Parent's Review of The Children's House in Stavanger, Norway

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

The Children's House

In what town or city is this school located?

Stavanger

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

International

What grade levels are represented at this school?

18mos to 6yrs

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

Driven by parents, carpool, or walking if they live close enough

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

The facilites are brand new. They were in a smaller building previously (described as shabby in a another review). The school today is architect drawn with parent and teacher input and open, spaceous, bright, and clean, and has a very large outdoor area with new play equipment for the children to play in/on.

The children take walks with their teachers in the local woods, go to a lovely local farm/ petting zoo twice a year (at Christmas they have a Santa Claus that gives them a goodie bag, they eat traditional porridge, and get a feel for Norwegian Christmas).

They have "Santa's Breakfast" and a Spring Fair. They celebrate international holidays and for Thanksgiving they actually make a Turkey dinner.

The school has extra curricular activities such as art club, Norwegian club, and English Continuation Class for children that have left the school and are attending Norwegian schools.

What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?

The teachers are extremely patient and understanding and have lots of experience with helping children adjust to a new country. They also help when they receive notice that a child will be moving and they help the child get mentally prepared for the move. As the children are young there isn't a specific program for this, but the teachers are skilled, caring and experienced.

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

There is a mom's get-together every Thursday morning on the school premises. In addition there is a class-mom's group that help organize annual events etc. There is a board that is made up of parents and teacher representatives and an annual meeting with parents and teachers.

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

I couldn't be happier with this school. I have had 2 children there for the past 3 years and the children love the school and their teachers. I am sad that my oldest will be going on to school because she has been so well cared for at the Children's House and I wonder how her new school will be.

The teachers all have their own email addresses and each classroom has their own telephone number. It is extremely easy to get a hold of the teachers and they address every concern, big or small, immediately. They helped potty train the youngest, they have been an immense support for my oldest who has needed extra help. They are helping acclimate my youngest to having to wear glasses.

They have a speech therapist/special education teacher that don't cost any extra. She is excellent. They also have a music teacher that comes in and visits each class once a week.

The loving care offered and the quality of this school is wonderful. My husband and I both work full time so our children are both in the childcare and school programmes. The fact that my children love going to the Children's House helps alleviate the guilt of leaving your kids every day.

This is not a "child storage fa cility". My kids have learned their colors and shapes, letters and numbers, the oldest has begun to learn how to read and write and can do simple math, they have gym and dance, plant and bake, do art projects, and learn about topics such as space, vikings, trolls, nature etc.

When they first started at the school they literally cheered when they saw the building every morning - what more could you want?

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