State vs Independent

[DeliciousDishes]

Hi, I have a 3.5 yr old summer born daughter. We are torn between a good state vs an average independent school in central London. My goal is to prep her for 7+. Do you think the independent school will give her a lot of advantage or am I better of just tutoring her for the next 3 years?

God this poor child! Being prepped for competitive entry exam before she is barely out of the womb! What can you be thinking of? She needs to play and play and play - and develop her imagination - take joy in her surroundings free from the imposition of competition. Head in hands icon required here ......

One life this child has and you are imposing the strait jacket at 3!!!

Thank you for saying this @RubySunset82. I'm from an ethnic background and I've chosen a private school for DC due to the reasons you've mentioned. Interestingly, in her class 70% of children are from various ethnic backgrounds. All trying to give their child a head start to the grammar. Lots of judgement from my white colleagues but I know what it's like to be disadvantaged by the colour of my skin. So any chance to give my child a head start - I will take it.

It really depends on the child. Mine enjoys learning and being challenged. I've also met adults who resent their parents for having the "oh let them play" mentality as they didn't fare well academically and had trouble finding jobs. Having aspiration and ambition is not a bad thing, it really depends on the child.

@Mischance I think it depends on the child and how you go about doing the work, how you fit it into their days. For example my youngest will spend hours reading and easily an hour practicing her music! She’ll also spend time practicing her ballet or netball/trampolining in the garden.

we still have time for days out or for them to paint, play with their dolls! Cinema, eating out, visiting family! Plenty of time for them to watch telly/play on their iPads. She loves to help me cook, we just don’t over commit on things. So they have time

EYFS is only reception not all or pre-prep. Even then, private schools can and in my experience do accelerate the learning beyond the EYFS programme and broaden it via cocurricular offering.