Private education???

Errata

Rikki wrote: »

It would be a play club up until school starts at 9 and a school play club after school till 5.45. Thats what it was for my son in pre-prep.

I think its just the OP with the commute.

Should have made my post clearer, sorry. I'm assuming the child has to get from home to school, so say 15 minutes each way, that's a total of 10 hours out of the house every school day, which I thought was a very long time for such a small child.

maz123_2

Thankyou for all your replies it certainly is interesting.:rolleyes:

was unable to reply last night as was having a long discussion with OH
Decision is that OH is totally against private and we are looking at a differing working hours for us both.
the plan now is OH works 9.30-5.30 this way little one can be taken to school by us therefore no breakfast club required. this can only be a temporary situation though.
I work 8.30-4.30 so can collect.
I'm not expecting much homework etc but his reading books would have been nice, it's the lack of communication and feeling like i'm being penalised due working, can't be the only working mum.
Moving schools is not an option as they are religious schools and would struggle to get in

Whitewing - I'm with you on this, have considered moving house but know that the extra on mortgage payments would pay for private education.
Kimaitatsu - Kumon programme i have heard but don't know anything about it will look into it
Errata - yes it is a long day but how else do i work 9-5 ? it is as rikki said though and a play club, and not strict or anything. How does everyone else manage? I have no family to assist. Little one has been in nursery since he was 12 weeks old and that was 8-6 every day.:o

I'm going to go with the current school for the next term, hopefully with a new teacher with more experience might see an improvement. work my a**e off to clear the debts. (getting 2nd job)
OH has agreed to sit down with me and look at the finances, this will take some stress off me and hopefully make them realise why i'm always nagging.

funky-footprints

I find it appaling on the schools part that you have not had any letters home and I would express that concern to not only your childs class teacher but also to the headmistress.

If you will be picking him up, you will get to see the teacher every day ? I know from chatting to a few mums of children in my sons school, where child minders are involved letters etc are always lost.

Maybe you have done this, was there any explanation ? ?

good luck for next term.
x

conradmum

I find it very strange that you haven't received all these communications from the school. Most schools rely on the children giving the parent the letters. If the children don't do this, how is the school supposed to know? Do you know why it is you've missed out on these letters? This would certainly be a matter to take up with his teacher.
As another poster said, private doesn't necessarily mean better.
It seems to me your greatest problem is childcare issues. Have you considered a childminder outside of school hours?

Errata

Why not get an au pair? That will take care of holidays and illness days.

duchy

I find it a bit odd that you are the only parent not to be recieving letters....was this a problem associated with after school club ?
If you child has developmental issues then state school is a far better situation at primary school than private who have no access to resources (been there done that).
Maybe until your child is more settled in school and childcare provision it might be better to put the New York holidays and other things that need you to work longer hours on the backburner. Once he is settled everything else will be a lot easier to juggle.

quietheart

Doesn't the school do a weekly newsletter? If it's not given out with the child it can be picked up from the school office. I thought that would be standard. I just can't imagine letting my child go through the reception year without speaking to the teacher, did you contact the school to find out what was happening? I would have been to see the Head by the end of the first term if it had been me.

Spendless

maz123 wrote: »

My son has just completed his first year at school, reception class and if anything has gone down hill from when he was at nursery.

My son was exactly the same. Told he was bright by his nursery teacher, he left reception unable to read all his key words. I have no idea why. It was picked up in yr1 that he was behind and put into special classes and that was the absolute making of him.

I'd go to your sons new teacher and explain you haven't been receiving any communication from the school, ask if they do a newsletter for example, or put the current one on the schools website.

Nicki

All schools are going to have to offer extended hours provision shortly (not necessarily on school premises) so the breakfast club and after school club situation will resolve shortly (unlikely to be in place by September though).

The communication problems should be solvable by speaking to the school and if they aren't I'd move school. Didn't understand your post re religious schools - did you mean the only alternative to the one your son is at is a religious school or that you will only consider sending him to a religious one? Until you make the enquiries you won't know whether he can get a place, and it may be easier to get a year 1 place than a reception one, if kids have moved over the last year.

My friends with kids at private school find that the school terms are a lot shorter and they have to pay extra for the holiday provision and the after school provision. So the actual cost is quite a bit more than the apparent cost by multiplying the termly fees by three. Also lots of extras which have to be paid for.

I'd be getting a good state school or solving problems with the existing one, and investing in a good childminder for before and after school, rather than going down the private route in the same position. Also another fan of Kumon. There are a few threads about it on this board if you do a search.

glitzy

Can you use busy bee vouchers through your/husbands work and does the after school group take them as that might help you financially.
Ask for a book that you/teacher can write in and record comments ie how many pages your child read, correct your childs spelling after he has written about what he has just read etc
Good luck with it all - children to change when they go to school, so dont think your doing anything wrong - im a big believer in EEE's in food and the chewy omega 3 capsules help children to concentrate.