We are moving in the UK from slovakia. I am worried.

[Thebravesisterstates]

We are moving in the Wales prefecture of UK from slovakia. I have a 5 year old girl and I am worried much about the education gap this will present for her.

Is my child likely to be integrated with no much trouble. School here starts from 6 years of age, there has been no formal education for her to this point?

Her English is no so good and very basic, she only knows her name on being written, no phonetic sounds yet. We have a different alphabet here.

Customs here are very different too. If my 5 year old was to take in cakes and donuts to school on her name day would this be seen as strange?
Or would the school could use this as a learning time for more understanding other cultures?
Is it only birthdays to be celebrated?

Thanks to you all so much. A million times. I will be watching Alphablocks with her as found on youtube. My mind has been laid at rest due to all your kindness in having my questions answered.

Don't be a stranger, keep in touch.

Hi OP I know a lot of your concerns have been laid to rest already. I just wanted to tell you from the perspective of someone who moved to the UK as a child with no English at all that she will be fine! I came over from a European country at the age of 8, so older than your DD and I remember that time as literally starting one day not knowing anything and suddenly I spoke English with no problems. It all went by so quickly! For all other ups and downs of my time at school those early days I remember quite fondly. My mum would take me to the library every week and I found that such a fun way to explore the language myself as well. We didn’t have school uniforms where I came from either and I remember feeling quite fancy at having one 😂
Best of luck!

This is not true. As with all countries it depends on the individuals.

How that is wonderful to hear! I think my child also will like the smartness of having a uniform for school. I have explained it to her and she seems like it is going to be enjoyable for her. She likes dragons too so will help because of the flag.

@Calandor This thread is showing that there are a great many good people in Wales and the UK. But of course there are a mix everywhere but in relation for school system mostly good I hope. As a family we are willing to all learn the new culture and customs.

Wishing you the best of luck for your move @Thebravesisterstates !
I hope you will all settle quickly and love living in Wales, it is very beautiful there.

If your daughter feels too shy to ask to use the toilet in English (or Welsh) perhaps they will give her a card to hold up or something similar when she needs to go until she feels more comfortable with the language.

Where in Wales are you?

Thank you Lemoo. It has been a suggestion previously that I ask for a card for use to go to toilet (I learn is not named potty at school :). So will be asking for that as one of the first questions when a place at a school is awarded for her.

1. Check if you will be in an area of Welsh language only on school. Obviously that makes a vast difference. not all of Wales is like that but some is.
2. My daughter's best friend (at a fee paying school in England) at aged 5 had spent the whole summer in Poland with grandparents and would not speak a word of English to the teacher for the first term but soon settled down and did fine.
3. Just try to get the basic things right - be on time for the school day.
4. Cakes and donut are awful junk food, sugar, not good nutrition so I would not take those in if you can (although a lot of the UK does eat pretty dreadful food which is why we tend to be sicker and heavier than most places so may be cakes would be okay?). Not every family allows their child to have sugar and cakes in the UK for health reasons.
5. I expect everyone in her class will enjoy learning about her culture and she will soon start to learn English and do the work that is set in the class.

Just to help reassure you, although the 9-3 school day seems quite long, in reception and often Y1, it won't all be spent sitting down and doing formal learning. In reception, especially, there will be shorter periods of sitting down and doing a formal task for phonics and numeracy, and perhaps a topic, and perhaps a guided session for PE (usually simple skills like catching and throwing, movement activities like dance, simple team games etc) or music, but lots of the day will be spent doing free flow activities too, where she will have the option to do a range of activities, often including some outside play.

Many reception classes really feel like a transition between nursery and school.

The school may also be open to her starting mornings only when she first joins too.

As others have said, schools will be used to children with English as an additional language starting, and they will have strategies in place to support her.

@Xenia She is moving to Bridgend not Brighton. We love cake here in Wales! 🍰🍰🍰

I admit that I had shock at the long day, here for grade 1 of school, so 6 year old it runs from 8 until 12:30. My daughter will adapt to your school system but if halves of day is presented for a settling in option we will take. That will be perfect.

Cakes and donut are awful junk food, sugar, not good nutrition so I would not take those in if you can (although a lot of the UK does eat pretty dreadful food which is why we tend to be sicker and heavier than most places so may be cakes would be okay?). Not every family allows their child to have sugar and cakes in the UK for health reasons.

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What a load of judgemental shit.

There is nothing wrong with taking a treat in to celebrate a special occasion.

It's the minority that don't allow any sugar/treats/cakes, atall.

If someone doesn't want to eat something they don't have to. At my kids school it's perfectly fine to take things in to offer out for birthdays/Xmas/Diwali/Easter, all sorts of things get celebrated with a treat brought from home.

@parsniiips
I don’t know of any school that would allow cakes, doughnuts to be brought in by parents for a birthday. I don’t think it’s a minority.

I meant families that don't allow any sugar, not schools.

I've worked in many schools and experienced school life with my own kids. Treats for special occasions have always been fine. They just ask children to take it home to enjoy, and don't allow children with allergies or specific dietary requirements take anything they can't have.

I see that cakes may be a subject of dislike among parents. I do not want to cause other parents distress over gifts. Maybe I'll think of other items for name day?
What would the people of wales send in on occasions similar of birthdays?

Welcome to the UK. Your daughter will be hearing English all day, and young children are quick to learn new languages when they are immersed in it.
You can ask about cakes - most schools discourage them, for not being a healthy choice.

I think she will be fine and quickly pick up the language, probably quicker than adults do.

(As the cakes were mentioned I just thought I should make it clear some parents don't allow their children to eat that and it can make it hard for the teacher. It is not a major issue. Rita, yes that made me laugh Brighton v Wales as you say. (just checked 25% of Wales is obese so probably a fair amount of cakes eaten there).... Apologies for thread diversion. I know one of my grandchildren was in a London nursery where plenty of children went into school with instructions from parents not to give them sugar, cakes, chocolate etc)

Honestly, ignore. People either send in treats or don't bother when there is a celebration.

Absolutely nobody sends a fruit platter or some trail mix or whatever else would be deemed healthy and appropriate when it's their kids birthday.

Easily once a month my kids come out of school with a mini bag of haribo or some smarties because it's their friends birthday. Some parents cut up birthday cake'and send little slices in for the class.

It's a nice thing to do.

I would recommend letting your daughter watch lots of the CBeebies channel from the BBC. It has lots of different programmes that aim at educating young children as well as entertaining them. Alpha blocks has been mentioned and that is good for learning the basics of English phonics but as all the programmes are in English, your daughter will start to pick up on lots of words. Many of the programmes repeat or recap things and that will be useful to your daughter too.

Little bags of Haribo from multi-packs are a hit at my children's school on birthdays

Hello fellow 🇸🇰 👋
I’m in England though (not Wales) but can help if you need anything, if only online. Feel free to pm me. Good luck!!

@Thebravesisterstates it very much depends on school’s policy - speak to them and they will be more than happy to explain.
Some schools allow little boxes of raisins etc. Or maybe a pencil/ sticker?

Shout if you need any help with anything.
(Do you have a move date?)

Lots of raisins in Bara Brith - a fruit cake with the dried fruit soaked in tea.

I am learning a lot from this thread.

Which of these candy is not having variations for the welsh market?
Kavenky - coffee wafer
Margot - coconut flavour chocolate
Arizonky - Expanded dried rice puffed in colours
Koko - Coconut bits with chocolate outer
Tuc - salt cracker (not cheese)
Chocolate and peanutbutter spread, I found chocolate and hazelnut on Tesco's but not chocolate and peanut butter, available there in some kind?