Education in Melbourne

[WeAreOnTheMove]

We are moving next year to the south eastern suburbs and would like our little one to go to school (prep) fairly soon after we arrive.

Sorry for the long list of questions but am clueless on the situation in Melbourne as no one I know has kids.

So I have a few questions:

• when is the start of the school year (and therefore the cut off in terms of their birthday's to get into their year)? How ridgid is this (UK is very strict) and do they consider the child's ability if borderline?

• what are the costs for a kid starting in primary school (prep and grade 1)? Everything from school fees to equipment/uniform - basically the lot. Any hidden costs?

• what schools are best? Is there a league table? If so, are there any tips to reading this i.e. do schools try and get the top spaces or do they go for being specialists (music, sport, academic, etc)? Ones to avoid?

• Initially we are going to rent so we can experience an area. For lo to get into a school do you have to be within a certain area? Do you have to pre register by a certain age?

• I'll need to work and don't have any support there so will need care before and after school times. Do schools do before and after school care? Is this more expensive than childminders/nurseries/etc? What things should I look out for/avoid?

If there's any other tips/tricks/advice/etc you have it's all welcome.

Thanks

Bumping this to catch the attention of savoycabbage who knows more about this than I do.
Briefly if you live in the catchment area of a government school they have take you. Only the teaching is free, you pay for all books and equipment.
Some schools have after hours care, but this costs.
The myschool website will give you info about rankings according to NAPLAN.
You need to be specific about which suburb you're moving to. The pompanos forum can be useful here.

That should pomsinoz.

Hello

There are no league tables but the websites for most schools are quite comprehensive so you can trawl
Through those. There are tests cslled Naplan.

Most schools will put their weekly newsletter on their website which is a far more informative way of finding out what is actually going on.

In my humble opinion schools are vastly different from each other. I'm a supply teacher in the eastern suburbs. My own dds are in prep and grade three. Some schools are all shiny and full of iPads and performing arts centers. Some have a set of unifix cubes.

Some schools have a thousand pupils. Some have 90. There are different pros and cons of both.

There is definitely flexibility with starting times. Mostly in Victoria, children are 5 when they start school. However some are 4 and some are 6. I was most impressed with this when I got here until I realised that 5 and an 8 year old can be in the same class. A lot of schools teach two year groups together. So year 1&2 together, 3&4 together.

I find special needs to not be as well catered for as in the uk but obviously that depends on the school.

In my dds prep class there is no other adult. I don't know how her teacher does it!

Schools have 'voluntary contributions' but they are not that voluntary. Ours is $300ish per child a year. You have to pay for all extras like trips, swimming, or you don't go.

I have just been to the school uniform shop this morning to buy a wide brimmed hat for next term. Our school uniform provider is called 'Primary School Wear' and it has a website.

PSW

Australia is the biggest afterschool provider in Melbourne. You have to email them for prices but ours is $10 for before care, $12 for after school and $45 for holiday programmes. It's more if you are not booked in a week in advance though.

I have a feeling that the cut off day for starting prep in the last day in March, but it might be the last day in April.

There is no admissions procedure that I know of. You just fill in a form. Some schools are zoned, so have a catchment, but some aren't. I have never heard of anyone not getting into a school. There is a quite transient population. People are coming and going all the time.

thank you.

obviously, looking for a 'good' area but more important is that they cater for lo.

house prices are a major factor in location.
i appreciate that this is vague but you're info has helped.

The school year runs from late Jan to December with a long summer holiday over Christmas. The first couple of weeks of the school year are always really hot, so look for a school with airconditioning.
Most children are 5 when they start, or turning 5 by the April of the year they start in. Schools are not always rigid about this. Some parents hold boys back so they are a bit older when they start. Schools do vary enormously in size and emphasis; you do need to look a few to see what one appeals to you.
There is a website called myschool ( I think) which has an outline on every school and lists the Naplan results - a national test.
If you want your dc to attend a particular school in 2013 you should enrol them before the end of this year so they can attend orientation etc.

My School