Melbourne Mumsnetters ... childcare and school advice

[PieMinister]

Four days into our permanent relocation to Aus and I'm struggling to know where to start with childcare... and can't quite believe that you really don't need to choose your area to get a good school. Are they really all absolutely fine, as I've been told? Really?

Depends...whereabouts are you?

Melbourne - looking at the Eastern suburbs. From Preston, where all my old friends seem to have moved... right through to Belgrave... depending on where we can find the magic combination of good school, transport to city and a house we can afford...!

No, pieminister, they are not all really fine, at least not at secondary level.

Most government primaries seem OK, though you have to be in the zone for some schools. Check this out with the schools. I don't know much about the area you're in, unfortunately.

Some primaries run after school care, which you pay for.

For government secondary schools, some have a zone, some don't. The more popular ones do.

When we came, my dh came over first and he visited lots of schools. They were all very happy to show him around.

Different people are looking for different things, just like in the UK, so you just need to go and look at them.

How old are your children?

The thieving greedy bastards called ABC Childcare have the monopoly on childcare in Melbourne.

What has made you move to fucking Melbourne? I am wanting to move back to Europe. Perhaps we should have done a house swap.

All the best in your search.

Well, Sexuallyinactive, I think Melbourne would be a better place without you by the sound of it

sexuallyinactive such a well written helpful post.

Why don't you shut the fuck up and piss off back to Europe then....

OP there are a few million of us here in Melbourne who do indeed like the place.

I have found that the State primary schools are pretty good, my DD is in reception so I don't have too much experience yet. When I was looking for a school for her I had the choice of about 5 nearby which were just fine.

There are a lot of privately run childcare centres around and also before and after school clubs. Childminders are known as family day care here which may be another option for you.

Are you returning to Melb after some time away?

Can I join this thread?

I just thought you might be able to give advice about school hols in Melbourne.

I have to start planning for our move to Melbourne next year with two primary school aged kids. I want to arrive and get a rental place and get into a school and I would love them to start at the beginning of term not midway through. So wondered when all the big school holidays were - do they follow the English long summer holiday concept?

spaceforthree
Have a look at this link for the school term dates. We do follow a similar term system to the Uk but obviously as our seasons are opposite the long summer holidays are over Christmas.

Thanks esselle that's v helpful.

Apologies not to come back sooner, thanks all. Was a but shocked it got so explosive, but a few months in, I find I am falling in with SexuallyInactive: I am ABSOLUTELY HATING Melbourne. I think I am going to start a whinge-thread if you want join me over there SI...

Not sure about schools yet, but have put DD in an ABC which is, well, fine...