Nursey and School?

[ebianca]

Hi

I have a question about nursery and school here.

My daughter is 4 in August and would be starting school in the UK in September (if we weren't moving).

I heard that in NZ they start at 5 and start attending school as soon after this as possible. Is this correct or do they start at the beginning of the next school year after their 5th birthday? i.e. Jessica would be 5 in the august so would start at the beginning of the year in Feb.

Also in the UK all children are entitled to a free (government funded) nursery place for the year before they start school (age 3-4 in UK, would be 4-5 in NZ) is this the case in NZ and is it for full or half days?

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated as I am trying to decide what to do with her between September and October here wheather to keep her on at nursery or start her at school.

Thanks in advance.
Beth

[Brucey]

Hi Beth,

The kids here start after their 5th birthday. The kids at my sons kindergarten have their 5 th birthday and the next week they are at big school.
My little boy who is 3 years old went 3 mornings a week (3 hours a session) at his old kindie, but at the new place he goes everyday a total of 17 hours a week. It just depends if they have the staff and room. Now here is the thing....kindies are free but they ask for a voluntary donation which you have to pay!!!!!!!! So in actually fact the so called donation is actually fees!!!! Mind you it is cheap, we pay $1.50 per session. They have a new goverment funded 20 hours free for all children under 5 starting in July, you will be able to use these 20 hours free in kindie, day care or any other childcare that is registered (not Au Pair though).

Now I know that if your child is at all day care centre you can claim the tax back on the fees at the end of the tax year. Always handy to know!!!!

Hope this helps

[ebianca]

Hi

Thanks for that. Our nursery is government funded at age 3 (start school at 4) and they get 20hrs a week also. We pay a voluntry contribution of ?2 a week which goes to the snacks and baking and craft things- it's nothing really compared to what we would have to pay at private nursery.

So am I right in thinking they start the nursery the July after 4th Birthday until they join school at 5. I think I get my head round it all and then someone says something else and back to square one.