Looking for a school similar to steiner but without the bad bits

[WellyTans]

Have been looking into schools for dd1 and came across Steiner schools via a thread on here.
When I looked more into them I really fell in love with a lot of things about them.

I love the focus on community, creativity and nature and also that they wait until the children are a little older before focusing on academic learning and there is very little standardised testing.

There seems to also be a focus on independence and letting the children learn in their own way and take responsibility for their learning and this really appealed to me too.

However, the controversies over racism and bullying and the kind of cult-ish thing they've got going on have put me off ever sending my kids to one.

Are there any schools with a similar approach to Steiner schools but without the bad bits?

We have all girls ,except possibly dc4 who is due to make an appearance in a month, so we are open to all girls schools at the moment as well as co-ed

dancingthroughthedark - yes - a visit looks great. I found that the reality when you had children there was a bit different to the appealing gloss.

Do not confuse a later start to reading with a child-centric approach. Steiner schools have a very strict and undifferentiated curriculum. That however does not mean that the schools are unpleasant to be in, but if your DC does not develop at the defined rate, then that type of schooling will be a poor fit.

If you want child-centric, in addition to schools already mentioned, have a look at Summerhill (Suffolk) and Dunhurst then Bedales (Hampshire)

Look for schools that have adopted a Reggio Emilia approach, or Mantle of the Expert.