Moving from Independant to State, does this sound like a good idea?

[icarriedawatermelon2]

DS has had 2 years in pre prep and is due to start Year R in a state school this sep. The pre prep has been AMAZING and a great start for him. I may ask to do 1/2 day flexi school so he can have 1:1 tutoring in maths/phonics and a music lesson. I think this would be a great way of giving some extras which tbh the state school wont be able to give as the class size is 30.
Do you think 1 afternoon a week out of school would be a problem in any way?

I think that it is probably unnecessary, and you might find it difficult getting the school to agree to it. They don't have to.

Your son will also miss out on the less structured and creative stuff they tend to do in the afternoons at school., which would be a shame.

I doubt the state school will agree to this to be honest, it will mess up their attendance. If you want a tutor then it will need to be after school or weekends.

when you say pre prep, do you actually mean nursery? Pre prep goes up to Year 3 I believe though someone may correct me.

Yes, Nigellas guest - Pre prep is up to 8 years old, but starts at kindergarten (3).

?? I can't imagine any school agreeing to this, tbh. Still, if you don't ask, you don't get.

thanks Oakmaiden.... and OP no this doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I don't think a Reception child should be having extra tuition of any kind really - actually Reception should be play based anyway.

Some schools do agree to flexischooling - but most won't.

If I am completely honest I think you would be really lucky to find a tutor who would be able to provide more for your child at this stage than you could do simply by sitting reading with him and practising a few sums. If it were me I would be inclined to revisit the idea in a few years, and then look for an after school tutor.

State schools teach maths and phonics nowadays: it's part of the curriculum.

I think there's an underlying anxiety about the quality of the state schooling versus the (presumably independent) pre-prep.

Am I right? If you are looking to supplement to make up the difference, would it not be better to supplement with additional proper sports, and music? The reading and stuff you could do yourself?

There is lots of good evidence that music lessons are beneficial, particularly if started before 7.

But there's no need to take your dc out of school - you should be able to schedule something in after school.

And why would you assume that your dc would not be receiving adequate maths and phonics instruction at school?

The school are open to flexi schooling, but those that do (only a few) tend to do every afternoon etc, so 1 afternoon would be unusual.
The tutoring would be play based. He may well do it alongside another child whos parents are thinking the same thing. The early basic skills are so so so important and I fear that in a class of 30 he will struggle to get the motivation and attention. It is more about class size TBH. I would do it after school but he will be so tired and the weekends I want as a family and to do the swimming, sports, drama clubs etc.
Oakmaiden I would hope those activities went on throughout the day and I am only considering an afternoon.

In reception yes, but going up through the school less so.

Most schools do maths and english in the morning, and everything else in the afternoon....

I would do this myself but mummy isn't like a teacher with magical powers of getting children to do things!

I guess we would have to look at which afternoon he would be out and discuss it.

Well, you could certainly give it a go.

I always chuckle at these sorts of threads. Why don't you just see how it goes? Your child has years of formal education ahead. It might be a class of 30 but most of the teaching happens in small groups in any case.

As he gets older and less tired after school would be fine, but in KS1 I think they would be so tired.

I have a feeling there is an organisation in St Mary's Road, Leamington Spa that helps with flexi schooling and home schools arrangements - they help sort out the arrangement between parents and schools or at least give advise on how to go about setting this up and getting the school to agree to this type of mixed schooling.

Try goggling them and see if they can help with advise?

Yes but that's still a lot less group time! 30 is just too many :(

Many thanks - that is a really helpful link, thank you.

How many grown ups in the class of 30?

One teacher and a TA

TBH I am gutted he isn't staying in the prep in a class of 14.....but we need to be sensible about money.

Yes, that's what I picked up on. I realise that.

Just do what you can. He'll be fine. You know that, don't you?

no!