Moving Back to UK- Stuck on choices Twickenham, Staines, Ashton, Newland

[maryamaliae]

Hello mums,

I'll be moving back to Uk next year with my 4 year old. Ive narrowed down the following schools and would like to get your opinions please

1. Twickenham Prep
2. Staines Prep
3. Ashton House
4. Newland House

Any feedback would be hugely appreciated! Thank you.

I am guessing you have not visited any of them? I know both Twickenham Prep and Newland , not intimately. I have visited and considered both and know parents at both.
I loved Newland House - but it is very oversubscribed, so get your child's name on the list now. I moved to the area when my dc was 3 and could not get them in at all, unfortunately, there was an opportunity at 7 but for various other reasons I did not go there. Friends with children there are very happy in deed. Twickenham Prep is also a good school with many happy parents - different to NH in that it appears to be a bit less academic, with a more gentle approach to learning. And a bit more religious which attracts some, repels others. But it does not pretend to be otherwise.

Not personal experience but colleagues children and friends at Staines prep. School has been very supportive in difficult family situation. Friends ds difficulty learning to read in state primary, very anxious. Learning problems disappeared in smaller classes at Staines. They get kids into some good schools. Grammars and Hampton/Leh. But lots of less academic schools too.
New land traditional prep. History of lots of tutoring to get into academic senior schools but again friends DS Did very well there without tutoring. Other friends who moved dc from state didn't find there dc started doing better one lot didn't move subsequent children one did.
Tp word on street ess academic. No knowledge Ashton house

Why don't you consider a state option? Personally I don't see much value added prep versus state primary. My child attends a prep school and I came to the conclusion that at the primary level a good state option is not worse.