Private school -should I do it now or later?

[teadrinker]

I have a 5 year old who has just completed reception at my local state school. She is bright and is now telling me she is bored as 'school is too easy'. She went to a private nursery because I was working and got on really well. Since being at school her whole attitude has changed. When I speak to the school they say she's fine but don't offer any other advice.

I've tried to help her with extra reading etc. but she seems not to want to bother.

I'm considering changing her to a private school although we can't really afford it now as I was made redundant.

I never went to a private school myself so know very little about them. I'm really torn. The state primary is OK/ average but the high schools here are dreadful. Should I move her now or save up because I really may have to pay to ensure she gets a good education later.

Can anyone offer advice. Has anyone else been in this position?

We are sending our DS's to private primary school but i do know people who are saving up in case they have to do it for secondary. We just though it would give my DS1 the best possible chance to get ahead early on as he had some really really bad problems with his confidence.(there are only 15 kids in his class at the school) He is now Yr2 and he is really starting to come out of himself and do really well... we will never know whether this would have happened at a state school or not

I think maybe that you should ask the school about their policy for gifted and talented as they should make provisions for these children

In DS school the g&t children and the more advanced move up to the next class for maths and they can also be given extra extension work.

that is my humble opinion or you could ask pre-prep schools if they will do bursaries for bright children or a scholorship.

Are the private schools selective at 11+? I can understand why you would want to use any spare cash to save for secondary if local schools are dire but would leaving her in her current school damage her chances of gaining entry to the private schools in the first place?

I really understand your dilema.Sounds like my son who is 5.Bored at other school now goes to a private prep school.They take the 11+ etc.
Some schools allow parents to pay fees in installments ours works out at about £650 amonth inc meals and they have 2nd hand clothes sales.
It really is worth giving them the best start and seeing how they progres.We are not rich and there are many 'normal'parents doing this.
Good Luck

hi teadrinker, i have a similar problem with my local schools dd is now in year one in a state primary. its ok, but its huge (650 pupils) & i dont feel she is getting what she needs there. our local comp is terrible & theres no way id send my children there. if we had grammar schools here i would pay for private now to ensure them getting places there later is this an option for you?
private secondary education (even with a scholarship) is still expensive & as weve got 2 children isnt really possible unless our financial curcumstances change (possible but we cant rely on it) our only real option appears to be to move areas for better schools, & this is what we intend to do next year to co-incide with dd1 starting in year 2 & dd2 starting reception. schools in the new area are much smaller & friendlier, the parents actually care about their childrens education hence they have far better results than where we are now. im sure that the teaching isnt any better, its just the lack of parental support that hinders progress at our local schools. lots of children of teen single mums, druggies & dossers here im afraid hindering progress of anyone who wants to work
if you cant be sure that you will be able to continue with private education & you dont have grammars then moving on seems to be the only option, unless you would consider home educating? even if only for the time being if moving or going private are not possible at the moment. lots of people do it & i would certainly consider it as a stop gap before we move if things got bad for dd at school.
good luck whatever you decide

I did state primary education and private secondary education, taking an 11+ entrance exam.

If she and you are otherwise happy with the school then I'd go down the discussion route with them first. They should be able to cater for all abilities. Are there any other primary schools in the area which might suit her better ?It is by no means assured that a private school would be much different, although you might find a more sympathetic atmosphere and higher expectations, so do your research carefully.

Does she actually appear bored and upset about schoolwork. I don't think it is that unusual for a 5yo not to want to do academic work outside school - I have umpteen activity books as yet undone which stand testament to this with ds - it is frustrating but don't take this on its own as a sign that she is tiring of learning.

I have my two eldest (Y8 and Y6) in an independent school, and my next two in a maintained school. The two schools are like night and day, and I would definitely put them all into an independent school if we could afford it (it's hard with five). As it is, we plan to move the girls at 11+, so we'd only have a maximum of 3 children in the system at any one time.

If the finances were borderline, I'd maybe forego the infant/pre-prep stage and put them into prep for year 3. The main educational thing they would have missed out on is French, but this is easily caught up.

A lot depends on what you are planning to do for senior school. If their prospective senior school requires them to sit the Common Entrance exam, they'd really have to do a couple of years in a prep school; three years for a Scholarship Exam.

A lot of senior schools reserve places for children from maintained schools - the one my son will be going to has 25% places at from maintained, 25% from their own junior school, 25% from prep schools at 11+ and 25% from prep schools at 13+.

Thank you everyone for your opinions. They are welcome.

I have been speaking to a mother who is on my primary school's board of governors. She has the same problem with her daughter (in the same class as my child). She says its recognised that the school doesn't really cater for children of above average ability. This gives me hope that they are addressing this weakness.

I have parent/teacher meeting this week so will be bringing this up then.

I have 2 children so I don't think the private school idea will work because of money constraints.

Will however begin saving for senior school (or consider moving in a few years time).

Thanks again.