Montessori primary schools

bulmersgal

I am looking up primary schools for my daughter starting in September. I keep coming back to a fee paying montessori.

I can see the benefits: less people in class, more hands on approach to learn

But also the disadvantages such as less friends, paying for school, different type of learning May effect her in secondary.

Has anybody any opinions on these types of schools are they good or bad.

Thanks

Moonbeam

Our local one is in Celbridge and I know a few parents with kids there and they are happy with it.
The kids do things like baking etc that they would not do in a "normal" school and are in mixed aged small classes.
We looked in to it but we will have 4 in primary at the same time so despite it being not for profit the fees for 4 kids for 4 years were too much and our preferences were for a Gaelscoil.

Personally I much prefer the montessori or Steiner approach for small children.

bulmersgal

Moonbeam wrote: »

Our local one is in Celbridge and I know a few parents with kids there and they are happy with it.
The kids do things like baking etc that they would not do in a "normal" school and are in mixed aged small classes.
We looked in to it but we will have 4 in primary at the same time so despite it being not for profit the fees for 4 kids for 4 years were too much and our preferences were for a Gaelscoil.

Personally I much prefer the montessori or Steiner approach for small children.

That would be the same one I am considering. I only have one and will likely only have one. I think it's the fees that is quite daunting €3000 is a lot a year.

It just seems so good, especially the ratios and the fact it does afterschool care there too. It's great that it is getting good reports though

afkasurfjunkie

Moonbeam wrote: »

Our local one is in Celbridge and I know a few parents with kids there and they are happy with it.
The kids do things like baking etc that they would not do in a "normal" school and are in mixed aged small classes.
We looked in to it but we will have 4 in primary at the same time so despite it being not for profit the fees for 4 kids for 4 years were too much and our preferences were for a Gaelscoil.

Personally I much prefer the montessori or Steiner approach for small children.

"Normal" schools bake too. Obviously resources differ from school to school but I have come across plenty of teacher posts on different forums where teachers have baked and cooked with their students. I've done rice crispie buns as a science lesson, popcorn to illustrate the five senses and marshmallow construction for maths just to list a few as examples.

byhookorbycrook

We bake all the time, our specialities are brownies!

bulmersgal

That's good to hear that it happens in other schools. I just worry about her going to school with class of 30 odd. She's use to a class of twenty with 2 crèche workers and this has been her norm for the past 3 years. Half her class will be going to new primary school across from crèche. For handiest sake that would be great but I'm not sure how good it would be.


I struggle with boredom when I was in primary as the children who were bit slower to learn got all the teachers time and I was left bored and became the messer. So I fear this could happen to her as she is a messer at home but very good in crèche, she seems to excel with Montessori work and has good motor skills. Her speech would let her down slightly she is a chatterbox but her vocabulary would be as big as others.

She is a April baby and I would be comparing her against children 6 months ahead of her so she has time to improve.

Moonbeam

Considering what creche fees and play school fees are like I thought the 3k was excellent and it is not for profit.
Have you gone down and looked around and had a chat with them?

bulmersgal

Moonbeam wrote: »

Considering what creche fees and play school fees are like I thought the 3k was excellent and it is not for profit.
Have you gone down and looked around and had a chat with them?

I'm going to arrange to go down in next few weeks. €3000 is not a lot on its own but I'd still be paying €400/€500 afterschool fees as well. But I will have to pay after school fees either way.

It's tough as I don't want to make wrong choice and change her. I was speaking to her montessori teacher today and she's recommending the non fee paying school that's closest to us. Apparently she knows a fee parents from last year who are delighted with it and now most of her class is going. So in one way that would be nice for her as she would have friends already in school.

Moonbeam

We had major school issues and still do due to only getting her name down in the local school at 14 months,she did not get a place and still has not so we have a 20km round trip twice daily, I spend every day hoping for one.

I would not worry too much about her having friends already when she goes there,I would want mine to go to the most local school that suits their needs.

Does the schools religious ethos matter to you?
Are any of them within walking distance?
Does her creche do pick ups there?
Does it matter to you if it is co-ed?

It is an easy way to narrow down the choices,I would see where you will get a place and visit all the schools and talk to people with kids in them.

Will she be 4 or 5 in the April prior to starting?

bulmersgal

Religion doesn't matter to me. The normal school is five minute walk, the crèche does collect from their. The fee paying is a ten minute drive but they do afterschool but only during term times so may need to get childminder. Not sure what co-Ed is but I don't think it matters to me.

She will be four and a half in September but her montessori teacher said she'd be well able for school. She's good at take turns, sitting down, following instructions, can put on her own jacket and go toilet by herself. Her motor skills are great her speech is improving every month. You can have conversation with her but she would use simple words. Whereas a couple of months ago everything was a race and she couldn't get words out fast enough and they'd be muddled or she'd lose trail of thought

Moonbeam

co-ed means mixed.
That is a hard decision.
I would go and get a feel for both schools and investigate the differences between the schools and teaching methods.

bulmersgal

Yeah I think it's going to have to be by my gut feeling decision.

Oh I only want mixed school so haven't put her name down for all girls.

aman

We actually withdrew our children in 2011 from a small Montessori school based in *MOD edit* *Co. Kildare* after having major issues with the Board & the way the school was being run
Bear in mind that the only place you can go if you have a problem with the school is to the school Board. If there is a major issue the Dept of Education etc will not get involved as you have chosen to privately educate your child.

mun34

Had considered sending my child here but absolutely no way would I send my child here, a lot of favouritism,my child was unhappy there and two of the teacher in his class were terrible,they are my bad experience with the school,don't have experience with other teachers to comment,he currently has a new teacher and is getting on great and so are other kids from what I heard,he wasn't alone,it,s annoying to think he wasted all those months and now with the addition of a new teacher who I believe is excellant and he looks forward to seeing her everyday .
Anyway if you are considering the school , it about the childs happiness and the school has an obligation to ensure the child is been taught .the teacher is very important also ,the two teacher I came accross were terrible and one of them would speak to me in a childish patronising voice .not a fan of having my child in a big class but the montessori primary in*MOD SNIP* I would stay well clear off.