Belgian mumsnetters - Belgian? Lilaclotus?

[acnebride]

Hi, my husband has just got an interview for a job based in Gent! Am very excited. Can anyone give any information about living in Belgium? What's childcare like and when does school start?

bump

First Gent is a great town.
The belgians love their food (and know how to cook ), they love beer and have over 1000 different ones!
Have not lived there for years but have many relatives there.
How old are your kids?
School is from very early Sept to end of June I seem to remember. July-August are off generally.

I went to the British School in Belgium (although might be a bit far from Gent). Great place to live, Gent is gorgeous.

You went to Tervuren?

ds turns 2 in January so quite early really - i currently have him down for mornings at the local pre-school from Jan 08, which i may or may not take up. i wondered what people in belgium usually do? and are the english/international schools all fee-paying?

no worries - we'll find this out in time i guess!

I think for a 2yo - Belgians tend to use chilminder sort of system - school starts at 3yo.
Well the school in Tervuren is - to my knowledge - the most expensive school in Belgium. I don't know about others.
There are interbational schools but no idea what is available in Gent.

I think for a 2yo - Belgians tend to use chilminder sort of system - school starts at 3yo.
Well the school in Tervuren is - to my knowledge - the most expensive school in Belgium. I don't know about others.
There are interbational schools but no idea what is available in Gent.

thanks pupuce!

yup, went to BSB in Tervuren. Lived in Tervuren village for 5 years. Yes, it is fee-paying (and Pupuce is probably right, very high fees, all the companies pay for their workers' offspring so I have no idea, none of us ever had to actually discuss the money). It was a great school in the 80s, no idea what it's like now. But even if you don't attend the school it's a good english-speaking social centre for sports and theatre and stuff like scouts.

I went to BSB too fab fab ex-pat environment, very English though if you do go to BSB it has a nursery called kindercrib. Very nice school, well funded etc. Dead posh. Companies often pay fees for schools.

If you live on the Brussels side of Tervuren you can get the tram to the centre and then a train to Gent. Lots of smaller international school in Brussels centre though...

Hi acnebride. The state school starts at 2.5yrs with the maternelle section. There are 3 yrs in maternelle. At age 6 the primary school starts. School is compulsory from 6yrs. The state schools often have before & after school childcare available. Often from 7.30 am & until 6.00 in the evening. Very high educational standards - kids work hard.
Before 2.5 you can call the commune (townhall) where you live to register for a childcare place. There are lots of options & they will explain what's in your area.
Good luck - hope you like choccy - as there are wonderful chocolate shops