PoppetUK

Hi ya,

My dd is in her final term of Kindy and we have just been to see her work etc.

The thing is I've heard Kindy is supposed to be laid back so I haven't wanted to ask too many questions (but from the ones I have asked she's doing fine and no issues have been raised).

As DD will be starting Pre-Primary next year I was wondering if it gets a whole heap more formal. What sort of things do you guys do to make sure your kids are on track or will we just get the rather relaxed "Learning Journey" to view our kids work which to be honest doesn't have much context if you haven't a clue about a curriculum.

I am sure each school is different but I wonder what I should expect from PP . Is public different to private. How does is differ from the UK?

Where do you find out about the curriculum the West Australian schools follow?
Is it our job to request a meeting with the teaches to find out where our kids are at or will this be covered? I am obviously going to ask around but I don't know that many people to ask.

I guess I am looking to be more informed so I can make sure my kids education follows the best path.

I would also appreciate any advice or views of moving between the Australian and UK school systems. It's an angle that I'd like to cover in case we make the decision to move back further down the track.

Thanks in advance for any advice or experience.

Poppet.

Daughter Kindy.
Son starts Kindy 2010

carzinoz

My daughter is in Class 2 in NSW and she is the youngest in her class by three months. She came from Scottish Primary 2 and was 7 in August.

When we left Scotland she had just started learning to multiply and divide up to 20, could do her numbers up to 100 and beyond confidently for adding and subtracting. Her reading was excellent, her vocabulary was building and she was about to be introduced to using a dictionary. She was learning about all the big religions and healthy eating. She was doing so well the teacher was going to move her on to primary 3 work within a few weeks

In class 2 here, she is learning simple spelling words through writing it out over and over, her reading books seem to be a mish mash of styles and authors with no deliberate pattern and seem to have no purpose other than to practise reading i.e they are not used to introduce ideas or vocab , she is not yet multiplying or dividing, she seems unclear on what method to use to add up her column sums because the children are "allowed to find their own method", she is taught scripture with no mention of any other religion.

Okay, now I've got all that off my chest!

Yes, the schooling here seems quite different in quality to that in the UK. I've just emailed my daughter's old school to find out where to get a copy of the UK curriculum so I can compare. I don't have a copy of the Oz one yet, if I find a source for this I'll let you know.

My daughter's teacher here is very capable but the curriculum itself seems to be far behind the UK.

I've had an open classroom day and a report, it seems my daughter's doing great but it's confusing to be told she's doing fine when I am having to explain to her how to add up! My mother in law has sent over workbooks based on the UK curriculum and I'm working my way through them with my daughter and I'm finding that very useful.

On the plus side, they do take time out to do a lot of socialising and sport which is great fun if you're 7! LOL

DownUnderPaddy

Yep. That's the correct way to do it. Just bridge the gap yourself. It's always shocking to me that more parents don't do this and simply leave it all up to the teachers on the basis that it's "their job" to educate a child to a parents standards. Good on you for not falling into that trap.

No point in comparing the Oz education system to the UK or Irish system. They are worlds apart. It's all part and parcel of the overall adjustment that has to be made when moving from a completely different culture half way around the planet.

hereshoping

Remember there is no such thing as an 'Australian Curicculum' (not yet anyway, maybe in about 2012). So you really need to compare each state back to the UK.

The systems are completely different, and they do tend to learn some basic skills later in childhood. However there is no evidence whatsoever that learning multiplication/ reading etc as early as possible (like the UK is obsessed with) actually translated to long term understanding/ improvment. One of the best regarded education systems in the world is the Sweedish system where they don't start any formal education until the age of 7.

So don't worry if they seem behind- it isn't detrimental in the long term.

ShoreyM

What sort of books are they? Can you oder them on the internet do you know?

PoppetUK

Hi thanks for the replies.

I thought this might bring out some interesting thoughts, feelings and experiences and I appreciate everyones views so thanks for posting.

Just been to Mandurah today and was looking at getting some workbooks and happened to stumble across some Reading / Writing Key Stage 1 (5-7age) homework books. Only 4 bucks so picked one up.

I also spoke to my friend last night who has had 3 boys educated in the UK. She was very open and passed on her experiences and mistakes with being too laid back. Lets say with number 3 she is much more on the ball. I do know that homework is now being given to the reception class in her boys primary school. With her two older children they didn't get anything for a long time and she said that her little one just doesn't know any different to sitting down after school and doing it. As my daughter likes doing the work books I am going to make an aim of doing a bit with her every day but not be too worried if she doesn't feel like it at this age. She also mentioned that PE consisted of 3 lessons + one swimming lesson (lucky as the school has it's own pool). This struck me as not very much when I see the kids outside a few times a day here to burn off that excess energy to help with concentration.

So the bottom line is which ever country we are in it is my job to ensure my kids are moving at a good pace and more importantly fulfill their potential. I am a little concerned that I have no curriculum to compare to in Oz. This would explain why I couldn't find bugger all when searching last night. I completely appreciate that other countries start later and it doesn't do any major harm but with a first child entering a system that isn't that transparent it definitely is anxiety provoking.

If anyone else has comments and advice I'd appreciate as many views as there are out there. I'm sure it would also make an interesting read for others.

Thanks again to you all.

Gibbo

[quote=DownUnderPaddy;6913146]No point in comparing the Oz education system to the UK or Irish system.

I must point out there is not a Uk system of education. There is a Scottish system and an England and Wales system. Both are different, just like the States in Australia.
Please don't worry if you are in NSW as although some schools start at a slower pace than in Scotland the end result is pretty much the same. How do I know this? I was educated in Scotland and have taught in both systems.

northernbird

My only concern would be that you end up with a child who is way ahead of her classmates and will be bored if not doing her usual level of work in class.

Hutch

I think my son gets too much homework here. Projects, methodologies, reading books etc.

foxall22

Hi,

You can access the WA k-10 syllabus here
http://k-10syllabus.det.wa.edu.au/project_home_view

This was brought in at the end of 2007 and is recommended but not compulsory. The Curriculum Framework for WA is outcomes-based. This is much more vague than UK curriculum/schemes of work.

Rudd is planning on implementing a skeletal national curriculum in 2011.

As with any country, get a vibe from a school by going round out. As previously mentioned, standards in Australia at the end of compulsory schooling compare well to other developed countries.

There are programs in WA such as daily fitness as crunch and sip that would have a huge benefit in the UK but the curriculum is too prescriptive to fit it in. Swings and roundabouts!

Rosscarbery

I know everyone's experience is different and obviously there are differences between states and within that schools, but I have to say that my kids are getting a much better education here (Sydney) then they were in SE England. A lot of people on here (and this isn't meant as a criticism) seem to think that the UK system is vastly superior to the Australian system - it all depends on the school. Yes, we pulled our 14 year old out of the local high school as it obviously wasn't the right school for him, and all three are now in a private school, but I am SO impressed with it, particularly the standards of behaviour. Bottom line is if teachers aren't spending their time on crowd control they can spend their time teaching. The focus on the early years is on basic skills - reading, writing, grammar, maths; I have found them much more keen on the "back to basics" approach than any school in England.

If you're not happy with your child's education you need to look at the school and if there are any alternatives, and if not look at how you can plug the gaps.

moneypenny20

From what I've seen, bearing in mind my youngest started in Grade 6 here, is that there is more of an emphasis on building confidence, behaviour and communication strengths in the early years. Once they have those, they start concentrating on learning ABCs etc.

I'm not sure doing extra workbooks at home and so teaching stuff the school is not ready to teach will cause to be bored and lack concentration in the early years because they already 'know it all'. Not saying that's what would happen, just that that's what my worry would be.

If you think you'll only be in Aus for a few years then yes, give them extra work, if you're planning on being here for the child's educational life then I would go with what the school is doing or saying.

NKSK version 2

This is a legitimate worry but the blame lies squarely at the feet of poor schools and poor teachers.

Enquiring minds and keen kids should never be held back because the teacher "isn't ready to teach that particular bit at the minute".

TrentEnd

Well, for what it's worth I currently teach at a Private school in Sydney, and I'd say that in terms of management, organisation, curriculum, resources, teaching abilities and facilities it's weaker than most decent state schools in England. Depends on the school of course.

However, the kids can eat lunch outside on most days

di90

I am having this dilemma at the moment.

Do i send DD who is 8 to state school or catholic school? I have read many places that private is better in oz.