having a poor education myself that this is something I want to put as much into for my children.

I all honestly I had no plans to send my DC to private school at all let alone from reception but once I'd visited it the deal was set.
It was my nearest school.
The ethos completely chimed with me as a parent.
It was very beautiful with acres of outdoor space and a firm commitment to use it.
Reception was four classes of 15.

As time went on I began to realise there were much more fundemental things to appreciate, but being scrupulously honest, I hadn't factored then in at the start.

If I had any private preps around me that offered what many describe on here I would send them like a shot.

I would say that the things described on here are by all means not the norm even for a lot of preps.

Out of the 5 preps we visited, and 2 are well known schools in the region (linked to senior schools with excellent results), none had classes less than 22 children, most being 24-26 with one TA; parents I know told me homework was heavy even in reception and expected to be completed at home (no homework clubs for KS1); after school care available but at a fee; two had no music available until KS2; they did offer things like swimming as part of the curriculum, but I failed to see how a child would learn to swim once a week in a class of 24-26, but maybe they do, not sure.

Also the so called specialist teachers were just class teachers divving up subjects, which to me is entirely different from true specialisms - in a way it is the same in our local primary school, where teachers do lead in a subject for the school, so not a huge difference there.

So be very careful what prep you choose, from my experience of my local geographical area it is very difficult to find one that offers very small class sizes, true specialist teachers and real value for money with all the extras thrown in for free. Also I am a bit cynical about added value on the teaching front when children are loaded with homework from age 4, but maybe I am being unfair. In two out of the 5 I visited I saw evidence of a large number of worksheets/workbooks, whilst in the other 3 I saw evidence of great teaching, with inspirational displays, etc...

But as I said if there was one like others have described on here, I would have no doubts about sending my children to one, it's just that I have not come across one, there must be more prevalent in certain areas of the country. If you look at the other thread, HAPPYGARDENING substantiates a lot of my impressions on here in her own experience and there are a few others who say similar. Just be very very careful and don't be lured in by the gloss, as it is very easy to fall for that. Hope this helps a bit!!!

Hello everyone.

This is a really interesting thread and its hood to see why you all chose private school from reception

We are thinking of private from reception for many of the ssme reasons but also because i believe the state school system didnt work for me and i was lost and forgotten as it was perceived that i was ok and should be able to do well.

We have signed our Dd up for Surbiton High School for alot of the reasons you all mentioned. However, Itsonlyyearfour's last post has got me thinking and I don't actually know some of these things about the school. All i know is that i have heard positive things about it.

I feel a bit silly now but was wondering if anyone has sent their Dd there from reception

Sorry. With reference to Surbiton high school, i meant to add would you mind letting me know things like,

1. how many girls in reception class,
2. how many reception classes
3. whats included in fees
4. can reception girls do any clubs
5. is wraparound care included? not relevant at the moment but will be at some point
6. anything else you feel is useful to know.

As i said before, this is a really good thread. Its good to know thr reasons why we are all leaning towards the private option without feeling like we have to defend our choice. thank you.

Private schools are like smack dealers, they get you hooked when it is cheap, and you can't walk away when it starts to get expensive.

DD started at the age of three at nursery attached to local private girls high school because it was the same price as day care, and 10 times nicer. By the time it came to choosing a primary school, after 2 years, you are so emotionally attached to a lovely school, and you are already spending the money, so you might as well keep spending the money, you end up continuing at school. I don't even know if the local state schools are up to snuff or not, I didn't even look.

notpicky
I have a son in the prep in reception so can answer a few questions about the girls but not all
The girls have two reception classes this year but that is not set in stone so you need to ask if there will be one or two next year
the girls class sizes are 20 to 24
Wraparound care is available and is very reasonably priced cheaper than the wraparound care at DS1 state primary
They can do clubs from term 2 onwards and at the boys prep they are specifically for the reception kids so will be similar at the girls
Not everything is included you have to pay extra for swimming, trips and some clubs
We are very pleased with the prep DS1 went to a very popular state primary that is ofsted outstanding and he is now at a selective boys independent but comparing the two the prep offers much more and the atmosphere at the schools is lovely. The principle is excellent

DD is only 1.5, but her name is down for a local prep school (3-13). Our reasons for choosing it are:

• I really want a school that goes to 13 as I think that is a better age to change to secondary than 11;
• I like the fact she can go to nursery there (in a group of max 12 with 2 teachers) and then on to reception;
• classes further up the school never exceed 19;
• it is a cathedral school, so big emphasis on music;
• it has a very family and happy feel;
• we will certainly be choosing (finances allowing) private secondary school, possibly with a boarding ethos... when I went to a private secondary from state primary, it was a huge and unpleasant culture shock; and
• DH was a primary school teacher at a school rated top in the borough (100% passing the required level of sats.... I think, don't know the lingo) and vowed never to send a child to a state primary if we could afford not to..... he considers that the kids don't actually get taught or educated, they just get taught to do (in his view, stupid) tests...

But... I agree with midoriway!

legallyblonde I wouldn't mind going cold turkey, but I don't know how unless we move country. DH joined a German company because it opened a path to moving to Germany, where local state education is phenomenal (as long as you are in the brightest 30%, if you are not, you are a bit screwed, but that is a problem the Germans need to sort out, not for me to worry about).

No more than 14 in prep prep where ds was and now in prep just 18 in class with a full time TA.

DD1 started in reception in a private school that caters from 3-18 in September. We choose the school because of class sizes (max 16 with one teacher and 1 TA). DD1 is late August born, so the class sizes are especially important, especially in her formative years.

The school is lovely and kind and nurturing and encourages this behaviour in all staff and pupils. They do a lot of outdoor learning (set in 50 acres) so DD1 is knackered by the time she gets home DD1 does all sorts of activities there, which are included - swimming, dance, etc., which I would normally need to pay extra for. Also the wrap around care is excellent, so if (when) I get a job, it's one less thing to worry about.

Also I have the flexibility to work with the school and decide whether she should repeat her reception year or move on to Y1 this September. Big decision I know, but at least we are not beholden to the LEA.

If the school had class sizes of 22-24 I would frankly be having second thoughts as to the benefits.

I went to a private primary and then a grammar school, would reccomend private initially, I feel that's the time it makes most difference... But I'm probably biased.

Oh no wellblowmedown, I totally agree. I did state then private and, although academically all was fine for me, I think I would have floundered if I had been less academic and it was not at all good preparation in the broadest sense. My younger siblings went to private preps (my parents had more cash by then!) and it was a much, much smoother transition.

DH, a primary school teacher, thinks children are badly failed academically by primary schools, not in terms of total basics or "results", but in terms of a broad education - so for instance, the children in his top performing (state) school would never have read a "classic" by 11 and, indeed, would only ever have read extracts from longer books. In terms of creative writing and even maths, they would know how to pass the sats, but no more. That meant that only only knew one "way" of learning....

Chris Woodhead (I think that's his name - ex chief of Ofsted I think), who writes for the torygraph, was once asked this question on the letters page - he was wholehertedly in favour of private prep if you could only afford one or the other....

He talks nonsense that Chris Woodhead (imo). I saw the thing where he wrote that, in the S times, and it was predicated on your child going to private prep/primary and then onto a state grammar rather than any old comprehensive which is nonsense because
a) most of the country doesn't have grammars
b) if your privately educated darling doesn't cut the mustard for grammar he's then left with a sec modern/comp with the top creamed off
c) even in areas with grammars like outer london a private education is absolutely no guarantee of being so far ahead of state peers you'd walk in.
Personally I think it's a no brainer that you should try state for reception and see how it goes while you save money to keep your options open.
My state educated 7 year old has read some classics already...

you clearly have a good state primary near you Polly, many of us sadly do not :(

polly if your year 2 class has been reading entire classics in class, then it is an unusual school indeed, whatever sector.

No, he's year 3 and he's not reading them in school (well did read Charlotte's Web with his class). He's reading them at home (children's classics, not Dickens or anything, i.e. Narnia etc), because I'd argue that your home life is so much more important than school at this age but this might reverse at secondary (i.e. that's when you should spend if you're so minded, I'm still a bit ambivalent).
This is a good but not outstanding inner city primary with an intake that is deemed to be below average on entry. By the end they're definitely doing Shakespeare because I've seen y6 poetry and models based on reading Macbeth.
But maybe Legally Blonde's dh teaches in a not very inspiring school.

Mine attend a school with classes of between 17 and 19 children, and smaller for Y6. Swimming is included, and is taught every year from Y1. After-school childcare is available onsite until 5pm every day. Plenty of clubs and activities. It's a state school. I had a look at some private schools and couldn't work out what my £4K per term would be buying.

Thanks AndieM for the info on Surbiton High School. It's good to get some facts.

I also have a little boy so it's good to know a bit more about the Boys bit of the school.

polly I agree about parental input being important. I always describe myself as a home educator who uses school as just on eof my resources.

And whilst I don't regret placing my DC in prep at reception, I'm sure they would have thrived in any number of settings. Certainly I appreciated the small class sizes and well resourced classrooms, and being heard read to daily, and I loved the use of the outdoor space (so good for little children I think) and I found the fact thst the majority of the other parents were like minded made school an easy thing.

However, as much as I adored these things I don't suppose they were essential.

But, once in year three I do think that this is where a good prep will come into its own. Even I, the most interested of interested parents, couldn't have competed. I have time, money, energy and enthusiasm, but I cannot be all things to all men.
By year three a good prep will have rigorous, flexible setting in place (not teachers flitting between ability tables)
Subjects will be beginning to be taught by specialist teachers across the board.
There will be a fleeting glance at the NC but the curiculum will go well beyond it.
Pupils will begin to make proper use of the art studios, music rooms, labs, ICT suites, drama studios etc.
Sport will be daily and competitive. There will be matches against other schools on a weekly basis.
Homework will not be optional and there will be sanctions for failing to hand in.
Really the set up will be akin to a well resourced senior school, though the ethos will still very much take into account the age of the pupils.

If you can find a prep school like this it is well worth the money.