Experiences at Addison Primary, Brook Green? Also curious about Larmenier and Belmont

[AMStoLondon]

Hi all, we’re an American family relocating to the Brook Green/Chiswick area later this year with three children (ages 4, 5 and 7). We’ve been doing a lot of research and Addison Primary in Brook Green is our top choice, with Larmenier and Belmont (in Chiswick) as alternatives.

Would love to hear from any current or recent parents at any of these three schools – particularly around day to day feel, how the teachers know individual children, pastoral care, and how the schools handle children who may need a bit of extra support.

We’re coming from a relaxed Dutch school system so also curious how families from abroad have found the transition. Any honest thoughts really appreciated!

I have two children at Belmont, it’s a good school and we are happy with it. Our children love going to school & they’re very happy there. I’d say it’s a nurturing school, I don’t feel that it’s academically pushy.

The teachers are lovely and teacher turnover seems low. The headteacher is very nice, he’s been in his role for a year or so. My only gripe is that communication from the school can be a bit hit and miss. It’s sometimes hard to find out how well your child is doing at school.

There are great options for afterschool clubs (tennis, football, netball, gymnastics, chess etc) & many fun trips each year. It’s a very diverse school, children from many backgrounds and different parts of the world. There are also lots of American families at Belmont if that helps!

@Motherzly This is so helpful, thank you! The nurturing culture is exactly what we’re looking for. One follow-up – you mentioned communication can be hit and miss. For a child who might need a bit more individual attention, have you found the teachers responsive when you’ve proactively reached out? And do you know anything about how the school handles SEND support specifically?

I don’t have personal experience of the SEND support to be honest. But I think there are a significant proportion of children with SEND at the school.

The school has a really inclusive ethos and children learn together wherever possible. They do have areas in the central halls to have more one to one support when a child might need it, but I think you might need an ECHP for one to one support (which I understand is a long process in the UK).

Whenever I’ve seen the SEND specialists with children, the children always seem very happy. They offer separate parents evening sessions for parents with children who have SEND. So it’s possible that communication is slightly better (particularly where your child might have a one to one staff member). I also see a lot of parents talking to SEND leads at drop off/pick up so perhaps communication is better when you have someone that spends more one to one time with your child.

I’d really recommend contacting the school and speaking to the SEND lead which might be helpful as they’ll certainly have more detailed info on the SEND provision than me.

@Motherzly Thank you, this is really helpful! The inclusive ethos you describe is exactly what we’re looking for. Really good to know about the EHCP process too – we’re already in the middle of an evaluation in Amsterdam so will make sure we have documentation ready before we move. I’ll definitely reach out to the SEND lead directly. Really appreciate you taking the time!

The process here in the UK for children with SEND is terrible and very long from what I understand. Best of luck!

One thing to bear in mind is that you will be looking for three places in three different year groups looking at it by the age of your children, and there's no guarantee that the School (or any school) will have vacancies in all three year groups. Essentially, the admissions authority treat them as 3 completely separate applications.

So you may find yourself at least to start with the children in two or three different schools - The others would then probably be very high in the waiting list for their sibling schools because most primary schools will have a sibling priority criteria, but that will rely on another child leaving to open up a space.

I don't know Chiswick schools at all but you have had some positive feedback on Belmont from PP.

Hammersmith schools are generally very well regarded. I am assuming the schools you have mentioned are two forms of entry - so more likely to have spaces - smart thinking if as poster above suggests you are hoping to get all three into the same school from the off.

The issue is going to be reception spaces assuming your 4 year old isn't 5 before end August - places for reception have been offered now, there will be some movement as it is a high mobility population in this area, some will take independent places etc but schools won't necessarily know for sure just yet if they have spaces available.

I am wondering if you are Catholic - as church schools are often their own admission authority so you may get more information from the school on current take up for reception places and spaces up the school.

Hopefully this will give you a shortlist before you visit - good luck