I know Maggie is only a year and a half but we are moving house next summer and where we go will determine where she will go to preschool and of course I want her to follow on to the same school after for reception.

We have a steiner school in Hereford and my next door neighbour works there as well as me chatting to parents who's children go there..

I know there has been/is a lot of speculation about the 'method' of teaching and would love to hear it first hand from more parents or anyone who knows any children who go both the pro's and the cons..

Many thanks!!

I dont know if they are all the same but we have a steiner school near us and i personally would not send my LO. Just my own preference though.

What's a Steiner school?

We did we attended a toddler and patent group at one in Lancashire ( do t know if I can bane names) we left after someone on the committe said something very rude about my little boy and my parenting as to stop tantrums he listens up relaxation music and it works. They banded tge children bringing any toys or comfort things of there own to the toddler group so we decided it wasn't right environment fit our lo. When he's two were going to go tonobr in Yorkshire and he will hopefully go to kindergarden there to. Hopefully there nicer and more understanding of each child's personal needs and that each children is different as sone if tge schools if you abc you child don't hit the mold then they can be not very nice .

I don't have any personal experience of a Steiner school but I am a teacher and I have done a lot of research into this method of education. I personally feel that this method has a great many merits and I prefer the philosophy of Steiner schools to Montessori. There is a Steiner school near us and if we had the money then I would definitely consider it for my children.

We don't have any Steiner schools near us but I would look into it if there were. My cousin goes to one in Hampshire and he loves it! He went to the local primary for reception and year 1, but was labelled as naughty quite early on (he is quite large for his age and gets a bit rough while playing) and had no friends at all so hated school with a passion.

Since he started at the Steiner school it is like he is a different child. He has friends, he spends more time talking about school, he is learning things he is interested in, which is bringing on his reading and writing no end. Some of the things he is doing at school would be thought of as babyish in mainstream school, but that's where he is in ability, so that's what is appropriate for him. They are definitely more able to differentiate than his old school were, but that might be because they don't have the same restrictive curriculum of what each year group should be studying.

I do wonder how well they do with "academic" children who will want to make sure they get back to mainstream exams and qualifications later on. They are probably fine but it is something I haven't been able to decide by talking to my cousin and aunt.

I was a Steiner child! it was honestly the best childhood I could have asked for. I started when I was four and was never "rushed" to grow up, we spent our early childhood days in the woods mucking about and building forts (supervised of course!). The transition into the grade school was easy and it's very much centered around the child instead of the "system" in place in public schools. I always felt part of a bigger community growing up. Every child had one small chore to do and it definitely helped create the sense of community. My friends and I were very well prepared for high school and many have gone on to do incredible things. I will definitely strongly consider sending my daughter to a Waldorf school.

I love a lot of the Steiner philosophy, but find the spiritual element a bit difficult to stomach. From what I've seen, different schools place a different amount of emphasis on the anthroposophy side of things though.

I also find some of the guidelines a bit restrictive in terms of art and writing for example, but again, that probably varies from school to school. I think you'd have to go and get a feel for the place. It would be a good idea to read a couple of books on the principles behind Waldorf education too so that you can be specific when asking questions.

thank you for all of your replies they have been very interesting to read and helpful. I have rung up the school and they've given me a list of literature to read and we're going to an open day in January.

The philosophy sounds great and from what i know and have been told so far Id like to go to that school too if i could rewind time!!

I don't get what anthroposophy really is anyone got a link to a clear explanation?