Floreat or Allfarthing or Swaffield or Wandsworth Prep Post Reply

[Justintimefortea]

Please help me choose a school for my little (baby) girl! Considering four nearby schools -
- Wandsworth Prep, Allfarthing, Swaffield, Floreat. Need to use extended care (afterschool clubs? not sure what it is called), and nanny or au pair is not an option. All schools seem nice. But obviously WP is fee paying.

Would really like to hear from parents with kids using extended care at these schools. How healthy is the food? What activities do the kids do? How hard is it to get a place? Seems all info on nvn is from a while ago.

I heard pretty bad things about Allfarthing extended care from a friend of friend. Their daughter went to the school and used the extended care, but they pulled the daughter out after she had a really bad fall ending up in a concussion. Apparently the girl should have been bluelighted to hospital it was so bad. But the staff didn't call the parents. That story really scares me, and I asusme that a different extended care company would be there now, but can't find out anything.

Please share your experience with extended care at local schools, good or bad! Than you.

[Sw18mum123]

Following this too

[SWtastic]

Visit the schools and ask the questions you want to ask rather than making a judgement based on third hand information which is very likely not to be accurate.  Only when you see a school and speak to staff can you really make an informed decision about whether it is right for your child or not.  

[Swaffield]

Hello Smelllikeabonfire: school visits are a great way to find out more; we'd be really happy to show you around Swaffield to give you chance to get a feel for our school as well as our wraparound care, and for us to answer any questions that you have. 

Swaffield parents think very highly of our Out of School Care, which is available from 7.15am to 9am and 3.10pm to 6.30pm. It's really flexible and parents can book in advance for regular needs or ad hoc for occasional use.

Get in touch to set up a visit - we have weekly slots available and also have two Open Mornings coming up in November. 
Find out more and book here or you can give us a call on 020 8874 2825 /
email us swaffield@swaffield.wandsworth.sch.uk 
 

[TiredWorkingMummy]

My children have been attending Swaffield since they started nursery and I honestly couldn’t speak more highly of the school. I’m a primary school teacher myself and straight away we felt this school was for us. Therefore I echo the previous advice about booking a visit, as instinct counts for a lot.

Since nursery our children have attended sunrise and sunset clubs (out of school care) and the provision has been amazing. As well as the sunset club after school, Swaffield provide daily enrichment clubs which cater to all sorts of interests. These can be a great option for parents needing an extra hour at work or my children attend these clubs then go to Sunset afterwards. They love the variety. The hours they provide are not matched anywhere else. In fact, although we’ve recently moved out of borough, the wraparound care hours means it’s more convenient for us to keep them at Swaffield rather than moving them to a more local school. There are many other reasons we will keep them at Swaffield, including the quality of education, pastoral care, enrichment and the school community. They have thrived in the Swaffield environment and I can’t imagine them going to school anywhere else.

You have mentioned food options and we have found what’s on offer to be of a good standard, it is fairly normal kids food that most children will eat (pasta etc). There are always vegetables included in the meal and fruit is always offered too. My children never complain about the food or that they are hungry, which is important as by the time we get home there is no way I could squeeze in another meal before bedtime. Our youngest has allergies which they are vigilant about and I feel sure that they are very safe and well cared for.

Anyway I will stop rambling as I’m sure it’s obvious how much we love Swaffield. But you really are spoilt for choice in the area and if you book some visits to all the local schools they will speak for themselves. We are very pleased we chose Swaffield and will never regret this decision. I’m sure you will make the best choice for your child too, whichever school you pick.

[lifechanger]

Hi,

Our two children attend Swaffield and love it.

They attend breakfast club and after school attend various clubs (cricket, Lego, drama, etc) and then stay on for sunset club (which closes at 6:30). The food in breakfast club and after school club is fine - which means they don’t complain and I think it is healthy.

The school is responsive to feedback and the head is visible (always on the school gate) and knows the children, as well as the parents, by name. There is an active PTA with all the events you would expect (welcome BBQ, Summer and Winter Fairs, etc).

The teachers are amazing and really went above and beyond during Covid with their online lessons. They know the strengths and areas of improvements for the classes and gently push to get the best out of the students.

‘Be kind, be safe, be responsible’ is the school motto and those values permeate through the school.

Definitely go for a tour at all the schools, you will get a feel and quickly know what will be best for your family.

[x9742549]

Allfarthing- I can only comment on Allfarthing as this is where my children go. I would highly recommend both the school and in particular the out of hours wrap around care. My children both LOVE it. My oldest has been attending for 3 years, and my youngest 1 year. The staff are excellent, very consistent- the same team for the past 3 years at least. I have never heard the story about the child needing medical care (and usually gossip spreads fast!) If either of my sons bangs their head (as kids often do) I get notified before I pick them up, and if there are any other accidents, like a small cut, they tell me when I pick them up.
The activities are very varied, lots of crafts, outside play when they can, and loads of other games and toys.
I would say the food could be improved, my only negative comment. The kids love it, but I would prefer a few more less processed options.
Hours are 7.30am-6pm. I think Swaffield might be slightly longer, from what I have heard.
As others have said, I would visit all of the schools, and also ask to meet the wrap around teams. You know your child the best and what would suit them.

[California mama]

We love WPS. After just a year at Wandsworth Prep (having been at a state school for years prior), I have a different child.  The gains in confidence, language development, reading level, maths, etc. have been profound.  It is a small school but they do a lot! Small classes, forest school, sport at the Wandle, playtime on the common. As for the food, we'd previously done packed lunch due to not liking the food at the old school but now happy to eat what is served and they have lots of choice (plus cater for allergies/veggie/vegan etc.) Feel free to PM if you have any questions

[Justintimefortea]

Thanks for all the replies! Away travelling for work and came back to many helpful comments.

Swaffield sounds really good! Having option to stay till 6:30 is really great. And food sounds decent.

Experience at Allfarthing also seems positive. Would they change food if you asked? We avoid processed food - as much as we can.

To the poster who says I should visit schools. I am and will. It would be stupid not to do that! But extended care is run by outside companies - not the schools.

I really value opinions and personal experience.

[Swaffield]

We just wanted to add that Swaffield School's wraparound care is run by the school and its staff all work in the school during the school day. This means that the children know the members of staff and the staff know the children well.  
You can find out more here: https://www.swaffield.wandsworth.sch.uk/Parents/Breakfast-Club-After-School-Care/ 

[Rinkydink12]

We love the wraparound care at Allfarthing. My boys really like the food but they never give me much info about what they have apart from when they don’t like it (baked potatoes!)
Allfarthing as a school is excellent and we are very happy with the school. The nursery is also very strong and you can do wraparound care from nursery age too.
We were put off WPS as it’s on such a tiny site and compared to Allfarthing the playground was small etc so we didn’t look around. If we were paying for school we’d go for somewhere with more space and more children. WPS Seems popular though.

[Rinkydink12]

Sorry to add at Allfarthing wraparound care we’ve always been told of incidents prior to pick up via text or a call.

[x9742549]

Another way to get a good feel for a school is to go to the Winter or Summer Fair. Allfarthing are having their Winter Fair on Saturday 3rd December (12-3pm) and all are welcome.

[allfarthingparent3]

I came across this whilst looking for info on Floreat. I am the mother of the girl mentioned by justintimeforte and confirm what they said is true. For what it is worth, as much as we love the school, my youngest will be going to another school when they start reception in September. This is not a reflection on the school (as they dealt with the incident incredibly well), but my youngest would need to attend the wrap around care, and we have no confidence that the wrap around care can keep them safe. To this day, they have not apologised, nor have they (as far as we know) taken any steps to make sure that other families don’t have to go through what we did. For anyone considering the wrap around care at Allfarthing, or who have children there already, take a look at recent Ofsted reports for other facilities run by C&BCS umbrella.