Apologies if this topic is posted twice. I posted 25 mins ago and it still has not appeared.
I’ve been reading the posts and searching the forum – very helpful. I have a few questions and would welcome any input or thoughts.
Background: My company recently informed us we will be in London for an 18 month assignment starting this April. Next week, I will receive the details on specifics (housing allowance amounts, etc.). But I do have a few questions now, that focus on schooling. We have two kids – 4.5 and almost 2. Currently in the States, the 4.5 attends a preschool 3 days a week (2 full days and 1 half day). The younger does not go to preschool. If we were not moving, our plans for the fall would be to place the younger in a 2 or 3 day a week program (likely half days) and put the 4.5 year old in a year-to-grow program rather than kindergarten. He would turn 5 about 6 weeks before school begins, and it is quite common in our area to hold back boys with late summer birthdays.
Schools: While we would prefer to hold our oldest back, we are not sure if that is an option in London. So we are looking at international schools: (ACS in Clapham, The American School in St. John’s, and Southbank (close to Notting Hill). We believe my company foots the bill for schooling.
Our concerns are: 1) the application deadline for the fall for these schools is Jan 31/Feb 1 so we are worried about even getting him in! and 2) having him transition from currently attending 2 full days and 1 half day (still napping) to attending 5 full days. 3) we have not visited any of these schools and are not sure we will be able to do so before applications are due.
Living: I prefer living closer to St. John’s as it will make my commute much, much easier to where I will work (compared to living in Clapham, etc.). But I know we will be giving up some space for what we can afford. But for 18 mos, I think we would enjoy being closer into the city …
Questions:
1) does anyone have any experience or knowledge about whether we can hold back a 5 yo in London rather than putting him into the equivalent of full day kindergarten/5 days a week?
2) Any thoughts on the various schools (American School vs. ACS vs. Southbank) or will there be 100 different opinions and it’s just a matter of trying to get in for a visit (and get accepted!)?
3) Can you navigate the tube with children? We realize that most of the schools have busing for children, but there is something off-putting about having a 5yo share a bus with teenagers on the way to school. It just seems like a whole lot to throw at a kid going from preschool to full day kindergarten!
Thanks so much.
I’ve been reading the posts and searching the forum – very helpful. I have a few questions and would welcome any input or thoughts.
Background: My company recently informed us we will be in London for an 18 month assignment starting this April. Next week, I will receive the details on specifics (housing allowance amounts, etc.). But I do have a few questions now, that focus on schooling. We have two kids – 4.5 and almost 2. Currently in the States, the 4.5 attends a preschool 3 days a week (2 full days and 1 half day). The younger does not go to preschool. If we were not moving, our plans for the fall would be to place the younger in a 2 or 3 day a week program (likely half days) and put the 4.5 year old in a year-to-grow program rather than kindergarten. He would turn 5 about 6 weeks before school begins, and it is quite common in our area to hold back boys with late summer birthdays.
Schools: While we would prefer to hold our oldest back, we are not sure if that is an option in London. So we are looking at international schools: (ACS in Clapham, The American School in St. John’s, and Southbank (close to Notting Hill). We believe my company foots the bill for schooling.
Our concerns are: 1) the application deadline for the fall for these schools is Jan 31/Feb 1 so we are worried about even getting him in! and 2) having him transition from currently attending 2 full days and 1 half day (still napping) to attending 5 full days. 3) we have not visited any of these schools and are not sure we will be able to do so before applications are due.
Living: I prefer living closer to St. John’s as it will make my commute much, much easier to where I will work (compared to living in Clapham, etc.). But I know we will be giving up some space for what we can afford. But for 18 mos, I think we would enjoy being closer into the city …
Questions:
1) does anyone have any experience or knowledge about whether we can hold back a 5 yo in London rather than putting him into the equivalent of full day kindergarten/5 days a week?
2) Any thoughts on the various schools (American School vs. ACS vs. Southbank) or will there be 100 different opinions and it’s just a matter of trying to get in for a visit (and get accepted!)?
3) Can you navigate the tube with children? We realize that most of the schools have busing for children, but there is something off-putting about having a 5yo share a bus with teenagers on the way to school. It just seems like a whole lot to throw at a kid going from preschool to full day kindergarten!
Thanks so much.
