Moving to private for improved home learning

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

HAs anybody - or is anybody considering - moving to the private system for a better home learning set up?

I have DTs in Year 3. They are academically able (I know, I know! everyone on MN says that, but DD1 got top available marks in her SATs so objectively she clearly is) and we've considered moving to private at some point because we suspect they'd benefit from an academically selective environment. But we don't have the cash to make that an easy decision, and they have been absolutely loving their (state) primary - big classes, but loads of activity and buzz and a brilliant community vibe.
Their home learnign provision has been not bad since Easter, but it's not a patch on what friends with kids at London day prep schools are experiencing. DH and I are both f-t WFH so limited in how much we can do beyond the basics, but I'm seeing kids of their age being effectively taught online by private school teachers so requiring much less parental intervention.

But then much of what you pay for at private - facilities etc - wouldn't be available and they'd lose their network of lovely friends, even if they are just names on a chat room at the moment.

Anyone else thought about this?

Who are all these primary children that remain engaged and pay attention for a full school day delivered over a laptop???

None of the kids I know have the attention span - the kids I know who attend private school have their parent sitting next to them to ensure they remain focussed and to help with the work.

Like another poster suggested, save private school fees for when they can offer the whole experience and not just online classes.

I looked into local independent schools yesterday.... then ran away when I added up the cost x 2 children.

My children’s school is providing very little learning input - life skills! Cooking! Crafting! Happy photos! Yeah right not my house where we both wfh full time, and the DC are intent on killing each other. They aren’t just missing education, I can also see them losing social skills. I figure private schools are more likely to provide a full education from September - because otherwise they go under financially, and they have smaller classes to start with.

In the end I looked at online tutors (with a view for one to come to our house too once restrictions ease).

Every day I'm weighing up if to pull mine out of private school. We are at a well recognised expensive prep.
It's been an absolute nightmare. Initially the school only envisaged state schools being shut so prepared absolutely nothing. After Easter holidays no one was really sure what was happening, eventually it was settled with a zoom call in morning and after noon.
No actual tea hog but a register, lots of please turn microphones off and baby's crying in the background and then outlining what parents had to go through for each day.
We can submit but I haven't bothered as the work is so simple my dc hasn't got anything wrong yet. Anything I did originally submit for a 'thanks Mrs silkIndigo for correcting your dc spelling etc' if it was obvious my dcc had rubbed something out and corrected it useless!

I think again the school thought we'd be back by now as gradually the work load has increased but our school haven't furloughed for example the french teacher and yet she's allowed to send a YouTube link of a french learning Vocab once a week. Again feel bitter ive paid out so much money for something I could have achieved myself.

Half our worksheets are from twinkl so free right now and I have to teach them.
Personally as I've said this has been one big nightmare and I wish I didn't have to pay for it. I just wish I'd already subscribed to an online school.
Just my experience and I have one dc in a prep and regular contact with their old pre prep which isn't much better. Prior to this though I was happy with private school so perhaps if you're in it for the long haul might be worth it.

Teaching not tea hog

@roses2 we are probably unusual but our y4 children love learning! Their schools (private/online only) do less than half a day of lessons though but then the homework for the rest of the day has been fully explained. And they are the kind of children that also love homework. I would say that makes it a lot easier. I can see if you had a reluctant student then this type of schooling might not work.

@Thneedville the online only schools are far cheaper than private but have considerably more expertise in teaching online. My son has also enjoyed the chance to chat with classmates in group work and through the class "chat feed" while they wait for lessons to start

(they are let in 5-10 mins early so can have a bit of a chat if they want)

If your child is well above average I wouldn’t bother with private at primary. Mine moved at 11. I paid for some tuition from end year 5 to prepare for entrance exams in case any gaps. SATS in mainstream tend to mean will have solid maths and english. Usually bright kids have outgrown primary by year 5 so there’s no need to worry about them not getting where they need to. There’s also a huge amount repetition at primary which bores more able pupils who get it first time. Pushing them further ahead just makes school even more boring for them. My son was naturally very bright but also he loved books and so his reading age was far ahead. That was something he did himself outside school (he had to read far easier reading scheme books at school which he hated and he was always told off for reading ahead in group reading). It gave him a massive advantage in writing/spelling etc Even up to GCSE teachers will say they can tell which kids read a lot outside school it makes such a massive difference. My son was reading a paperback a day at year 3 and I am sure kids who are doing that will be the ones making the most progress in lockdown regardless of what their school is offering or how many worksheets they do.

Some kids work really well in an online setting, and some dont. It just depends upon their learning style.

Before you make a jump to a years worth of private tuition it might be worth finding an online enrichment course that is fairly academic and has synchronous and asynchronous elements. Sign them up and give them the basic amount of support you would if there was a second wave and you were wfh.... See how they do.... now you have some data to inform your decision that is specific to your children.

But yes, private online education is highly likely to be better than State inline education. They have fewer kids per class to help and more money to use solving any problems/training teachers/buying resources

Please do your research on the financial stability of the private schools before you jump. If they are loosing pupils because of financial constraints and maybe foreign pupils staying away, they might founder mid year and leave you up a gum tree

Something to consider - our prep is back for all years from next week monday (15th). 5 days, almost full hours (15 minutes lost due to staggered drop off/pick up).
we also had great online provision.

@myself2020 that's interesting is that allowed? My school keep saying about the government only allowing YR Y1&Y6 back? I will go back to them if they're actually allowed my year back and choosing not to? I
Thanks

@myself2020 yes that is why we picked private for the child who really needs social interaction, they are far more likely to get back in the classroom before the summer and that is what they need

@Yorkshirehillbilly I agree with your points about private preps in normal times to some extent. But the state system is going to be a mess for a very long time now.

Agree about reading though. Ours are tearing through books during lockdown so I am really pleased about that. It's been one of our lockdown extravagances to buy them any books they want (2nd hand usually!) But many children won't have that luxury of a constant supply of books

@silkindigo it is allowed from monday if they have enough space and teachers. most preps should have both.

Thank you. Our school shuts first week of July and no sign of us going back this term. Will have to see what's going on.

And yes we have a lot of space at the school being that it's unlikely sports and theatres will be in use!

@myself2020 will the children be able to be taught by the specialist subject teachers or be in bubbles with a teacher and a teaching assistant. I think the guidelines state that they have to stay with individual teachers? ...fine for very young children to have just one teacher but a shame if the older primary children can't be infront of their specialist teachers?

@flourandeggs
core subjects by the class teacher, and a TA.
PE outside by PE teachers, but they stay 2 meters away (teacher or TA are there in case a child falls over etc)
Science, music, drama, RE and foreign languages via zoom link, with either teacher or TA helping in case of unclarities or questions. Works great with reception, year 1 and 6 so far.

Forgot, art as well via zoom link, with teacher or TA assisting in class.
keeping the specialist teachers out of bubbles also means there are plenty of fall back options in case of illness

@myself2020 So not really business as usual then, and still an awful lot of money for OP to spend if there are really good specialist online tutors. I would really wait until you can get your moneys worth at these schools which are all about the specialist teachers, trips, sports fixtures etc.

Much better than nothing though. or online only, where you have to organise tutors for every subject yourself, and be on call for technical issues. plus there is the social side of playing with other kids

Does anyone know any private schools that are taking on kids like this? Like can you name the school please. I would be interested for my ds. Thank you

Save you money and enrol them at outschool or similar. Mine are loving the courses and zoom lessons. And choosing them!