Private schools

[IBBYSMama]

Why does Waldorf, Montessorri, and similar schools start later in the day rather than earlier? Is the later start time compared to "traditional" day care start times because most of those parents work later? Are there any schools with early start times? Just curious.

[RufusBeans]

The private schools here start 45 minutes earlier (8:00 am) than the local public school (8:45 am)

[Heavenly]

Our kids are in private school (Christian) and it starts at 9:00am and goes to 3:30pm.

[eepster]

DS's preschool starts 15 minutes after the local public school does, this is so parents with older kids in public school can drop their older kids off first then com and get the younger ones.

I was a bit confused from you post though. Are you looking for school or daycare? Are you comparing to schools or daycares?

Though DS's school is primarily a school and not a daycare it does offer morning care and after care so that you can use it as occasional daycare, that starts much earlier than the public schools do.

When I was looking for a school for DS, I discovered that many daycares call themselves schools, and they often have flexible drop off times that startmuch earlier than school do.

[IBBYSMama]

Private Schools

I would love to be able to enroll my child at Montessorri or Waldorf like schools. My problem is that I have to be at work at 0630 and dont get out of work untill around 4 pm. SO that does not fit in with the schedule of the private schools I would like to enroll her in. I have thought about hiring a nanny to take take my child in the morning. But for me these private schools are pretty expensive and I dont think I could afford a nanny as well. None of my friends children attend private schools so carpooling is out.
My DH and I are very particular about who my child is with. For instance no baby sitters yet.

[BCFD]

My child attends a private Montessori school from 8:30am-12:30pm (it's a half day program, circle starts at 9 and lunch is over around 12:15). Anything over 4 hours a day is considered full time (and thus the tuition is more). They also have before and after care 7am-9am and 4 or 5pm to 6pm. This program also costs more than the regular half or full time tuition. You might ask the school if they have a before/after school program.

[eepster]

Definitely ask about morning and after care, around here many places offer it. However, most of them don't start till 7:30, that gives parents plenty of time to catch a bus or train and get into NYC by 9.

If 6:30 is a more typical thing in your area, there might be a fair number of places that offer it.

[Flor]

Ds's Montessori is 8-2:45
Public schools here are around 8:15-2:45

Our public schools have schedules set in negotions between the teachers union (with consideration to the work day of the teachers) and the district. The private schools can do what ever they want, but want to please the parents.

[meemee]

i dont see the discrepancy in my area. some publics like my dd's start early. some late. same with the privates.

[canndw]

public schools here start and end based on school bus schedules. Middle school and high school starts very early (7:15) with elementary starting at 8:30 or later so that the buses can be reused for the second pickup.

private schools can choose their own start times, because they're not hamstrung by the bus contracts.

David