Hall Grove Parents

[gayi3b]

Hi All,

I am new to mumsnet and i need some advice regarding schooling and childcare.

My son has got a place in Hall Grove for preschool starting Sep 2019. My questions are below:

1. How do parents of Hall Grove rate the school? We have personally visited the school, but will be really nice to get feedback from parents who send their kids to the same school.
2. How do parents manage childcare as the school has informed that there is no breakfast or after school clubs till reception. We are both full time working parents and are looking potentially at childminders or au pairs. Can parents please provide feedback on both options based on their own experience?
3. We found that there is an outstanding primary called Windlesham Infant school close by. We may look into that if we cannot sort out childcare by next year. Anyone sending their kid to Windlesham Infant school, please provide feedback.

Thanks in advance,
G

My son attended windlesham infants for reception. He did not do well and we moved him for year 1 to Hall Grove. He was way behind on his phonics and reading and spent more than a year catching up.

The village school is a good school but if you plan to go private at some point and have no financial restrictions just go straight to Hall Grove, it's a lovely school.

You may find that the local nursery Hatton Hill can help with breakfast and after school club. I think they do/ did offer a transport service too.

Thanks for taking the time to reply back Pufflemum.

It really helps to know first hand experience from other parents.

Hall Grove is definitely our first choice. We are really struggling with the childcare situation and want to get it all sorted out (including moving house to Windlesham , managing logistics etc.,).

Thanks for the suggestion on Hatton Hill nursery (now called BrightHorizons). They have stopped the breakfast and after school club now because of change in corporate policy.
I am reaching out to childminders in the area.

If you don't mind me asking, do you live in Windlesham?

Kind regards,
G

Hi @gayi3b
Just a 👋🏻 as we are also in the process of buying in Windlesham! I have 2 boys - 3yrs and 4yrs. The sale and purchase process is proving a little painful thanks to the current property market but I have everything crossed this house will go through soon. My boys down for Woodcote House and a couple of others. PM me if you fancy a chat. I can't add anything on Hall Grove though, sorry.

Hi, my son is at a lovely little prep school (with a nursery) about 15 minutes drive from Windlesham, it’s called Our Lady’s, it’s in Crowthorne. It might be too far or not work logistically but as well as being a fab little school, it’s brilliant for working parents, 8-6 every day for both the nursery and the school, plus throughout the holidays too. The website is rather outdated, but my son loves it. It probably doesn’t have the same facilities as Hall Grove but in terms of small class sizes and learning opportunities, I can definitely recommend it.

Thanks everyone.

We are still deliberating what we need to do. We currently live in Virginia Water. Although the commute to Hall grove is not bad, the logistics of early drop off and late pick up is going to be a nightmare specially with Hall grove refusing to offer pre-school breakfast or evening club. We are really thinking of another prep school now called Staines Prep. It does not match up to Hall Grove obviously but it is a lovely school and we really liked the mixed culture there. Logistically, it will work out great for us as well.

Hope we end up making the right decision...Welcome any thoughts.

If you post a new thread re Staines Prep on Mumsnet you will get a response, there was a post on Staines prep v The Mall earlier this year. It's a popular, diverse prep that will prepare for private secondary & grammar (to some extent). It has lots of working parents.