Starting January my 2.10yo will be in a uniform - isn't there another way?

[RoRoMommy]

I've loved my son's nursery up to now. It's a lovely, freeform montessori environment, and he's been very happy.

We've just been told that, beginning in January, he'll move up to the pre-school class, and he'll start wearing a uniform and having three hours of "concentrated learning time" in the morning, and I'll have to leave him at the door rather than walking him in.

I am unhappy about this. I never wanted my son in a uniform, I think they send awful conformist messages. I am in love with montessori because it allows kids to come to what they want to learn, rather than dishing it out to them. I believe that he will learn just as well, if not better, in an open environment where he can decide when and what he wants to learn.

So my question is - are there alternatives in London, aside from home schooling? Is there a place where he won't have to wear a uniform, where learning isn't traditionally imposed and focused on testing and schedules?

Any advice (but not judgment, please) very much appreciated.

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State nursery?

I don't know much about montessori. Why don't you speak with the nursery and find out more before looking at alternatives?
What is the uniform? Is it compulsory?

Um, are you wanting something for now? Bit puzzled as to why you're thinking about home schooling for someone who is not yet 3.

My children start at playgroup at 2.9yo. That's freeform. They wander around and play with the toys.

What are you actually looking for?

my daughters have both attended local pre-schools (dd2 started in september) no compulsory uniform (there is a tshirt if they want to wear it) she goes 2.5hours in the mornings (at themomentonly goes twice a week because she is 2.10 andI dontwant her there every day, evenwhen she gets her funding she'llonly attend 3mornings a week because I work the other 2)

They encourage free play (as EYFS asks) and lots ofopportunities to do different things (colouring/painting/playdoh/puzzles/role play/craft) and tehre is always access to the garden (which is supervised) where there is a playhouse/trampoline/bikes/trikes/sandpit.

They do not force any childto do any activity but encourage themto make their own decisions, they also all sit together for snack/milk and have story/sing time

3 hours of concentrated learning time, for a 2 year old? That is bonkers.

Why not just send him to a 'normal' nursery?

of course there are have you not had a look at the playgroups in your area? he'll be too young for a state nursery until next September, and if he went then he'd just have free play for a morning or afternoon session, not "concentrated learning time"

no-one's forcing you to send him there - if you need him to be at a day nursery rather than just preschool and you're not happy with the current nursery's approach, then look around for another

I'm in London, and the only pre-schools with uniform and 'concentrated learning time' that I know of are private. Contact your LEA and they should have a list of pre-schools and playgroups.

I am more focused on the future, sorry if my initial post was a bit jumbled. I feel as though it's the first step on a long road of uniforms, standardized testing and curriculum without any notice or concern for a child's individual needs and talents/interests. Thanks for responding.

get the good schools guide lots of alternative schools just depends where you live.

Our local montessorri does not have a uniform. The only local nurseries that have a uniform tend to be private schools, although this is slowly changing. More state schools are introducing uniforms. For some this includes nursery, for others not.

No way would I let a child that young have 3 hours of formal learning. Find a nice nursery that lets him play. They'll let you take him in and won't have uniform either.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a uniform. Both mine went to private school nurseries and looked very smart in their uniforms. They liked wearing a uniform and we were able to keep their other clothes in a decent state for afternoons/weekends.

I would be less keen on the 3 hours formal learning. Surely they should be learning through play?

Our Montessori had an optional uniform. I always had to leave ds at the door (he started when he was 2.5). 'Concentrated' learning. I'd be intrigued to know what that is and how it fits the Montessori ethos.

Sounds to me like this nursery hasn't really understood what Montessori education is all about. The whole point of Montessori is that the kids choose their own activities individually and that the staff are there as facilitators, not teachers.

Dd2 was at a Montessori place in Germany for over 3 years, and you would have some kids doing one of the learning activities with numbers at the same time as others were playing with dolls and others were cutting out those interminable shapes or painting.

According to Montessori ideology, you don't need to designate a specific 'learning time' because the kids will use their natural curiosity to learn when they feel like it. You know what, it works.

And a uniform at that age is just silly beyond belief.

My daughter went to a state nursery attached to a state primary that did not have a compulsory uniform and I was thrilled. At the age of 4 she announced that she wanted to wear uniform, "so I look different from the others".... the irony was lost on her.

Of course there is another way - choose a school that doesn't require a uniform. Some parents like them, so don't - I would choose another school if I felt like you

Do you have to send him at all? If you don't have to for work or sanity reasons, why not keep him home and take him to play groups/mother and toddler groups/baby gym as and when?

The pre-school class sounds awful and I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.