Worried about transition to UK schools for child in Montessori 1st grade

Hi there,

My husband and I are a little concerned about our daughter having to go from a Montessori in the US to a UK state school. Has anyone had trouble with their kids adjusting to UK schools, from Montessori or otherwise? Does anyone know of any primary schools in South Yorkshire that don't seem too dominated by testing, league tables, and the like? A Montessori school would be wonderful, but I can't seem to find any near us that are state funded.

Thanks!

My DD is in school near South Yorkshire (we're on the border).  She is in Year 2 (the UK equivalent of US 1st grade) at a public school.

Her school in particular (I can't speak for other schools as I have no experience) seems to have a pretty laidback approach to things at this learning level.  Her only homework is to read each night (although we do more than that because she likes maths and a few other things) and she doesn't have any tests or anything like that.  Her school puts a lot of emphasis on arts and music and general creativity (they give the kids guitars to borrow for a year and teach them to play). 

Not sure if that's the type of info you were looking for but I hope it helps.

That sound wonderful! You don't happen to be near Holmfirth or Huddersfield, do you? I hoped school at this age might be like that, but one can get some pretty strange ideas from the news articles I've been reading. I hope to hear more reports like yours so that I'll know it's the norm.

I live about 15-20 miles from Holmfirth/Huddersfield.  There are 2 public schools in our village and the other school operates similarly.  Like I said, I'm not sure if it's this area specifically or if this approach is just more common in the UK in general (it's drastically different from the public schools DD attended in the US). 

Oh and DD does come home with 'reports' about things they've studied in school (this week is Florence Nightingale) so they aren't just running around silly-nilly all day.   

My son is in yr 3 ( US 2nd grade) at his school here.  He really loves his teacher and his fellow classmates. He has had a few instances of teasing for him being white and American, however they were older boys, and his teacher dealt with it fairly and promptly. Otherwise he has homework once a week that is due over the weekend.
   His school also started a website that has made it really easy for me to keep track of what they are covering and what level my son is at.  I have nothing but positive things to say about the school system here.  I'm sure your little one will have a great time.

Eastside2Westside and Smashley, thank you both so much for your comforting replies. I know the US is notorious for "teaching to the test" at the expense of all else, but I read some scary articles about the system in the UK being too repressive (leave it to the media to blow it out of proportion!). It's such a relief to hear that you and your children are all happy with the schools. Smashley, I have wondered if DD might get teased for her accent. I know teasing is something all kids have to learn to deal with, but it breaks my heart to think of her sticking out like a sore thumb because of her accent. (We know how that feels, don't we...and we don't even get teased for it.) My husband, who is English, insists that we move to a smaller town or village rather than a bigger or rougher area (his words, not mine). What a rude awakening it could be to go from our tiny little mountain Montessori to a city school! I'm glad to hear that, at least, in the more rural areas the system is pretty gentle. Glad I asked! 

My DD moved here when she was 5 1/2 and within about 6 months her American accent was completely gone.  Over the next 6 months (so about a year after moving here), she had developed a Yorkshire accent and now she speaks 'broad Yorkshire' (accent and slang).  Most kids pick it up really quickly when they are in school (because that's all they hear all day...as opposed to younger kids who are at home and not continuously exposed to the 'foreign' accent).  My daughter doesn't 'put on' the accent, her naturally speaking voice and vocabulary has completely transformed.  So in the future, it will probably be shocking for people (who don't alread know) to learn she is American.

When we first moved here, all the kids in DDs class were fascinated by her accent and wanted to know everything about America and thought it was really cool that she was from another country.  We've never had any issues with teasing over it.

It really wasn't a huge issue. Kids tease other kids for so many different reasons.  My little guy just kinda mentioned it in passing. I think I was more worried about it than he was. My husband frightened me with stories about the scally scouse kids that wandered the neighborhood in packs looking for trouble. My son is a lover- not a fighter!
   In truth, the local kids seem lovely.  And my son is starting to develop a thick scouse accent (Ya all righ' la?) 

Again, such relief from you both. Thanks. It will be interesting to see how DD's accent changes, and kind of adorable too. I do love all the different accents, even just within Yorkshire. I thought (hoped) that DD's accent and being from America might work in her favor, at the same time as I feared she might get teased. My imagination is running wild right now with all the possible outcomes of our decision to move, both for DD and for our whole family. There are so many things to consider, from the logistics of getting there to the emotions of leaving our home, that my head is just spinning. So many have said it, but I'll say it again: it is truly wonderful to have UK-Yankee and all you wonderful people to advise and comfort us newbies. Thanks to you all!

I'm late to this thread but just wanted to say that my children (8 & 5 at the time) moved from a Montessori school in the US to a traditional state primary school in the UK.  I had my misgivings but they didn't have any trouble settling in.    Good luck with your school search!