ok here goes, i have read a few threads on this subject and have surfed the net and im still confused! we are flying out to perth on the 3rd sept this year.... yipee!! and my little girl is 5 tomorrow[april], will she start school when she arrives?, or will she have to wait till next year? i dont understand how it works over here, never mind about in oz! . if she cant start straight away, when is the earliest she can? she absolutely loves school and will miss it like mad if she cant go. any help would be appreciated thanks.

It seem like she will get into pre-primary. Although I have no idea what that is LOL

Here is the link where I found that out from http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/ece/Australia.htm

Try e-mailing a few schools, they will let you know the exact start date for primary school.

Hi there

The link Wendy has given you is a good one to find out anything regarding education in Perth.
Pre-Primary programs are available to children who have turned/will turn five by 30th June in any given year. Pre-Primary programs run for five full days.
So, as I see it, kindergarten is like UK 'nursery', Pre-Primary is like 'reception class' & year 1 is year 1.
I believe she would start school/ year 1 in Jan/Feb 2007.
Hope this makes sense

Leigh

Hi

Your little girl will be in the same school year as mine, pre primary at the moment.

So as of Feb 2007 she will be in Year 1, so when you arrive here in September you can see if you can get her into a preprimary class somewhere. (That way she can start to make friends, school year ends Mid December) May be best to see if you can sort that before you get here though.

Do you know yet what area you intend to settle in??

Kim

We managed to secure a school place just through email application.
Need to decide sort of school you want, government ,low-few paying (seems to be mainly church schools) and high-fee paying- private schools.
We got here 5th October and our 6 year old did 2 months in pre-primary definately worth it he made friends and pre-primary is much more social and play orientated, he was ahead academically in comparison, but has settled in well, just finished first term in year 1. Because he did 2 months before end of term had friends to play with in long 2 month summer holiday.
Hope this helps, Nicola

thanks everyone for your help... had a good look at the website , i couldnt find that one myself ! it was most informative and in plain speak...i like that! so it looks like my little girl will do 2 years reception class [one in the uk then one in oz] feel free to correct me if im wrong!! then go into year 1. i dont mind that really as i think they push them a little bit too much over here sometimes. we liked the currambine, kinross areas when we came over last time and had a good look round, but i think we will be lucky to find somewhere to rent there at the moment they seem quite popular. to start with we will be in woodvale, at my in laws, but i would prefer not to enrol my little girl there and then have to move her later to another area when we start renting, i think she will have enough upheaval as it is! i will now go back to my pc and start scanning for schools any ideas would be very welcome??!!
thanks again to all of you for your replys!!
karen