Would you go with a Steiner or Montessori Education?

[Sastra]

Just that really. I've had a brief look and I like the general ethos - I think. However, it's not that popular really in the UK. I guess I'm looking for the other sides of the coin?

i would say your average state school is going to be far stricter and stifling than a montessori because when you have 30 kids to get through a specific set of tasks then you HAVE to be strict and they have to do things at roughly the same speed

in DS1's school they are allowed to take their time. it's more individual. if a pupil is particularly interested in something they're encourage to explore it in more detail and do more work on it if they would like to.

they have a daily work plan with things they need to try and achieve that day and they can do those things in any order they like, with as much or as little help as they choose.

they don't end up with unfinished projects because they've taken time over something but time has run out and the whole class is moving onto the next thing, because if they want to spend more time on something they can without it affecting anyone else.

they're free to use any of the learning aids in the room as much or as little as they choose, and they're encouraged to put it away when they are done.

I should add, that we were happy with the state school DS1 was at prior to moving to his montessori school. But when this one opened locally I just knew it was the kind of education I wanted for my children and although it was hard taking him out of the school he was in we think it has benefited him hugely

Neither. There is a well-rated Montessori nursery near us, but we decided against it (not that we had much chance, judging by the waiting list length) because I thought that it would stifle their creativity. Dd1 spent an hour playing with my lipsticks as dolls yesterday - from what I understand, that wouldn't have been encouraged there. Only using things for their intended use does not just stifle creativity, but it prevents imaginative thinking and problem solving: skills which become very useful later in life in the workplace.

I would never consider a Steiner school. Liberal rules and an alternative education is one thing, anarchy and brainwashing are completely different and unacceptable. I have never set foot in one, but have heard (first hand) stories of it being cultish and manipulating in spite of the seeming lack of discipline. The odd religious views also put me off.

I understand that for certain children it would fit well. Some children just don't thrive under pressure and need to go at their own pace. But for the regular child, I think that either of these types of schooling, Steiner especially, is not beneficial and has mild to significant disadvantages in the long term.

Ds has been to two different Montessori preschools and I can categorically say, for those two at least, imaginative play was entirely welcome.

montessori - yeah maybe, depending on the Montessori, I liked my Montessori pre-school, not keen on the local one for DS

Steiner - no, I find the local steiner school community very all or nothing, you either conform to all their ideas or you are wrong

OK, I'll say it again - my DD's Montessori preschool is entirely happy for the bits of the learning aids to be used how children want to use them, as long as they don't throw them about or something. I've often come in in the afternoon and found children playing with them in their own way - the blue segment baby was the best example, but I've seen many others. It's only at times when they're being used as maths aids etc. (because they fit together in a certain way) that the children are encouraged to use them in that way. It's no different from a jigsaw - sometimes you put it together, sometimes you might do other things with it.

I don't know how typical this is, but their attitude seems to be that as long as you're careful with it, you can do what you want. Also you need to respect what other children might be doing with it - if a child is working with one of the aids and wants to come back to it, they put a little card with their name and photo by it to say "can you leave this alone, please"?

My children went to a Montessori nursery but I'm not totally sure how true to the ethos it was - I'm not sure how (or even if) the movement check the curriculum. It was a very loving very creative environment and both my children were very happy there. It certainly wasn't strict, my ds found moving on to reception very challenging because he had to do what he was told when he was told something he objected to mightily!

Montessori all the way. DD attends a Monte nursery and will do Pre school there too. If we could afford it she would attend the prep school as well but we're happy with the start she will have there then move into state for Reception.

I am looking into a Montessori qualification at the moment (currently a state school teacher) as I love the philosophy behind the schools.

Step away from the Steiner School...

I was quite happy with the Montessori nursery but I don't think that I would carry on much beyond that.
I would avoid Steiner - a lot of the parents have weird ideas and it seems to be 'survival of the fittest'- you get anarchy with too many 'free spirits'.

nooka - my DD's Montessori is strict on actual discipline*, but always in a way that stresses mutual respect and explaining why the children need to do what they need to do. The way the teachers talk to the children is fantastic.

*as opposed to strictly dividing up the time children spend on different things. While the teachers let the children go with their interests, they do try and maintain an overall balance, though.

One difference between Montessori and Steiner is in the way they handle reading. At Montessori schools, if a child shows an interest in letters and words the teacher lets them follow it, no matter what their age - if the child wants to do it, why not. Steiner schools hold off on reading until 7 or so as a matter of principle, focusing on oral language until then.

"a lot of the parents have weird ideas and it seems to be 'survival of the fittest'- you get anarchy with too many 'free spirits'"

YY, democratic it is not with too many strong willed alternative types! I didn't go to a steiner school but went to a sort of free school that was SUPPOSED to be quite alternative - was a lions den, turned out way with way more of the problems you'ld (or they would) associate with a main stream institution (corruption, institutional bullying, social hierarchy etc) than the state schools. I was moved to a state school in the end, felt a lot more "free" there!

I would never say never I have aimed at (and feel managed) finding a school that was suitable for each of my children. We looked into a Steiner school for dd2 at one point as she was struggling hugely However the cost meant we had to say no.

We're going to be moving to Germany in about 6 months, so I'm excited about all the montessori schools there.

I'm encouraged to hear that the "only for intended use" thing doesn't seem to be widely upheld.

There's a big difference between using equipment for it's intended purpose and using toys for only one purpose - in any mainstream nursery there are going to be some things that children are only allowed to use in the way they are designed to be used, and then some things they can play with however they like.

Montessori, yes. I went to a Montessori school back in the 60s and loved it (and did well afterwards, as did my siblings).

FWIW, there are a lot of areas of overlap between Montessori principles and Froebelian principles - and lots of Froebelian trained primary school teachers in mainstream schools, if you look

If you decide on Montessori make sure it is Montessori and not just using the name because they like the ethos.

I don't think either Froebelian & Montessori trained teachers are recognised as qualified teachers in maintained schools

Our state primary has many Froebel trained teachers - they have either trained at Roehampton (where many of the tutors are committed Froebelians) or taken Froebel certificate courses. They all have standard teaching qualifications, obviously, as well. Our last Head was a Froebel graduate, too - and a fantastic teacher.

A Froebel certificate course on its own is, of course, not enough - sorry if that was confusing.

Montessori is fab. And it's structured rather than anti-creative.