State School VS Private for Primary ?

[RishMum]

Hello Mums,

My DD just turned 2.5 years old and we live in Chadwell Heath Area (RM8). Our area is not known to have the best schools historically. There are one or two Ofsted Outstanding Schools but other schools that children around go to are just Good etc. Nor does this area have any great private / independent schools. We are really confused about which route to go. I am happy to consider relocation if required to South east (Bromley etc) or Harrow because I hear the areas are known to have some of the best schools. Though we own the current house and live in a nice community so moving would be a big ask, but we are ready to do it if we have to for schools.

I am really confused about where to start? Any mums in the locality who can recommend any good private / prep schools for me to visit. Any outstanding state schools in the area that anyone can recommend. Pros and Cons about State vs Private schools?

Sorry for an unclear post but I just dont know where to start! And I am worried I am probably late with starting my research.

Thanks in advance!
R

Recent ofsted inspections mean quite a lot! Out of date ones don’t.

Our local authority publish a prospectus for reception starters which gives details of the catchment of each school including how many applications were made for how many places. You could look on local authority websites for each area you are considering.

@RishMum

Also, FWIW we had our DD's 2 year review at the nursery and the feedback was (from what we gathered) that she is pretty bright and is already capable of carrying herself and mingling with the preschool children. Actually my daughter refuses to nap at the nursery and so during that time they take her to the preschool area while other children in her toddler room nap. Her manager mentioned potentially moving her to preschool earlier than the 3 year mark because she thinks she is ready and needs more challenges.

Reason I put this out there is - talking to some friends, what I gathered was that if both of us are going to be busy with our work during office hours which we are, have always been due to the nature of our professions - privates take care of the extra curricular activities and will hone those skills when they notice her interest ie drama, music, arts etc. With states, I believe we will need to enroll her in the extra afterschool or weekend classes for all these things?

Is this correct? Apologies if I am being confused and asking obvious / stupid questions. This whole school saga is a bit stressful.

Thanks everyone for all your inputs. Its extremely helpful!

There is more extracurricular activities on offer at many private schools and a lot of this is during the school day so can be more convenient for families. However, I wouldn’t make that the sole criterion in making your decision.

For lots of parents, wrap around care and activities at school is a major consideration though. Even at private schools you might need to get her a place for after school if they attract a lot of parents who want it!

Lots of state schools don’t have after school activities for YR at all. Or much for anytime! Breakfast clubs are not standard by any means either. Lots of people get child minders to drop off and collect when nothing is available at school. Peeps make this much easier if they offer the care and far more do.

Peeps? Preps.

Yes but wrap around care is cheaper than private school. It’s a bonus but the overriding consideration has to be if the school’s ethos and approach will suit your child. I have friends who didn’t apply to an outstanding state option as the strictness of it in the early years wouldn’t have worked will for their very active children.

I had a choice of offers of highly selective private options and the ethos and approach are what I decided on.

You have to think holistically about what will help your child thrive and that might be the state option or the indie. Convenience of course plays into it but I wouldn’t make it the primary consideration.

Lots of parents I know have had to opt for convenience. Yes, they earn well big getting wrap around cars in school is impossible and children are then delivered and collected from school by a childminder. If you can get one! Good luck with that in some areas. Yes you do need to consider ethos of school but most preps are fine. It’s only London ones that are pushy because of the nature of entrance to selective senior schools. The rest of us don’t see this and the preps are offering a wrap around service most primaries don’t. There is no prep near me that I would rule out but it would depend on the child for which would suit best. There are also many great state schools but entry is by religion or catchment so little choice really. If a local school is poor, parents are unlikely to find alternatives.

!!! They may earn well, but getting wrap around care is impossible ….