As much info, experience and advice as possible please RE:steiner education.

[BeWorthy]

OK. Where do I start?

My son has always been quit ill so we put him on a very different diet where he only eats all organic, no dairy etc, no sugar etc. So his body stays as healthy as possible.

He is one of the youngest of the academic year as he was four in August. So putting him into school in September just gone was a big concern for me, maybe I'm an over protective parent (but is there such thing?) But I hated the whole idea. Admissions, school uniforms, everything. He started in September as one of the youngest and he has stuggled, and so have I. He has struggled to settle in and go into school willingly, he has struggled to sit at a table all day, he has struggled to eat a very different lunch to his classmates. I have struggled with wanting to talk to a teacher who spends more time with my child than I do but her never having the time as she has 30 four year olds. But what really irritated me recently was when I was doing homework with my son ( he has LOTS of homework, at 4, reading diaries, homework diaries, targets, etc) and he has always been left handed, but on this evening of homework after the teacher mentioning to me about his current inability to hold a pencil properly I noticed him trying to write with his Right hand. I asked him why and he said because maybe it would be easier to grip, and all of his friends do it that way. This broke my heart - I want my son to feel he can be whoever he is and not have to change that to meet expectations of society at aged FOUR.

I don't want my son to feel pressured academically, or left our because his food is not processed and bad for him.

So - my partner mentioned steiner to me. I looked into steiner schools and I had a visit on Friday. I was blown away, almost emotional at how perfect it is for us, how we parent, and for my son.

He's next in line for admissions. However, since my visit I've started to do more research and I am only seeing very conflicted views on the steiner education. I am at a loss on a decision. We are not wealthy, or even middle class. We get by. & by sending him to steiner school we'd be scraping the coins together - but I feel for an education whuch is relaxed, non-pressured, and with outstanding end results that it would be worth it. But I need to be sure, 100 percent sure almost.

So I'm looking for your views, experiences, advice so I can have as much information as possible to base my decision upon. This is a very big decision for me, this is my sons future and well-being. I know there are bad experiences, but 95% of the people I know had bad experiences with state funded schools included myself! So how can it be worse than that? The whole 'processed pea' tarred with the same brush state education system.

All views welcome

What kind of tests did your son have that showed his immune system was compromised? And if it is compromised, do you really want him around a class full of unvaccinated children?

My DD goes to an excellent steiner school, not in the UK though. The teachers are enthusiastic and loving - they love the children and their jobs. They are very strong on respecting each other - which means bullying is not tolerated at all. As part of that the new 1st class children are given a 'guardian' from the 6th class who looks out for their charge, joins some of their classes etc.

Anthroposphy is there in the background but I know my DD, for one, is not affected by it at all (unlike the dogma at her previous Catholic school, the only other option round here.)

I have spoken to teens and adults who came through the school and they all had good things to say about it.

The thing is, that is one particular school - not the school you are thinking of sending your DS to. You need to research that school as its own entity. It does sound as if Steiner would be a good fit for your son, IF he goes to the right school.

Good luck, this is a tough decision.

What are the outstanding results you mention?

He had very in depth private blood tests done. He also had gut tests done which showed instead of a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria he has 99% bad at the time - his overprescription of antibiotics from birth played a big part in this as it killed his good bacteria. (I was 17 when I had him, i did not know that conventional medicine or the doctors presciptions could cause harm) This makes him very ill with a temp between 39-41 degrees celcius for about 12 seperate weeks of the year. His red flag signs were the high fever which never has a cause (he's never had water infection, ear infection, throat infection, flu, etc, ever) He had 5 obviously swollen lymph nodes, he still does not like to walk much as he can often be very tired, he was also having night sweats. A lot of this has since calmed down through no antibiotics, good food, no cows dairy and nutritional supplements - his lymph nodes are now harldy noticable, his good bacteria has grown, and he never has night sweats. His nutritional therapist was astounded and very pleased when he came back negative for lymphoma before - she specialised in children with childhood cancer and he fitted all symptoms. She put a plan in place with diet and supplements because he was at high risk of developing childhood cancer - not all cancers are 'bad luck' in most cases they are preventable. I will be talking about the immunisations with the school and with his nurtitional therapist. I think the majority of people even in stiener schools still immunise their children, so if that's the case that's fine and the risk will be low, I will also talk to his nutritherapist about the risks and if there are any.

Thank you Griege for your reply - I have only heard good things about the children who come out of stiener schools.

I've heard bad experiences from those who have withdrawn their children, like any other school though really isn't it. Some people have problems. Most of the stiener schools sound great, and those who don't like them and say the way they do things are strange are actually the ways I want things to be done with my sons education lol so I guess I'm strange :-) Just wish I had Some reviews on bristol stiener in particular.

Thanks

I have just typed out a massive post and lost it, so apologies for the bluntness and for reiterating what others have said here but that you don't seem to want to hear.

Please stop with the crass assumptions that we all feed our DCs crap. My DCs practically live on fruit and veg, to the point where I have problems some days trying to get something more solid into them. I cook fresh stuff for them everyday, but they are allowed treats because they generally eat well. I understand and appreciate that there are health reasons for you to monitor and closely control your DS's diet but there are a lot of posters out there who are in the same boat as you and cope. Why not ask how in the Parenting or the Food boards?

And please, please, for the love of all that is holy, answer BIWI's question! I am also interested.

"he was at high risk of developing childhood cancer - not all cancers are 'bad luck' in most cases they are preventable. "
Really?

But I need to be sure, 100 percent sure almost.

Tall ask. I don't know how anyone gets anything done in life if they require near 100% certainty to make a decision. You'll have to try it to know if it's a good fit. If it were me I would ask the school if there are parents who have volunteered to talk about their own experience of the school (many private schools have such people lined up).

What is a "pea cash cow"? Green paper money that yields milk, maybe?

I am really quite shocked by the hostility here as a first time poster.

I NEVER said all parents feed their kids crap. I said most of the childrens lunchboxes are different to my sons and i dont want him to feel different. You seem to have judged me, when i have never judged you..

I and all my family went to state schools and ate 'normal' diets with sweets and so on!!!! and so did my son until we realised he was ill!!!!! he has 8 cousins who still eat normal diets!!! I am not some wierd hippy from some wierd hippy family I am a young mother who found my son in a health sitution and educated myself from there in order to get him healthier and it has worked that is all! I have said you have steered this topic already! I only ever mentioned food as i said at least at this school that would be an area he would not feel 'different' in.

I did not expect people to go on and judge me about the food. I just wanted advice and info on stiener.

Yes Barry Shit peas - even the government finally admitted that more than half of all cancers are preventable. FACT. Took them a while to state the obvious.

What I meant by cash cows is I don't want my son to spend his life working and working and pressured and pressured to end up paying off a mortgage and living in debt that doesn't even exist like unfortunatley the majority of us do I want him to be happy and to LIVE life not to always be worried and concerned about money - that is not what life is about. Here's a link if you're more interested in me saying about 'cash cows.'

If you don't agree - fair enough! We all have our own opinions, these are mine. If you have advice on stiener great I'm happy to conversate with you. If you are here to steer my conversation off topic or to jude my decisions on my childs diet etc i will not respond, sorry.
:-)

Oh and IIjk in response to your question. I know the best way to get answer is to try and test. But I'm just concerened that sending him to stiener then later withdrawing would be harmful. So yes i want to be as sure as possible in making such a big decsions which effects his future.
xx

Beworthy - if you are looking for an alternative to mainstream ed but not 100% happy with Steiner, have you considered Montessori? Admittedly there aren't many schools in the UK that go beyond primary but I'm hoping this changes through the Free Schools.

TheFantasticFixit - Yes Montessori was my first chouce as they are more middle-ground. But yes, unfortunately no schools in my area. Lots of Montessori nurseries (2-5years) But no schools sadly.

I'm hoping this changes too, we need more choices

Your son is his own person, however you restrict his options now, he will eventually choose for himself. It may well turn out to be something you disapprove of.

Opting out of conventional education will restrict his choices later on - he may not thank you for that.

You do seem OP to be understanding of the differences between Steiner schools but perhaps not of state primaries. I would really urge you to have a good look at various different methodologies and schools in Bristol before assuming that Steiner might be the answer to your prayers. There is a reason that many people are hostile to Steiner in a way that they are not about other 'systems', ie, Montessori.

Lastly, trying to prevent your child from not joining the rat race and ever turning hamster wheel of money/mortgage/working o he bone is admirable, but reality tells us all that he will be part of that to a certain degree with all the best wills in the world. Obscuring your child from the norms of society (and I'm not talking materialism etc) is part of raising them to be responsible young men and women, surely?

Ah. That is a shame. Perhaps you could train to teach Montessori?

Your son was diagnosed by a nutritional therapist? I see.

Yes, it's obvious you're a first time poster and most first-timers do a little homework on this site first.

They are referred to as lurkers and get to know who they're talking to before making comments such as Infact, most children do [suffer] but parents do not realise and do not do any research as it is the norm of society to feed our most precious little beings full of artificial and harmful chemicals. That is not what I want for my son, and his body would not cope. So yes I am worried about the 'whole food thing'. and him feeling left out to the others who eat junk and processed meats, fruit shoots, etc.

In fact you would know that there is a certain, shall we say, attitude towards Fruit Shoots, Greggs and the like, which a lot of people on here find quite amusing. Outsiders, who take it as read what the DM and such say about us, call us Lentil Weavers. I myself am not one (and I am most definitely not alone ) and quite happily let my DCs have chocolate on a regular basis, but agree with what seems to be the majority here (well, majority of posts that I have read over the last few years), that there is a time for healthy living, a time for treats, a time for Greggs and a time for .

(Disclaimer: that last one is for parents.)

Now, back to your question about State vs Steiner. I am concerned by your comment about LOTS of homework, at 4, reading diaries, homework diaries, targets, etc. Is this not just stuff you have been asked to fill out? I would not expect a child just learning to read and write to produce a diary. Talk to your DCs teacher. We started getting sheets in my DD's book bag for her to practise forming her letters. I was a little worried as I saw other parents religiously returning theirs each morning when DD could not be arsed get any of them finished. The teacher reassured me that it was to be done at her speed and it was just for her folder for the staff to monitor her progress. Cue much relaxation at home and much more time for her to do what she wants, writing-wise, when she wants.

Sorry about the hostility, but in all your research could you not find time to research your audience? And do check the Parenting board and the one for Food, etc. They will be a better help when it comes to your DS's well-being.

I'm really not trying to make him be someone he is not Lol - I'm trying to do the oppositte. He's been going for two terms and crying his eyes out, each morning this is heartbreaking for me. He is already pressured at play time and in the class room - this is a good, small, community school he goes to as i didn't make ths decision lightly either.

I'm not trying to prevent him to join the rat race neccessarily - I just want him to value the true loves of life and not feel like money and materialistics is needed for happiness. If he wants to go on and have a mortgage etc I will always be happy for him if he is happy. I will not restrict his choices acadamically, I plan to do fun educational activites at home with him also, and they do have good GCSE results overall. I mean, I have no A levels and neither does my partner but we've done well so far without. I don't want to completely shelter him from the norms and Im sure my very normal family will ensure that also.

He can go and do more GCSE's at college if he feels there is something in particular he wants to do and he needs more GCSE's we can cross that bridge when he come to it - that's not the be all and end all. His happiness is for me and at the moment he is not. I don't think the school he is in is bad or doing anything wrong or different. I think it is him, for the first 4 weeks he cried and begged to 'be 3 again' so he could still have fun. So this is why I have been considering it.

I'm not sure if anyone can really help me here - I can't understand why there are no reviews of bristol stiener in particular. Hmmmmmmm.

Wallison incorrect he was diagnose by a private doctors in London and listend to by the local doctors and GPs here. Nutritional therapist is who put his plan together.

Mrs Wembley - I suppose i was wrong in assuming MN had a wide variety of people and opinions with it's massive user base.

Also, he has a reading record to be signed every night which I have to say what he read that day at home. He also has a target of to recognise, read, and write 46 words by the end of reception.

I understand how you felt - as i see plenty of parents picking up their number 12 lists of words when my child is still on lits 1, 2 and 3. These lists have ten words on them each. Im struggling with understanding how some children have learnt 120 words by term 2. When my son knows 4. I almost disbelieve it.

I'm not really to interested in the boards about food to be honest, I've said numerous times that this is not the topic I am here for I just thought in first instance it was useful information as the diet at the school meets his requirment. I do believe there is a time for treats, and i hope that soon enough he will be healthy enough to enjoy them from time to time.

Hello OP, I haven't experienced Steiner schools myself, but have heard from friends and on here that as a general they don't agree with spld so dyslexia ADHD Aspergers etc don't exist as far as they are concerned.
This may not be true, just what I hear and read.
It sounds to me that your ds is not ready for formal education. Children are individuals and need to learn at a time and pace that suits them, which no school ime can offer.
Have you thought about H.ed and allowing him to progress at his own rate in the subjects and topics which appeal to him? I'm not sure if this is possible for you, but certainly cheaper than having to scrape money together as you stated in your OP.

I'm sorry, but I suppose i was wrong in assuming MN had a wide variety of people and opinions with it's massive user base smacks of poorly advised sarcasm and will not help.

And by July next year yes, your DS will probably know 46 and more words. Stop comparing him now to DCs who may well be nearly a year older than him. Again, that will not help.

My DD is also summer born, so I know of what I speak.

Hang on, OP- let me hand you a barge pole.............

That is not sarcasm at all. This was my assumption. And i must have been wrong in assuming it. That is not sarcasm.

If you have any advice or input on stiener education - I'd be happy to hear it, otherwise in truth replying is a bit of a waste of my time.

Hello morethanpotatoprints

Yes - they said if he experienced any of those problems then he would not gain a place but they said this was down to not having the support in the school to be able to help with such problems and the child may therefore struggle.

I have considered home ed - I'd love to. But not an option for me unfortunately :-(

pmsl @ curlew.

Worth paying a few quid to see what's been reviewed here, methinks.

Ok, can I just tell you that it sounds like sarcasm. It sounds like someone has made some assumptions and is trying to backtrack. It sounds like someone is trying to ignore the fact that they have massively underestimated the offence they have given.

I was trying to help you by telling you to stop comparing your child to everyone else's. Y'know, in that 'treat everyone like an individual' kind of way you seem to be interested in. They soak up soooo much without you even realising it and I think he really is, as others have suggested, soaking up the fact that you are unhappy with state education, even though you deny it. You probably are completely unaware that you are projecting your discomfort, but children are very capable of picking things up and more so.

If you have a diary to fill in every night, then fill it in with the one word he has managed this week, even if it is the same word every night. Be honest. Your DS's teacher will be able to help him more if she is more aware of his abilities.

I live in Bristol. I have never heard anything about the Steiner school, even when I lived around the corner from it, neither good nor bad. Make of that what you will.