Schools

[Rainbow44]

I have recently been looking around our local infant schools. My local ' catchment' school has recently gained a very good ofsted report and seems a nice school. It's so difficult to gain an insight when you only get a snap shot from a visit.

I know ofsted reports should not be solely relied upon. I have some opinions from parents whose children go there. All good comments.

My issue with it is it is a 3 form entry school...which to me seems crazy! I went to a tiny village primary ( many moons ago ) so this is what I am used to!

Does anyone have any experience of larger intake infant schools? Can anyone advise good or bad I don't mind.

I should probably add that whilst it is a 3 form entry school, the classrooms are split with 30 children in each class room.

Thanks in advance!

A general thought for you - you are talking about infant schools which will only go up to Year 2 - so a maximum of 9 classes, plus possibly a Nursery which would usually be separate. If you think of a primary school, it will cater for infants and juniors, so 7 classes, plus possibly a Nursery if there is only 1 class per year group. I don't think there are many infants schools where they only have 1 form entry, but there are a number of primary schools which are 1 form entry. There would be advantages/disadvantages to both - with an infant school, they would have to move to a separate junior school, often on a different site at aged 7. With a primary there would be a wider range of children in the school. Depends what you want for your child.

Very good point! Thankyou. For some reason I hadn't thought of it that way, comparing to a primary.

All of the infant schools locally are 2 form entry. Our catchment school has the largest intake.

Where are you based? What schools you looking at?

We are in letchworth. Most of our schools for reception children are infant schools with a separate linked junior school. We are actually looking at nurseries which are linked to an infant school. I know going to the schools nursery doesn't guarantee you a place at the school but I would ideally like our lo to go to the same school as nursery.

Our local catchment school is icknield infant and nursery. Other local schools are stonehill and northfields infant school.

I think I was a bit overwhelmed by how many kids there were running around at icknield. I must remember not to keep comparing it to when I went to school as my village primary was tiny.

If you are looking at a nursery spot, I assume its for 2015 entry. I guess your little one is 2. I promise they won't seem so big and scary when your little one is 4/5 :)

There are some positives to larger schools, a nice big friendship pool, lots of activities, good facilities.

Thanks! Yes our lo is 3..

You are right actually..i think schools are generally a lot more crowded these days. Yes the children even in reception seemed much bigger than my lo!

A lot of schools seem to have ' child guided play'. When I looked round icknield this is what they were doing so it was a bit 'chaotic'! It would have been nice to have seen some more quiet 'group work' I think to gain a better insight.

Icknield is our local school which means we could walk there..which is a big plus in my mind!

Thanks for your thoughts.

In early years - child initiated learning - is a huge part of their learning. They learn through play. An adult guided activity will only last 15 minutes at the most. All schools should and must be doing it. X

Thanks noappointment necessary. Yes I have looked up early years foundation framework and it seems to be.

I suppose I have the stereotypical children sat at desks quietly while the teacher is in standing in front of the class with a blackboard and chalk in their hand! In my head. I don't think they even have blackboards these days!

Wow....15 minutes adult guided activity. That seems such a short time!

No we wouldn't look at lordship it's too far and I'm not keen on hillshott or pixmore..I know they seem to have a tiny catchment area.

Stonehill is quite a small intake which I think might be quite nice....I'm just not too keen on where it is.

I think we like northfields and icknield from the short visits we had!