Private pre-prep vs state - help me decide!

[Lcats]

DD will start reception next year. My older dc attends a private school, after being in a state primary for the first three years. I won't do state school all the way for both kids as I found it hard to do various out of school activities while working full time.

So initially our plan for dd was a similar route, state school for three years and then private school for prep. We have a decent primary literally next door to our house. She would get to know the local kids, and the school is not single sex, which I prefer. Our mornings will be easy commute wise. We will save money (paying for schools is currently a stretch for us, although our earnings are likely to raise).

However I am now reconsidering this decision, due to COVID 19 situation. I can sign he up to start a private pre prep next year and swallow the bullet of fees for the next three years, but am struggling to decide wether it would be worth it. There was virtually no support for my older dc learning in the state school, which was not ideal and to be fair made me quite angry. Those with kids in private pre preps, did you feel supported during the lockdown - did it make any difference for kids that young? Do you have any other arguments in favor of pre prep versus state especially for two busy working parents?

Please share.

I would say private. My ds was fully supported by the school. They were on it from the beginning and taught lessons by zoom from 8 til 3.30 with breaks, lunch and scheduled pe. In fact so on it my ds got really zoomed out but completely different to your situation. He is 13. Just finished his entrance exams and this year for him (yr 8) the summer term is a relaxing time. But the school kept them busy with lessons as there was no other option.
The only thing I would say is check that the school will do zoom lessons for a good part of the day if there was a lockdown Some private schools issue packs or email them. And your dd won’t be able to do these on her own. So on top of your working life, home life you will have to tutor everyday - and it’s a lot.

If we had enough to pay for any private schooling, it would be used at secondary level only. So I would say save your money at primary level!

How big are the class sizes in your pre-prep? If we had to go back to bubbles of 15 would they be able to stay open full time?

In Reception DS was in a class of 8 with a teacher and a TA. Lots of people will tell you that is too small, but he's August born and needed support in the early days and it was just amazing for him. I teach in a state primary and definitely feel pre-prep was worth the money.

Thanks @reefedsail , don't know how likely is the return to bubbles of 15, but it is still a good point. I am however certain that there is no way private schools will be allowed to be open when state schools are closed, yet of course it is better to be in an fully functioning class than in a day care type setting, perhaps with a TA instead of a teacher.

Regarding support during the lockdown - I expect there will be learning packs sent home at this age. They cannot really learn via zoom in reception...

Maybe this wasn't very clear from my message that dd starts in 2021/2022. Perhaps the COVID-19 situation will be managed better by then, but this is very hard to predict.

I am however certain that there is no way private schools will be allowed to be open when state schools are closed

The government won't allow this explicitly, no, but by the end of last term, they had passed the buck and allowed schools to open to whomever they felt they could. DS's prep school had all year groups back in fully, full-time for at least the last four weeks of term (some year groups had longer). Private schools are desperate to open as much as they can in order to justify the fees, if nothing else!

You have tons of time to decide. Register/apply to both and decide the Easter before hand.

I did private pre prep for all my children but for me, that decision was entirely school dependent. I may have chosen differently had I had a really amazing state school nearby.

Support during lock down (and beyond!) was excellent!
Most private primaries around here were fully open from the 8th of june (with a pretty normal curriculum in place), whereas most state schools weren’t even open to all allowed year groups and did more childcare like activities.
During lockdown there were several daily lessons, SENDs 1-2-1 support.
Year 2 here, and judging from bbc bitesize and mathsfactors etc, they are far, far ahead on the curriculum.
Additionally there were chat sessions, discussion sessions, sport sessions and craft sessions for a more “social “ benefit, and regular storytime sessions through the holidays by the SLT.
In short, fees were never more worth it.

They cannot really learn via zoom in reception...
they can, and ours did. they need a bit more support at times, but still much less than with a home learning pack! Good, inventive teachers can do a lot! Not as good as in school, but pretty awesome anyway. ours even did nursery(3 and 4 years olds), and it worked well

I’m grateful we have our kids in a prep.

They had minimal disruption to their education in lockdown. Not so hot on the zoom lessons but were able to follow the timetable with good quality feedback throughout.

I did weep a bit at the waste of money tbh; but crucially the small class sizes mean I would be astonished if they weren’t back full time when schools do start. Unfortunately I can’t say this for their friends in state who are in classes of 30+

I know that should we be locked down again, they will have decent enough education throughout that time

Normally I think that you’re best to do “state too 8”... or only do private secondary (this is what I did) But I’d absolutely stick mine into a private school if you can live with the risk that you might pay fees for a school you can’t attend physically

Our prep school was so good through Covid. DS year 3. Excellent home learning provision with daily zoom sessions both pastoral and lesson zooms. All work marked and differentiated for ability.
They had everyone back last term who wanted to- not completely full time - some got 4 days.
I’m grateful it’s the setting he’s returning to in September because his bubble is small- 19 children. The school is small- one form entry. They have employed a full time housekeeper for cleaning.
If schools have to close again I know he’ll get excellent provision, and it feels safer than a large State school at the moment.
I was happy with the school pre Covid too!

Obviously it also depends on your local state schools - our local ones predominantly did a “its just primary school, treat the time as extended holidays “ approach, with very, very little provided or encouraged (minutes per day)

My boys' school (pre-prep and prep) was also back fully in June. 90% attendance. They have a lot of outside space so we're doing outside lessons and forest school for the little ones etc.