Steiner School Balham - looking for feedback Post Reply

[AnnieM]

Hi there

We are an Australian family, due to move into the area in Feb. We have a 1 yo + a 4 yo.

I would love any feedback or insights from anyone who has children at the Steiner school.

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**Do your children enjoy it, are they thriving?
**Are most of the families at the school local to the Clapham/Balham and surrounding area? (We are looking to build a little local community)
** Do most families stay in the school until kids are 13/14 and head to high school?
**Has anyone had any negative experiences or other considerations?
** How has the school coped with COVID
**Is there any chance of mid-year intake? Or are they over subscribed with long wait lists?

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I was shocked to hear that in the normal UK system, my 4yo (she only turned 4 on 20 August) would be in reception when we arrive, and then moving into year 1 in September!

In Australia she would start 4yo kindergarten in Jan 21, reception in Jan 22...and she wouldn’t be going into year 1 until Jan 23...some 18 months later than the UK system.

4 seems so young to start school. And I’m sad our move to London might mean she misses what we think is a really important kindergarten experience.

The Steiner stream really appeals. As does the opportunity to have a proper play based, exploratory kindergarten year (or two!) which seems to be how it is structured.

Thanks for any guidance you can offer!

[i'macowboy]

Hi there,

I don’t have any experience of the Steiner school, I’m afraid, but just to reassure you that your daughter would be going into Reception, not Year 1 (you start school the September after you turn 4). In addition, if you have a summer-born baby, you can apply to defer their start by a year, so they join Reception just after they turn 5, not 4. This isn’t obligatory but it’s certainly possible - a friend who has a June baby has done just that, and her daughter only started Reception last month.

[CorianderStreet]

We made the mistake of sending our eldest to the Steiner school when we were in a similar situation (moving back to the UK from abroad where he would have been staying in part time kindergarten and full time reception seemed a bit much). It was a complete disaster - he had some learning differences (later diagnosed with ASD) which the school refused to acknowledge. He had a tic at the time which involved his right arm moving involuntarily - the school insisted that this showed he’d done something bad in a previous life with his right hand and that he was a ‘case of failed reincarnation’ .

Make sure you do your research into Steiner schools and don’t fall for the softly spoken, it’s all child-centred guff - it’s nothing of the sort. It’s a very rigid, quasi-religious system but they keep very quiet about those aspects on their website and at the open days.

We pulled our child out after a term and a half and he managed to get a place in our local state primary. A few years later we were driving past the school and he suddenly sat up and said ‘there’s Kindy - I HATED Kindy and I HATED xxxxx (name of his class teacher)’. We thought we were doing the best for him but i hate to think of the damage that could have been caused if we’d left him there any longer

[AnnieM]

Thanks so much for your comment. I’m sorry your son had that experience!

Can I ask, was that in Balham or elsewhere in the UK?

[evainlondon]

I would echo some of the concerns from the previous post - I would think twice before enrolling my children in Steiner (and I live next door!) and would strongly recommend visiting before committing.
The UK system, while having children start early, does focus on learning through play in Reception, and there are many wonderful state and private schools in Wandsworth. Best of luck!

[Pod]

Can I suggest you have a look at some forest schools? They combine lots of elements of what you mention and many reception years focus on play as the main focus for learning.
We had similar fears for our August born 4yr old however nursery said that it wouldn't be right to hold her back because there were no learning difficulties and although socially and emotionally she was behind a little she thrived in a freeflow reception classroom with lots of play based learning.
Finding a nursery within a school setting might be helpful with transition too?
We looked at Steiner in Balham and on visiting knew it just wasn't for us. Our daughter loves books and not reading until 6or7 felt a real disservice to her, however others would feel differently- every child is different and has their own needs, only you can decide - just make sure you visit (although tricky in these times?!?!)