Ian12

Can any one advise me whether the school fee in excess of $500 that I have just been invoiced is voluntary or mandatory. It covers such things as "Italian lessons"-even though our children (8 and 7) have special needs and cannot speak English properly. It also covers photo-copying - yet we were requested to donate packs of photo-copypaper at the start of term along with pencils, glue, exercise books, text books, folders. Oh - and it covered computer use. As a former UK teacher in the public (state) system I am finding this quite a culture shock. In addition our children who were recently adopted in the UK had additional support in the class-room - teachers aids, speach therapy and psychological support. None of that molly coddling stuff here. Would be migrants take note and budget! Incidently my partner who is an Australian can never rember schools asking for fees when he was a child. Is it a new thing? Would be Migrants to NSW should budget for these -in addition to dental care and any extra services your children may need.

rudo1ph

All schools differ with cost of things - our school is asking for a total of around $300 for my two children. We also have to provide their pens, pencils, some books etc. There is a voluntary donation of $40 per child for the first two children as well. Plus school trips, gymnastics classes for one term (waste of time for my daughter who already does 18.5 hours a week!! but we pay it anyway), and any other activities you can think of etc etc etc etc etc etc

I am not sure of the rules, but there is certainly something like in the UK - the equivalent of "statementing" a child in NSW, and extra support can be provided for children in the classroom, if they have genuine problems - both at primary and secondary levels.

I can find out more from my big sis (who is a teacher) if you need some help - she was talking about some kids in her school who needed some one on one help, but the department had to see them first to decide on the level of need, before they could employ what they call a "teacher aide"

Good luck on sorting things out. What area of NSW are you in?

Rudi

rudo1ph

DUH!!! It says under your name where you are.....Northern Beaches!!!!

ABCDiamond

It does seem a bit high !!
Here is a NSW government link
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotosc...ol/faq.php#Q10
When we were in NSW, we used a private school and paid $1,800 per year all in. So $500 for a State school seems very high.

kevmitch

We've paid out for a variety of trips (educationals) and activities, but not much for materials -mind you our son is in year 12 - and takes his own stuff in.

We decided not to pay the 'voluntary donation' - apparently none of the Aussies do either. Seems like its a tax on the stupid and unaware!

NB - as temp residents, that's on top of the $5500 we have to pay each year!!

Ian12

Thanks for you all help. Really appreciate it. I will also check out the NSW web site. Regarding children's special needs. Both our boys had been statemented in the UK and consequently in receipt of 15 hour each specialist teacher's aid, plus one hour each speach therapy. We have been told there is no speach therapy unless we pay for it outside of school (which we are doing). We have been advised that the school counsellor with do tests at the end of the month to see if any class room assistance can be got for them but at the most it might be for an hour a week. I was not expecting Utopia but I had thought Australia's educational system was progressive. It seems not a bit of it.