cadman

If we went in our summer next year say in August, could the kids go to their new school straight away or would they have to wait until the end of term or even the end of the school year (Xmas)?

Also, say they had just finished Year 4, would they be going into Year 4 in Oz and then basically re-doing the rest of year 4 again?
(I think it would be good as they would ahve the chance to settle in for a term or so with no pressure having already done the work once)

If they could go to school straight away, would we be obliged to put them straight into school or could we wait say a month to let them settle in/ holiday first?

Thanks,

Andy.

Jacqui

We arrived in the July and let the kids have 6 weeks off before we looked at schools, no-one checked up on us, and anyway everyone just assumed we were British tourists! As soon as we found our house, we contacted the nearby school, they arranged for a tour two days later, and the kids started the following week! This was right in the middle of their term 3, in September.

Had we stayed in England the kids would have gone up to years 3, 5 and 7, but because the system is different they had to go back into years 2, 4 and 6 until December, then moved up with everyone else in February when the new year started. So they did at least get a term in which to settle down and make friends without too much pressure on. They were all "buddied up" with a person from their class, someone to show them around etc. They didn't struggle with the work, they all found it very easy, and still do.

However, once you get here, it might be an idea to go to a nearby bookshop/newsagent, and buy your kids some ozzie maths/english workbooks, and ones which shows a bit of history and geography, you know get them colouring in a map of Australia and learning where all the state capitals are, colouring in a picture of the national flag, that type of thing. The curriculum here isn't that different, but obviously they won't be studying maps of the UK and learning about our Kings and Queens! The handwriting style is slightly different as are a few other small things we've noticed, so a workbook or two will help prepare them, as well as keep them quiet in the car while you're out and about checking out the suburbs! Oh just thought of something else, the national anthem is sung at assemblies here, try and get a copy of the words for them.

cadman

Thanks Jacqui, that is what I thought, hopefully we'll do the same.