Rose House Montessori Forest Hill -- Any thoughts?

[Saffron]

Does anyone have children at the Rose House Montessori school in Forest Hill? Heard anything about it? Good/bad?

I'm booked for their open day-- anyone else going?

[Otta]

No, but would be keen to hear feecback!

[Bluemum]

Hi Saffron,

My daughter started at Rose House in September. I love it, she loves it. We were on a waiting list for nearly 1 year and I'm still on a waiting list for an extra day. There are 2 sites but both are lovely and staff moves around both venues. I totally recommend it!

[Saffron]

Little Saff is currently at St P's Montessori, Waterloo, which is near my work. She loves the Montessori style. It really suits her personality. Unfortunately, they are only a nursery, not primary school. We'll be thinking about making an application to Rose House for 2014-15 Reception year, when she'll be 4yrs. I thought it would be good to start looking early!

Mr Saff thinks the Montessori primary school will be prohibitively expensive. As we only have 1 child, I thought we should look anyway. My opinion is that early years education is the most important, so I really want to find what's right for her.

Will let everyone know how we get on with the open day.

[Saffron]

So... the open day was nice. The primary school is very new, but the nursery has been going for a while. I was initially thinking we'd move Little Saff when she was ready for Reception year, but I think we're going to make an application for her to start the nursery in next autumn for a year before Reception.

Some drawbacks... the school is new, so it's still finding its feet. It will take a leap of faith for some people to trust in the Montessori method. Children have to bring packed lunches, as there are no hot meals. Your children need to have attended a montessori nursery, and parents need be able to make a long term committment to the school in order to be at the top of the waiting list.

Nevertheless, the staff were very friendly, knowledgable, and most importantly passionate about the Montessori method.

[midivydale]

Interesting! My younger sister was schooled the montessori Way and it really suited her personality. I am seriously considering it for baby ivydale too but will need to wait a couple of years to decide I think.

Glad you liked it saffron!

[Saffron]

A short and interesting study on outcomes for Montessori students: http://www.themontessorischool.org/classroom/uploads/files/the_early_yeards-evaluating_montessori_education-82809.pdf

So, after thinking I had won over Mr Saff, he's balked. He says private education will be too expensive, and that state school is good enough. True, it won't be cheap. And, I don't disagree that there are some good state schools out there, but I don't believe Little Saff will be well-suited to a standard style education. And I do believe she'll benefit from the more open, free-styled environment of Montessori. Sure it won't be the worst thing ever if she goes to a local state school. I guess I just feel like if we have the opportunity to offer her something different (in my opinion, better) then we ought to take it.

[VickyS2009]

Out of interest, is Rpse House the only Montessori primary school in the area? I thought there was one in Blackheath, ad Ladywell but I can't seem to find them?

[Saffron]

There's a montessori nursery in Ladywell, and a primary in Greenwich I think.