Private Vs State primary school ?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is at a nursery which is attached to a private school. We absoluitly love the school and would love her to stay there for the junior school too. She has a speech disorder which she is seing a speech therapist for and she dosn't like large groups of people. Her nursery class is small and she loves it.
I have heard though that with her having this speech problem she might be able to get a place at our very popular primary school. It got top marks with ofsted, but we are outside the catchment. We did go and see it but it is a big school, with 30-34 in a class compared to 12-15 at the private one. The state school looked fantastic but I don't know if it would suit her as it is very big and noisy and she dosn't do well at all in that sort of environment.
I just think that if she can get in to the fantastic state school then there's little point in paying for her to go to the private one. On the other hand, I'm willing to do what's best for her. I'm not too concerned about her accademic achievments, although I'd like her to reach her full potential what ever that may be. I just want her to have a happy school life. What would you do ?

Send her to the private school. Definitely. If you can afford for her to be there then it will give her all sorts of advantages and she is far more likely to achieve her full potential in a smaller classroom envirnment. She will also be with school friends she knows which will help her confidence.

Why not apply to both schools? Then you have a back up if she doesn't get into the state school of choice?

However you do seem concerned about the class sizes, and this is something you need to consider hard.

go for the private school

I'd have a look at the local school? it might not be as bad as you think. how do you know she doesn't do well in a noisy environment?

also I think that class sizes at reception/year 1 level are irrelevant - what is important is the staff ratio. i.e. if she's in a class of 30 with a teacher and a full time classroom assistant, then that is as good as being in a class of 15 with just a teacher.

that's a real dilemma.

i have taught in both the private and the state sectors.

the biggest issue in your decision appears to be the huge difference in class sizes.
obviously, smaller class sizes are better as more one on one time from the teacher...

if i were you i would enquire more about the state school first. ask about what additional support they would be able to offer your dd. take your dd to visit too. i think you will be able to tell a lot by her first reactions to the place.

If you are not too concerned with her academic achievements then avoid most private schools. The one ds attends seems concerned with academic achievements and alot of emphasis is placed on these, reading, maths, english, science etc. He has loads of homework most nights and I often think that he is wasting his childhood working away. If your child can get all that she needs from the state school then I'd steer clear. There are plenty of state schools that do not have alot of students in them, have you thought of looking at one of these?

good point about staff ratio. infant classes often (althogh not always) have extra assistants etc. however, where they do, this does not usually continue all the way up through the school.

One of the things that would be an issue for me would be the ability to pay for private right the way through pre-prep, prep and senior. It would be awful to pay for prep but then transfer to state for senior school. I'd prefer to keep my money for private senior school if money is an issue. Additionally, will there be another baby? Could you afford it for both? I seem to remember you debating this point some time ago...

I think you'd need to get a statement to get her priority for entry. Our local school has a SAL unit but it is very hard to get into it even with a statement. However it does also seem to have a ripple effect in the school so they are perhaps more flexible and tolerant of such issues. Bear in mind also that should the speech problem impact longer term on her learning you might have to fund support yourselves in a private school whereas there may be "free" help via the state school.

class sizes of 15 don't always continue all the way up private schools either, ja.

I would also echo the point about private schools often being overly academic. but actually I think that's often the case with state schools that get "fantastic" ofsted reports too. I say, go for a school with a good-middling ofsted - they often have better things to worry about than exam results and curriculum all the time.

Thanks everyone, some realy sound advice given. I am surpised that you don't all say go for the state school. She is very happy at the moment and has some gorgeous little friends. I'll take her to see the state school though.
I know through observation that shes not good in big noisy environments. The teachers have noticed that she clams up in larger groups and at party's she usually just sits on my knee. She is more confident in smaller groups.

mummytolucy - what is your gut feeling on this?

but she's only small. lots of children do that at nursery, but get on fine in a class of 30.

I'm going to say: state school. I've sort of been in this situation. DS was offered a place at the nursery attached to the vg local independent school: it is the school which we've always dreamed of sending our two to at secondary level (no good state options round here). However, money aside, we have decided to stick with the local state primary and take our chances at 11+: maybe this particular indep won't be the right place for either of them after primary, anyway.

His sister is already at the state primary and loving it, it has an outstanding Ofsted, and it's a very warm and jolly place. I imagine it will provide a more rounded experience for the DCs than the very small, orderly, highly pressured and formal indep pre-prep.

I have to say, I wouldn't place too much on her reaction to the state school if you go and look around. She's only tiny. It's bound to be overwhelming. I'd go by your own gut instinct.

While doing my own research I was told (off the record, by staff at the pre-prep who are very familiar with the state primary) that smaller classes can create children who are used to constant steering by adults, as opposed to self-starters.

My gut feeling is that I really want her to stay at the private school that she's happy at and we are very happy with. When I leave her there I have absoluitly no worries about her, it's lovely. I think I'd worry more with her at the state school, she is very sensitive about her speech problem and I don't want anything to nock her confidence. I would have to find out wether we would have to pay for extra help as if we did them there would be no chance of her staying. Also wether it would be the best environment for her with her speech problem. I might ask to view the junior school and speek to head to find out.

gut feeling is usually the one to go for, I find.

I don't want to leave it too late to make my decission as there won't be any placed as the state school. Also if she needs a statement how would we get one?
I'm not really that keen on this idea as I don't want her to be "labled".
As you may have gessed I have dyslexia and have spent all my school life labled as such. I don't want anything stopping her getting the help she needs though.
I'm hoping that her speech will be O.K by the time she starts school.

I think you have your own answer then. Gut feeling is usually pretty good to follow.

Do and speak to the head of the school to discuss the supprt they will offer her and how it is funded. Then think again once you have that answer.

Ask the SALT opinion . If the state school is as good as it seems she/he will know about it and be able to advise if it might be appropriate. If the problem is deemed likely to be resolved in the short term you are unlikely to get any statement or special consideration for Reception age. You may not have to pay for learning support initially at the private one , but possibly later on, so do ask about all age groups.

When would you have to apply by btw ?

Yes, definatly. I need more info.

She has verbal dyspraxia, but the SALT is hoping that she'll improve a lot before school. She is a very determind little girl.

ask both schools about how they help children with your DD's type of speech problem, and how used they are to putting into practice recommendations by SALT.

In terms of statementing - if that becomes necessary, either you or the school would apply - it usually takes at least 6 months. Loads of info about this on the ipsea website, including model letters. You can get general information from your local Parent Partnership (part of LEA so not necessarily 100% impartial though!).

There is a box on the state school application forms for medical/social reasons for wanting to go to a school, so the verbal dyspraxia could be mentioned at that juncture.