Alternative primary/run through schools in London?

[MarySmit]

Does anyone knows of schools that provide alternative provision, that is different to the English national curriculum?

Things that are particularly valued include no uniform, an emphasis outdoor education, and opportunities for creative learning. It seems this is hard to find, even in independent schools.

It is now called the London Scandinavian School and it does look wonderful. The more I learn about the Scandi philosophy regarding childhood and education, the more there is to love.

This isn't actually all that unusual in alternative schools. See Summerhill for example. Understandably, due to it being alternative, it doesn't fit well into the Ofsted box ticking exercise.

Ofsted inspect for children's safety and wellbeing. What they describe is not a school that sounds as if it's full of happy children engaging in some 'better than the other schools' deep learning. It sounds like a middle class fantasy drowning in incompetence and a lack of understanding about how children learn and learn to behave.

Maybe the reason more schools like this don't exist is that they're not good for children?

I'm not commenting on the specifics of the school, as I don't know enough details.

Regarding 'conventional' provision in this country, there is a lot of evidence that it is not optimal for children's wellbeing. Let's not pretend that Ofsted is a faultless organisation either.

All of this is side tracking from the original purpose of the thread though, which is to get recommendations for alternative schools. I accept this isn't for everyone, and many children are fine in traditional schools, but this approach does not suit all children. This is particularly the case for children with SEN, which mine has.

I agree Ofsted has faults but children aren’t actually learning a core curriculum! As in they aren’t learning the fundamentals of reading maths and writing!! Forget Ofsted. At a basic level whichever school you pick, your child should emerge literate at the very least, alternative or not, no?!?!?

Unfortunately I tried a traditional state school and they failed to teach basic literacy or numeracy to my child. This is due to their rigid 'one size fits all' approach, which doesn't work where SEN is involved. I am removing my child from traditional mainstream so they don't end up leaving school illiterate.

It's not necessarily to this school, and I don't know enough about it in order to be able to comment on this particular school. I'm trying to get recommendations and then will judge schools on their merits.

For some, especially a particular subset of DC with SEN, such an alternative approach does work and is even necessary. It is less common in schools and more common in some APs and/or some EOTAS/EOTIS packages.

As an aside, @MarySmit, does DC have an EHCP?

It sounds like you need to go on lots of state school tours and see how different they all are. The differences are vast. From cosy villagey 1FE church schools to big, bustling 4FE academies - we have them all in London. And we have some of the very best state schools in the country. Giving up after one experience is needless fuss. Just look around at the options available.

Giving up after one experience is needless fuss

That depends entirely on the child’s SEN and their particular needs and presentation. For some, no state mainstream school will work and that is clear without trying multiple placements.

Rosemary works fits the bill perfectly

Thank you for the reassurance. Yes, they do have an EHCP. It's been a long journey to get one.

I have looked at a lot. Unfortunately, they wouldn't work. I have had expert advice by an EP, following a detailed assessment, and they agreed. He said that a traditional mainstream, even with a 1:1, would not be a suitable setting.

We are either looking at a special school, or an independent school with a radically different provision, including small class sizes.

Hi OP, just wondering if you had any luck identifying suitable schools? It sounds like we might be looking for similar things in the same area (with SEN considerations). Might be good to connect? :)