Help finding alternative school for 5-year-old between Coventry and London

[raquel070973]

Dear mumsnetters, I'm Brazilian and should be taking a visiting scholar position for the Autumn term of 2021 in a university in London. DH is also a professor and will do the same in Coventry. Our daughter will be 5 then. We want to find an alternative school for her (forest school, Reggio, Montessori, Steiner etc). We want to live close to the school, and commute to Coventry or London if necessary. I really appreciate if you could give me some advice.

St Chris Letchworth,
St Michael Steiner Hanworth
Oxford Montessori.
King Alfred London
London Acorn School
Sunrise primary,North London
Educare small School Kingston
I don’t know schools closer to Coventry but I am guessing it will be cheaper for housing. The school above are all private

Limes Montessori Milton Keynes

Thank you so much!

Milton Keynes would be good for transport links to both places.

Look at the transport links first unless they are going to board. The chilltern line goes through Coventry, Warwick, leamington spa etc and that would work for commuting - I do recommend leamington as a place to live, so perhaps look at what schools are there. Alternative schools aren't common in Britain, but there's smaller private schools that do follow a more relaxed philosophy than exam driven state schools, I can recommend one here but wrong university (it's right by the university in fact)

Living between the two and both commuting would be difficult to fit with childcare before and after school. I couldnt imagine both parents relying on the west coast main line for work. Maybe better to think about living in London or Coventry and so only one of you has a commute. Cov to London on a fast train is an hour, but expensive. Coventry is obviously cheaper to live in than London, but I don't know of any schools in the Cov area that fit your criteria. As anniehm said, such schools are not found everywhere in the Uk. Therefore, London may be a better option. All depends where exactly your uni jobs are located

I doubt a Steiner ethos school would offer much in way of the wrap-around care you will need. More likely they will expect parents in school more frequently, shorter days etc.