Any Forest Farm Montessori (Oxford) experiences out there?

[wondertime]

Hi,

I would love to hear from anyone that can shed a little light. It sounds wonderful any first hand experience out there?

No first-hand experience but I know a few people whose children have been there and loved it.

Good to hear thanks :)

Any one else have any experience of this school?

Hello, I’m looking into this school now, did you decide to go for it in the end? Or did you find any other parents for their thoughts?

I don't know this particular school, but one of my daughter's best friends attended a Montessori school in primary. She absolutely loved her experience; however, she is now way below the expected level academically. Her mother is a great supporter of Montessori schools, but her father told me that "they did nothing except play and she now knows nothing compared to her peers".

Yes that makes sense to me, as they are learning in a completely different way to mainstream. That’s also why I think it would be unfair to do Montessori primary and then switch to mainstream secondary. Hence I’m enquiring about forest farm since it goes up to 16.

I was wondering the same myself. But I have since heard dubious things about this place. I will just say I won't be sending my daughter there

I’d be grateful to know more @lissiedoll - considering it for my children but with lockdown etc it’s so hard to get a good sense of it firsthand. Would be so grateful for any specifics or other experiences anyone has had of it

@ForeverYoung11 did you make a decision re OMS? I’m really considering sending my daughter there but have been unable to visit . We will also be basing a house move if we decide on it so quite a big decision

@PJDA we decided to go for it. We visited and our kids spent the afternoon there, and we came out with a good feeling about it. It’s such a hard decision isn’t it, especially if you can’t see it in person. To be as specific as possible, honestly we actually weren’t blown away by any of the individual teachers (all perfectly nice but didn’t feel like they were superhuman or anything as we slightly did with the setting they’re in now!), but the whole vibe of the place felt calm, creative and a good fit for our kids. It seemed smaller than I expected from the website but beautiful, especially the outside spaces but all nice, and the children (from what I could see - because of covid we couldn’t come in until the end of the school day except briefly to drop off our own children) looked settled and industrious. Both my husband and I looked round and noted things that didn’t tick the “perfection” boxes we’ve gone round schools with in our heads (eg a bit of confusion when we arrived, a couple of teachers having a matter of fact rather than rapturously passionate demeanour, etc) but each had the exact same feeling that suddenly those things didn’t matter so much because it just felt like the right school for us. I hope that helps a bit, let me know if you have any specific questions! Is there a way you could visit before the end of term at all? What year will your daughter be going into?

Ps @lissiedoll i would still be so grateful to know what it was you heard (forewarned is forearmed etc!)

@ForeverYoung11 thank you for replying .

So my daughter is only 2 but because our move is based on the school she attends we need to consider it sooner . If we don’t decide to send her there then we will have a much more flexible search area as we will most likely send her to mainstream state school .

We are hoping to try and visit before the summer holidays but as you said it’s hard to tell when no children there .

It feels like a big decision too as financially it’s private vs state school and we will have another child in the next couple of years who could end up going there .
So are your children starting there in September and what ages are they? Did you have a back up option ? Did they go to Montessori nursery settings ?

Interesting comment re teachers as think quite important that you feel a good connection with them which we got at my daughters tiny Montessori nursery . Also think if we get that impression my husband may be less on board as he is slightly more on the fence than me !

I like the sound of the calm environment , think very important .

Thank you so much for all your help , really appreciate it

@PJDA it is a huge decision isn’t it! Ours was also between mainstream state schools and this - and this is particularly, eye wateringly expensive! 😭 We decided to go for it for at least a year or two and then see where we are, but I can see if you’re buying a house based on schools you want it to be the right thing long term. (We’re moving to the general area anyway with work but only renting). If your daughter is in nursery at the moment, might she manage a trial hour there? I believe they do take some 2 year olds… might give you more of a sense of it if the logistics are possible. Ours came out ever so happy and settled (having done a couple of trials at other places and come out totally wired/ exhausted, etc) so it felt a valuable thing to have done from a deciding point of view.

I agree I would have thought connection with the teachers was the most important thing… I can’t quite explain why it didn’t feel so present here! Everyone seemed fine, quite straightforward- but perhaps it was a sense of everyone working to uphold the environment rather than particular personalities standing out if that makes sense. I’m not sure exactly what it was though! Certainly no one seemed bad in any way just not amazing (which like you we definitely felt and valued in nursery).

Ours are 6 and 7, and did go through Montessori nursery. They will be starting in Sept so if you are still on the fence then I will be able to report back in a more informed way!

@ForeverYoung11 yes it is . We are going to view in September so will take it from there . I’m sure she would be able to do an hour there but nothing looking to send her there until she starts primary at 5. We are just looking to move soon as if she doesn’t go there then we need to move in time for her to get into mainstream when she is 4.

Re the staff, maybe the visits are just so constant and combined with what you said about upholding the environment . I guess consistency is a good thing!

I would definitely be interested to speak to you in September as an conscious we may have to make some big decisions based on a 30/40 minute tour . Am sure I will get a gut feel though.

thank you again for all your help 😊

Hi there, I was reading through this thread as I am considering the OMS school for my children after this year (September 22). I was wondering how your children were getting along there? I currently live in London so will be looking to move if we do but we are already considering moving out of London for a really good state/alternative school like Montessori. OMS seems to be the only good option for a Montessori secondary that I've personally heard of and would prefer over a couple of others that exist. Was curious to hear your views on it but I am hoping to organise a visit and get a really good taster. Thanks so much and sorry to jump on this thread! I might make another if this has gone old now.

Hi @ForeverYoung11, @PJDA, @familylookingforadventure

Did you all send your kids to OMS. Cosidering for our 7 year old.

Any advice welcome. Hard to find first hand, up to date info online!

I wanted to send my children to a Montessori school but it was practically unheard of in our area then .
My cousin, who has her own Montessori school in the States recommended Ashley Yeh's book, Montessori in the home.
It was wonderful.
I read the book and trusted my instinct, while sending my children to state nurseries and schools and the combination worked beautifully!

@familylookingforadventure @ToksSoph

I’m so sorry I didn’t see this sooner!

Are you still looking for info on Forest Farm?

We did send our children and honestly it hasn’t been all we’d hoped for. Lovely teachers, and lovely space, and many other happy parents, but for us being totally honest it hasn’t really worked. I don’t want to put lots of details online but please feel free to message me if you’d like to chat about it - more than happy to share our experience.

@ForeverYoung Thanks for taking the time to reply. How do I private message you on here. I'd love to hear more about your experience. Thanks

@ToksSoph good question! I’ve just worked it out so if you go on your account and then click on messages there should be one from me. I did it by clicking on the three little dots on the bottom right hand side of your post 😊

Hello!
Apologies for just butting in! I am considering sending my 11 year old son to the school. We have our taster days booked in, and I’ve been for a tour around the school.

would you mind letting me also know about your experience with the school please?

Thanks so much

A now senco school hiding under guise of Montessori.
Unqualified learing assistants and safeguarding issues as the violent unstable troublemaker kids do not have 1-2-1 learning support. Kick off by kids daily and disruption to classes all the time. The Montessori method is completely diluted and staff leaving. They are taking money over the odds and parents aren't even aware of the senco rules. I have all the insider info of what's going on in this so called school even the undercover senco referrals via Oxford University and the owners old boys network at Christchurch college. The rich parents manipulate thier kids to go on a special needs plan and get the place fully funded whilst normal paying parents pay over the odds and end up with disruption from kids in classes on special needs plans with out 1-2-1 learning support and its these kids that take all the time off the teacher and Montessori is out the window. Owners have done this and not told us but know you know. Ps massive legal claim to be had here. Fraud, safe guarding, embezzlement.

@ForeverYoung11 Apologies for opening this up again after so long. This is the only school that ive found (and ive been looking for a very very long time now 🤪) that feel might be good for my son and it requires us to downsize and totally relocate so obvs im trying to find out as much as i can and id REALLY appreciate your experience there. I can't PM you as MN have disabled the function but i understand you don't want to put feedback on here. If there is any way you'd be happy to connect to chat id massively appreciate it. And hope 3 years on your child is super happy in their new school!

Wow, is this legit a specialist school now for SEND? I don't see anything about EHCP requirements?

@Newmumlottie I would be more than happy to connect, can you think of a way for us to share contact details without posting them to the world?

I am very happy to share all the ins and outs of our experience and also what I know about those of others we knew (both who were happy there - I know at least one family still attending - and who weren’t, several at the time that we were there).

I’d just say two things - one being that my info is now at least 2 years out of date, and the other that it’s so important to trust your gut. If it feels right for your son, that is absolutely the most important thing. Randomers on the internet say all sorts! I would say speak to them as much as you can, have him do a trial day, see if you can talk to any current parents via introduction from the school…. And if it feels right to you it is absolutely worth a try.

If you’re local and decide against Forest Farm the primary school in Islip (I think Dr South’s?) is where several families moved and from what I understand it’s very thoughtful, nurturing, well resourced, nature and arts oriented, so might be worth checking out. I haven’t been there myself so this is only second hand information!

@Newmumlottie sorry just reread your post and see you’re not local! I suppose that opens up other possibilities too but does mean it’s harder to get a clear sense of FF I imagine. Whereabouts are you based in case we could find somewhere we overlap? We now live in Berkshire.