Currently Home Ed: Where can I send my 6 y/o child for fun, play and a bit of learning?

[shappyred]

Really struggling to make a schooling decision. So much so, feel like I'm putting it off! He is very bright and working a year ahead his year group. He was held back in last [overly academic] private school. Is state or private school better for play, fun and experiences? I don't want an academic push at all..

I’d start with your local school and work from there. Check out any private school near you too. All schools are different so you can’t generalise. Ours went to a private non-selective independent school and it wasn’t pushy at all. A really nice relaxed atmosphere for them. But if you like your local school then that’s the best starting point as they will have friends locally , less of a commute and you can always go private later if you want.

Are you in the UK? If so, you’ll have no say in how your child is educated if you send him to state school. They have a set curriculum and they have to meet targets for attainment. So, it’s really all about box ticking and achieving outcomes. It’s about passing tests and exams. Also, didn’t your teacher ever tell you’re at school to learn NOT to socialise? There’s actually very little socialising in school. In terms of experiences, schools don’t have the budgets to provide a wide range of experiences to pupils. So, if you don’t want a big academic push/focus and you want your child to socialise in a normal, real life way, (not solely with people of the same age that they’ve been lumped in a big class with and have to make friends with the best ones available to them), stay home educating.