single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
#46
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
I think it does depend on the school. In my corner of Sydney, it's pretty much expected that a child will be held back. My DD is eligible to start school in January next year. Her preschool teacher recommended holding DD back, when I discussed DD's progress with her. The schools I've spoken to (we're not sure yet which she'll go to) all said that the trend is very much to hold back. One in particular seemed very surprised that we'd even consider sending her next year. Speaking with other parents (at playgroup, for example) they pretty much all have/are planning to hold their child(ren) back. I think we'll start DD in school in January 2014, when she'll be 5 and a half. Intellectually, she's more than capable. But I think some extra maturity and confidence will help her - not just at the start of her school career, but throughout.
http://www.australianreview.net/jour...wards_etal.pdf
The table for delayed entry by state is on page 48.
I'm in WA and I'd just never heard of the push to delay intake, but then looking at the numbers, there's a huge difference between NSW and WA. True, this is from 2005, but 31.32% to 1.65% is sizable. They do note that the WA (and Tasmanian) preschool programs play a role in this. They must have something similar in the other states too though...It is food for thought, policy-wise, if the push is on for delayed entry (up from the 31% to even higher number now, seven years on), then why not just raise the overall intake age? If most of the kids will be turning 6 anyway, then maybe the whole program needs to be re-evaluated...ie. holding back then becomes the norm and the average age of the kids is higher. The authors did note that, "...in New South Wales, children...who start school when first eligible would do so at a younger age than children in any state born at the same time and this may explain the high rates of delayed entry" (2011:50).
Last edited by Japonica; May 16th 2012 at 12:02 pm.
#47
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
One needs to be a bit more observant and read all of the writing on ones post and one would have read that one was from the Gold Coast which is in Queensland and is nothing to do with NSW. One would have also noticed that having been a member since 2007 one was more than likely to be a PR.
But all the time there are the watchful eyes of forum experts to keep the un-informed educated on the correct procedures then we are all safe to continue using forums.
Joking aside I would like to belive that whilst this forum helped me immensely over the years and I am sure many others you would think all potential migrators would look up facts before they really decide to move the other side of the world.
Stick by my first post though...follow your dreams and explore your options and good luck.
But all the time there are the watchful eyes of forum experts to keep the un-informed educated on the correct procedures then we are all safe to continue using forums.
Joking aside I would like to belive that whilst this forum helped me immensely over the years and I am sure many others you would think all potential migrators would look up facts before they really decide to move the other side of the world.
Stick by my first post though...follow your dreams and explore your options and good luck.
#48
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 10
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
Thanks for everyones input, I'm currently at an event in England for health professionals looking to work in Australia, gathering as much information I can. I am looking at NSW but am also open minded to location depends were I can get work as a nurse!!
#49
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
One needs to be a bit more observant and read all of the writing on ones post and one would have read that one was from the Gold Coast which is in Queensland and is nothing to do with NSW. One would have also noticed that having been a member since 2007 one was more than likely to be a PR.
But all the time there are the watchful eyes of forum experts to keep the un-informed educated on the correct procedures then we are all safe to continue using forums.
Joking aside I would like to belive that whilst this forum helped me immensely over the years and I am sure many others you would think all potential migrators would look up facts before they really decide to move the other side of the world.
Stick by my first post though...follow your dreams and explore your options and good luck.
But all the time there are the watchful eyes of forum experts to keep the un-informed educated on the correct procedures then we are all safe to continue using forums.
Joking aside I would like to belive that whilst this forum helped me immensely over the years and I am sure many others you would think all potential migrators would look up facts before they really decide to move the other side of the world.
Stick by my first post though...follow your dreams and explore your options and good luck.
Last edited by quoll; May 16th 2012 at 5:30 pm.
#50
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
I think I found something that explains the variation...
http://www.australianreview.net/jour...wards_etal.pdf
The table for delayed entry by state is on page 48.
I'm in WA and I'd just never heard of the push to delay intake, but then looking at the numbers, there's a huge difference between NSW and WA. True, this is from 2005, but 31.32% to 1.65% is sizable. They do note that the WA (and Tasmanian) preschool programs play a role in this. They must have something similar in the other states too though...It is food for thought, policy-wise, if the push is on for delayed entry (up from the 31% to even higher number now, seven years on), then why not just raise the overall intake age? If most of the kids will be turning 6 anyway, then maybe the whole program needs to be re-evaluated...ie. holding back then becomes the norm and the average age of the kids is higher. The authors did note that, "...in New South Wales, children...who start school when first eligible would do so at a younger age than children in any state born at the same time and this may explain the high rates of delayed entry" (2011:50).
http://www.australianreview.net/jour...wards_etal.pdf
The table for delayed entry by state is on page 48.
I'm in WA and I'd just never heard of the push to delay intake, but then looking at the numbers, there's a huge difference between NSW and WA. True, this is from 2005, but 31.32% to 1.65% is sizable. They do note that the WA (and Tasmanian) preschool programs play a role in this. They must have something similar in the other states too though...It is food for thought, policy-wise, if the push is on for delayed entry (up from the 31% to even higher number now, seven years on), then why not just raise the overall intake age? If most of the kids will be turning 6 anyway, then maybe the whole program needs to be re-evaluated...ie. holding back then becomes the norm and the average age of the kids is higher. The authors did note that, "...in New South Wales, children...who start school when first eligible would do so at a younger age than children in any state born at the same time and this may explain the high rates of delayed entry" (2011:50).
I guess while early age of entry may be a reason that some parents choose to delay school, I think other factors play a part. In my own decision making, consideration of the age that DD will be when she's finishing her education has played a large part - everything from how old she'll be when making decisions about uni (should she choose that route) to things like how old she'll be when she (and her peers) start drinking or driving. Plus the research I've done myself which leads me to believe that children who start school later tend to do better than children who start earlier.
#51
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
That does make interesting reading. I didn't know that WA and Tas have universal preschool programs. Preschools (by which I mean proper preschools, not LDC centres with a preschool program) are thin on the ground in my bit of Aus. They may be, but are not always, associated with schools, but they do offer school-readiness preparation. Parents have to pay themselves (no funding for places) for their child to attend. DD goes to one two days a week (not associated with a school) - we'll up that to three days next year. Anecdotally, that seems to be a common course of action - two years of preschool and delayed entry. I'd be interested to know what preschool attendance is for NSW and WA. I know WA will be much higher, but I wonder how much higher ...
I guess while early age of entry may be a reason that some parents choose to delay school, I think other factors play a part. In my own decision making, consideration of the age that DD will be when she's finishing her education has played a large part - everything from how old she'll be when making decisions about uni (should she choose that route) to things like how old she'll be when she (and her peers) start drinking or driving. Plus the research I've done myself which leads me to believe that children who start school later tend to do better than children who start earlier.
I guess while early age of entry may be a reason that some parents choose to delay school, I think other factors play a part. In my own decision making, consideration of the age that DD will be when she's finishing her education has played a large part - everything from how old she'll be when making decisions about uni (should she choose that route) to things like how old she'll be when she (and her peers) start drinking or driving. Plus the research I've done myself which leads me to believe that children who start school later tend to do better than children who start earlier.
It's a personal choice, based obviously on what works for you and your child. And each child is different. Back in Canada, my daughter was also one of the youngest in her preschool class. The cutoff was December and she has a November birthday. She attended anyway (started at 3y10m) and I think it was beneficial in the long run. Academically, she needed it. She was already reading books at three and her teacher started sending her home with books while the rest of the class had flashcards. Socially, I think it helped her. She has always been shy, quiet, anxious, and I didn't see how keeping her home would have helped in her particular case. She needed to experience making friends, dealing with the types of social situations (with our support and the support of her teachers) that she'd encounter in school settings as she got older. We couldn't emulate this at home. It was only last year that things really started to turn around in that area, so if I kept her back until her confidence was optimal, I could have had her home with me until she was seven. The move might have helped a bit in her case. She went from being one of the youngest in the class to firmly in the middle, age-wise, even though academically she tested over a year ahead in some areas, two+ years in reading. With my son, his personality is totally different. He's self-assured, easy-going, unfazed by new situations. I watched him listening to his teachers, following directions, completing all the projects, playing with his classmates, cooperating with all requests. He's never been unsettled there once. Didn't even shed a single tear the first day. He knows his letters and numbers, shapes, colors, all that stuff. Can already scrawl his name. We're just going to work on his sight words and fine motor skills so that he's improved by the end of the year, but I feel better about him going on to Pre-primary in many ways than I did about my daughter even though she was much stronger academically. He complains on the days he's not going to school and would attend every day right now if he could.
It is a tough decision. Right now, I can't see keeping him back unless he really fails to make any progress at all with his fine motor skills or speech issue over the rest of this academic year. He's keen and willing to learn. Doing one more year of Kindy and then going to Pre-primary at 6 would probably not be particularly motivational for him. I broached the idea with my husband and he doesn't think it has merit in our son's case. I do appreciate the pros of him being older by the end of schooling, and first to get his license etc. Although then I imagine we'd have all his friends on our doorstep asking him to be their chauffeur and drive them to parties, buy beer for them and the like. Do I want that in high school? I'm not sure. The research is also so conflicted. Some studies say the academic benefits equal out by about year three. Some say they remain. I know I would also not be supported in delaying his entry at his school. With the delayed stats so low here, it's just not done unless there's a documented reason.
I think peer group plays a role too. He prefers being with older kids...he plays well with kids who are a year or more older than ones who are younger. So, I am concerned about when he's six, putting him in with kids who would be 14 months younger than him in some cases. I guess time will tell and we'll see where he's at by the end of the year and what his teachers recommend. December's a long way off.
Last edited by Japonica; May 17th 2012 at 12:48 pm.
#52
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
Okay, found it...90% attend Kindy. 95% attend Pre-primary.
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/ece/enrolments.html
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/ece/enrolments.html
#54
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Formerly Basingstoke now Gold Coast
Posts: 721
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
No worries, but the OP said she was thinking of NSW (so Qld was sort of irrelevant) and she didnt say whether she would be permanent or temporary and there are differences and by now she realizes that. If she gets a 457 it is a very different picture from having permanent residence in another state unfortunately. Not everyone gets benefits as implied
Thanks for helping everyone out.
#55
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 83
Re: single brit hoping to move oz with 3 year old!!
Hi keeley, I'm a fellow manc who moved here, child in tow, on my own 3 years ago. I'm in Perth and there are a couple of mental health places you could look at....Hollywood private hospital and gray lands hospital. Good luck x