Rowan is 5, he is reception year, but currently home educated. This is going really well and we are all happy.
We are moving to Australia in Sep/Oct and he will have to start school there in Jan, as we won’t be able to afford for me not to work. Rowan is fine about this, as he has said for a long time that he would like to go to school, just not yet.
So we were all fine! Then last week his best friend has started school and his younger brother goes to preschool, both love it and tell Rowan how great it is. So today he has said he wants to go to school. We went and had a look and he loved it, went in straight away and really loved it (I wasn’t so sure, didn’t like his ‘would be’ teacher and other things).
We are going to look at other schools nearby next week, as he says he really wants to go.
No schools near us will consider flexi schooling, so its all or nothing.
Is it worth him going to school for the last term and a half, then upping sticks and moving for him to go through the whole process again?
I am in a right pickle over this and just can’t work out what would be best.
I think really only you, your dh and Rowan can really decide that.
Some thoughts though - Reception year is very much play based. If he is going to be going to a school in Oz then maybe the school socialising would help, finding out how the school day works, etc. On the other hand do you know what the schools are like in Oz as a comparison and would he be expecting something else when he gets there if he has been to school here. Although children are pretty adaptable.
I’m not much help really - can see both sides of the yes/no thinking - maybe if you find you’d be happy with a school, the teacher, etc give it a go - you can always change your mind.
Good luck with whatever you choose. Whereabouts are you moving to? (just being nosey, have relatives in Oz )
Thats a tricky one really, does he realise its all day pretty much everyday? I suppose you could start and then if he didn’t like it stop, but then you prob woudn’t want to do that as it won’t be an option in Oz. Looking for another school like Eden suggests sounds good,then if you are happy and he is go for it, I’d imagine the upheavel of moving etc won’t be made significantly bigger by moving schools although I guess there will be more friends to miss, its a tricky one, what do you feel is best deep down?
If it was me…I think I’d say I wouldn’t do it. Only because of what Sparky said about friends. If you are moving to Australia in 8/9mths time, that is quite a long time for a 5yr old and some good friendships could be made in that time. (Not saying he shouldn’t make good friends - but it just means it could make the move all the more harder).
Having said that, you know your own son so only you would be able to consider how he would be. My children would go to pot! It was hard enough moving DD from nursery to school as only one of her friends came too (others went to another school) and she was really upset for a while.
Keep looking at schools and just see how you feel. Maybe if you find a school/teacher you are happy with you will *know* what the right thing to do is. Good luck! x x x
wow , so jealous we have just returned from travelling round aus for a year, have spent a while there before and have many friends there we love it, it’s such a fantastic place. Will you be near a beach, our friends have just returned from a four year stint there, kids were surfing every week, swimming like fish etc etc, it’s all so outdoorsy and the things they do in school doesn’t compare and it seems to be way more relaxed. I know in my friends school and where my other friend works they are very supportive about kids being taken out of school for road trips (i.e a year camping or whatever) they really appreciate the outdoors and such genuine friendly people. I suppose it does depend on where you are going to be city/country but for us it is a dream place.
If he wants to go to school why not try it for a bit, i find that kids (well ours and lots of friends who move a lot from country to country)deal very well with moving about as long as the parents are constant, positive and available. let him make friends he’ll make more, he can have pen friends, skype friends. It would be a shame not to send him in case he makes friends and has to leave them. It may well give him a bit more confidence when going into an aussie school, just the fact that he has already been to one. Only you can say how you feel about the school etc so no-one can tell you what to do use your heart but trust your son too.
One more thing….......is there room in your suitcase for a small family of four, we’ll be very good
Yet another perspective, sorry I think it might be a good thing for him to experience school life now as it will prob seem normal to him by the time you go to Oz - when it’s not going to be optional as you say and you could both do with that bigger transition going smoothly. It may well be comforting for him to have a “known quantity” when his life has changed in so many other ways. If he’s clearly keen I’d go for it - you might not like the teacher but hey you know you’re not going to be in that school for very long anyhow, so I wouldn’t stress too much about the which school business, identify what is truly valuable about the experience and keep focussed on that.
I think go for it! I think it would be really positive for him to have a taste of school life before he starts in Oz, it will be one less ‘new thing’ to be be anxious about. I think it could be so positive for him!
wow , so jealous we have just returned from travelling round aus for a year, have spent a while there before and have many friends there we love it, it’s such a fantastic place. Will you be near a beach, our friends have just returned from a four year stint there, kids were surfing every week, swimming like fish etc etc, it’s all so outdoorsy and the things they do in school doesn’t compare and it seems to be way more relaxed. I know in my friends school and where my other friend works they are very supportive about kids being taken out of school for road trips (i.e a year camping or whatever) they really appreciate the outdoors and such genuine friendly people. I suppose it does depend on where you are going to be city/country but for us it is a dream place.
If he wants to go to school why not try it for a bit, i find that kids (well ours and lots of friends who move a lot from country to country)deal very well with moving about as long as the parents are constant, positive and available. let him make friends he’ll make more, he can have pen friends, skype friends. It would be a shame not to send him in case he makes friends and has to leave them. It may well give him a bit more confidence when going into an aussie school, just the fact that he has already been to one. Only you can say how you feel about the school etc so no-one can tell you what to do use your heart but trust your son too.
One more thing….......is there room in your suitcase for a small family of four, we’ll be very good
It is so interesting here you write this. My sister-in-law moved out there two years ago and even though she’s missing family she’s loving it. They’re in Perth. It has played on my mind about my little family making a move out there, for the quality of life… and I keep thinking we might regret it if we don’t see. The thing holding us back is family here, the air fares too and from Australia are so expensive, especially for a family of four. When you describe it as a ‘dream place’ it makes me wonder how it compares to the UK for bringing up a young family…The problem is, we can’t afford just to dip into savings just to go out for a simple holiday there it see what it is like, the air fares are so expensive! :/
Just to give you even more wanderlust Mama, it would be my dream place to live too! However I simply couldnt do it because Im just the kind of person who needs my family around me. My very dear friend emigrated about 7 years ago & though she loves the lifestyle, only seeing her parents every two years is heartbreaking for her. Another very good uni friend also emigrated there and absolutely loves it, no regrets, but then he lives the surfer dude lifestyle and so its perfect for him.
Our plan is for DH to take a 6 month sabbatical and travel round Oz in a camper van. I would love to go back once more in my lifetime. Its such a diverse country, something for everyone.
Fourinthebed, I think go with your gut. I wouldnt worry about a big search for the perfect school since youre moving anyway. The only negetive I can think of if he starts school here is if it goes pear-shaped and puts him offschool in Oz. I dont know why that would happen, but his enthusiasm now might just be about novelty factor. I definitely wouldnt worry about leaving friendships, young kids generally live for the ‘now’. If you send him and it all goes well, it would be a v positive thing for your move. Maybe it is best to go with the positivity your son is showing? I had a similar dilema as we’re not staying long termin Ireland. Ive kept DD out of school but then shes not good with big changes and didnt want to try school here, whereas your son actually does.
Thanks for all your different points of view. I think we haved completly ruled out that school, as the more I think about it the more I disliked it, and TBH I think Rowan loved the fact that there was a lego table more than anything!
We will go and see the two other schools that are closest to us, but with a view if we really love it then go for it, if not then wait till Aus.
I always thought Rowan was a child that didn’t deal with change well, but maybe he has grown in confidence and is now ready.
Its just so hard to work out what will be best, isn’t it.
So yes we are making the big move to Aus! DH is Aussie, but lived here most of his life. We did actually move there 7 years ago with the plan to stay, but when I got pregnant with Rowan I panicked and wanted my mum really badly, so we came home. However we have always lived with that feeling that we made the wrong choice. The lifestyle is great out there, it depends on where you are, but it generally more laid back and outdoorsy, and the work/life balance is much more in favour of life than work! So after years of deliberating we have made the big decision to go for it. I will miss my family like mad, but this is my family now and I have to do whats best for us. My ideal plan would be for my mum and dad to retire out there!
We will be living in Ipswich, which is inland form Brisbane. NOt our ideal choice (we would like to be near the beach in the future), but its cheap and there is a uni that offers a midwifery degree (another dream of mine).
Michelle x
Wandermob, great to hear you had such a fab time out there, unfortunalty no room in our bags, it will be hard enough to reduce the amount of stuff we have as it is!!
We will be living in Ipswich, which is inland form Brisbane. NOt our ideal choice (we would like to be near the beach in the future), but its cheap and there is a uni that offers a midwifery degree (another dream of mine).
You’ll be near my brother - he lives near Mudgeeraba near to Surfers Paradise, they like it there having moved from near Melbourne. They’ve been there 20 years now.
They definitely love the lifestyle but find it’s quite expensive living costs even compared to here these days which my parents echoed when they were there Sept-Dec, would love to get out there sometime for a visit.
not so far either from where we learnt to skydive….always an option should you get a little bored
Mama Flights aren’t actually very expensive if you can be flexible on dates etc. Airasia is great i just had a quick look and in march you can fly one way from london to KL for 115 quid then from kl to Perth for 33 quid a few days later thats less than 200 quid one way to perth, ok i agree when you do a return , add the kids , dh it gets more but it’s probably no way near what you are expecting.
Perth is great my best friend from the uk lives there it’s small and you can seea lot of the outback from there, there is soooo much wildlife for the kids to see if you would like a look at our website just pm me i will need to send you a password, we just spent a year in western australia, you could read our blog and see the picks to get an idea. Our kids were 1 and 3 when we went there.
Do it, you can always come home. Our friends ..him a Dr , she a just trained midwife were there 4 yrs decided to come back for a trial as they missed family , they have been back 5 mths and are miserable he is depressed, she is on the verge of leaving him and they both really want to go back but are not telling eachother as they don’t want to give up on the trying here (they just bought a house)
Remember you will never regret the things you’ve done just the things you haven’t.
oooh go for it, i’m excited just thinking of the possibility
not so far either from where we learnt to skydive….always an option should you get a little bored
Mama Flights aren’t actually very expensive if you can be flexible on dates etc. Airasia is great i just had a quick look and in march you can fly one way from london to KL for 115 quid then from kl to Perth for 33 quid a few days later thats less than 200 quid one way to perth, ok i agree when you do a return , add the kids , dh it gets more but it’s probably no way near what you are expecting.
Perth is great my best friend from the uk lives there it’s small and you can seea lot of the outback from there, there is soooo much wildlife for the kids to see if you would like a look at our website just pm me i will need to send you a password, we just spent a year in western australia, you could read our blog and see the picks to get an idea. Our kids were 1 and 3 when we went there.
Do it, you can always come home. Our friends ..him a Dr , she a just trained midwife were there 4 yrs decided to come back for a trial as they missed family , they have been back 5 mths and are miserable he is depressed, she is on the verge of leaving him and they both really want to go back but are not telling eachother as they don’t want to give up on the trying here (they just bought a house)
Remember you will never regret the things you’ve done just the things you haven’t.
oooh go for it, i’m excited just thinking of the possibility
Thank you so much for getting back to me! That is brilliant to know about the flights! I thought it would be more like £800-£1000 per person rather than £350-£400 for a return ticket. I can be felxible about dates as I don’t work, I wonder if it would be worth me flying out solo to see what I think to Perth…that wouldn’t be very fair on my DH though. My DH is a teacher so I know school holiday time would be super expenisve I imagine. Incase you don’t see this reply here I am going to pm you to ask you for your password so I can see your website…I would love to see your blog about it!
not so far either from where we learnt to skydive….always an option should you get a little bored
Mama Flights aren’t actually very expensive if you can be flexible on dates etc. Airasia is great i just had a quick look and in march you can fly one way from london to KL for 115 quid then from kl to Perth for 33 quid a few days later thats less than 200 quid one way to perth, ok i agree when you do a return , add the kids , dh it gets more but it’s probably no way near what you are expecting.
Perth is great my best friend from the uk lives there it’s small and you can seea lot of the outback from there, there is soooo much wildlife for the kids to see if you would like a look at our website just pm me i will need to send you a password, we just spent a year in western australia, you could read our blog and see the picks to get an idea. Our kids were 1 and 3 when we went there.
Do it, you can always come home. Our friends ..him a Dr , she a just trained midwife were there 4 yrs decided to come back for a trial as they missed family , they have been back 5 mths and are miserable he is depressed, she is on the verge of leaving him and they both really want to go back but are not telling eachother as they don’t want to give up on the trying here (they just bought a house)
Remember you will never regret the things you’ve done just the things you haven’t.
oooh go for it, i’m excited just thinking of the possibility
We lived there 7 years ago and came back when I got pregnant, we have lived in regret ever since. Some of our freinds and family think we are mad to try again, but we konw that if we don’t we will always live in regret and a constant ‘what if?’, So we think go for it!
On the flights issue as from the end of March Airasia will not be flying from UK anymore, cost cutting!
Its a shame, as it was the only low cost option. But if you are flexible on dates then its much cheaper (Also if you can fly before 30th March its dead cheap - £200 one way!)
)
My DH is a teacher so I know school holiday time would be super expenisve I imagine. Incase you don’t see this reply here I am going to pm you to ask you for your password so I can see your website…I would love to see your blog about it!