Steiner Primary School - Limerick

Characteristics of Steiner Waldorf Education

Steiner Waldorf schools work with an integrated balance of artistic, practical and intellectual content in the curriculum with an emphasis on social skills and spiritual values.
All schools are co-educational, fully comprehensive and integrated from the age of 6/7 to, ideally, 18/19.
They are run co-operatively by a College of Teachers using a flat- management system. All have a legal Council of Management and there is active parent participation in all areas of school life.
All pupils share the broad, internationally recognised Waldorf curriculum, which is non-prescriptive and proven over 80 years. It is in accord with their developmental needs, without undue early specialisation or inappropriate academic pressure.
Schools are extended learning environments for parents and teachers to work co-operatively in support of children’s education.
Formative assessment is the preferred practice in the school.
An early years approach that provides time and space for development of key skills is a basis for later literacy, numeracy, social and emotional competence.
Block periods for core Steiner curriculum.
Schools work with the ideal that such education should be accessible to all, regardless of ethnicity, creed or financial circumstances.
Two modern languages taught from the age of 6.
Whole class teaching in aesthetically pleasing and secure learning environment where qualities of childhood are nurtured and respected.
An accompanying class teacher from school entry age for several years in succession.
Children based in their own home classroom except for specialist areas.
All-age schools with mixed ability classes according to the age of the child and not streamed by achievement.
Science and technology taught throughout in age appropriate form.
Key skills such as numeracy and literacy presented in an imaginative and creative manner.
Enhanced mobility and international school exchanges because of common ethos and related core curriculum.
Children being well grounded in their cultural environment and also conscious of being world citizens.