Getting into London prep school after regular admissions process

[jackerooattack]

Ladies

I'm looking for some advice. I am a Brit, but have been living out of the country, mostly in the USA, for the last 10 years. I was educated from nursery through Uni in the UK but never had to deal with process, forms etc because my parents did that. Now as a mummy, it's my turn to try and navigate the system.

I have a 5 yr old in a private school here in California. We're very happy with it. However, DH (who is American) has been offered a job in London with his current company as an expat so we're potentially considering moving to London for 2 years. I've told DH that it's not like the US, and you can't just rock up to a private school of your choice, slap down a large cheque and expect to get a place. We looked at the American School website and it's £20,000 per year. Holy cow. But DH told his boss that unless work paid for private school then we wouldn't even consider moving. So technically, I'm guessing budget isn't a problem since we won't be paying.

But what's the chance of us getting into a good private school in London given that it's already end of March and we'd probably be moving in the summer. Our DD is smart, creative, social and an eager learner but she's been in the US system which is typically one year behind the US; plus she's been in Mandarin immersion (which I'd take in a heartbeat but apparently there aren't any mandarin immersion schools in London). So on any reading tests etc she probably would be behind peers her age.

Surely all the popular schools have already filled places and there isn't any 'we'll just squeeze her in' mentality since some people have had their kids on waiting lists for the school of their choice since before they are born.

We'd probably live somewhere central London, like many American expats in Kensington, Chelsea, or Hampstead (oh lordy, when I was living in London post uni, I'd never have imagined living in such a flash part of London but hey, if work is paying, then I'm all for it. Any suggestions on good schools which might consider us?

Sorry for the long post. Just trying to decide if we should make the move or head off the job offer before anyone starts getting too excited.

The americans at our school generally seem to use specialist consultants (not Gabbitas) which if you are entering the twilight months of early twin-parenthood you might want to think about. In the meantime, I suggest two days spent on the phone getting yourself in touch with schools in your key areas (there aren't all that many - if you choose say Kensington/Chelsea and Hamstead as options, you will only have about 30 to call, I'd estimate).
At least it is year 1 in Sept, not reception - that would be much harder.
A lot of it is down to luck - making the calls and keeping making them such that you are the one who calls just after news that someone (often american!) is on the move.
Coming from the US to London isn't madly easy at year 1, but not too bad. I strongly recommend doing some phonics workas that is the thing our americans seem to be missing when they arrive at that age. Going back after two years is quite gentle, as the US system pushes them much faster over those years, so if you want to avoid the US school ghetto, you can. Culturally you can go half way by looking at London schools with lots of Americans (Thomas's Battersea and Fulham for instance), but perhaps you'd prefer to go the whole hog and try for Glendower with their purple velvet or Falkner House with their cursteying!
Definitely hit amazon and get the Good Schools Guide asap which will lay out all the options with hand maps.

I meand "handy maps"

Maybetimeforachange - thanks for the update. My info was from 5 years ago when I got in touch with both hospitals, glad to hear that the situation is different now.

OP - thanks for clarifying, I see what you mean now. A Chinese speaking pre-kindergarten is very unusual in an English speaking country, but it sounds great. As for teaching her English yourself, I think it can be very difficult pinning down a 4-5 year old to learn letters and numbers, especially when they've already had other activities that day, as I remember myself when trying to teach my DS a second language or writing. When they see their peers doing it as a groups activity, it seems more inviting! I don't suppose there is a second preschool or children's group she can go to? In Britain you can actually send your 3+ to 4 year old child to two different school or nursery settings eg preschool A on Monday to Wednesday, and preschool or nursery B on Thursday and Friday. Or would you be allowed to request that the pre-K spends a little time teaching her some English letters and writing? I presume that being a Chinese school, the maths/numbers will be tip top!

About this phonics thing, this might help : http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alphablocks (esp redball333's uploads). It seems a bit madcap, but the 4-5 year olds seem to like it. Because you have to hear the sounds, it's easier to watch or listen than to read it out from a book, I found. You'll have to get used to the fact that the schools don't call letters "abc", it's "ah-buh-cuh" and I even got "nicely told off" for teaching my DS the alphabet and not phonemes before he started school. But the children soon pick up the new "names" and the sounds - we called the phonemes "sounds" and the alphabet "letters" to avoid confusion. The noises that the alphablocks are making are actually the way they (the phoneme) sounds, and they do it repeatedly so that we know how it's supposed to be spoken.

K&P
Yeah, my Brit friends from my childhood and uni are all baffled by the fact that my 5 year old is going to school taught in Mandarin. It's far more common here to go to an 'immersion' school where the bulk of the day is spent immersed in a foreign language. There are in fact quite a few state schools here that do this, it's not just a private option. Mostly it's Spanish but Mandarin is picking up the pace. She's at school now from 9-3 M-F so not much time for additional schooling elsewhere. And she's fine with Maths and doesn't seem to mind whether she is counting using English or Chinese words and English numerals or Chinese characters. Insane what these little minds can do before they're told that they can't.

She does love the computer though so I'll use your phonics you tube video to see what she thinks of it (of course, it's far more exciting to learn from the computer than it is from your mother!) She is learning English alphabet sounds at school (but it is definitely 'ay - bee- sea) so laying on an additional type of phonic alphabet might push her over the edge. Perhaps this summer might be a good time.

Anyway, plenty of good info to keep me busy. Thank you all so much for your time and valuable input.

Now where was I, oh yes, time for another cuppa, buy a new crib (since we'll need two), an additional infant car seat and walk the dog. And to think that I used to have a career and 'important' job. Now I'm reduced to navigating healthcare, schooling, and travel. Perhaps in my future life I can put all my knowledge to good use since DH's work seems intent on relocating us to multiple continents. I wonder when Sydney or Hawaii might be on the cards?

I wish we had immersion schools here! That's a brilliant idea. Because we can combine schools or nurseries at age 3-4, I think doing one 2 or 3 days a week would be so much better. There seems to be a drop off in interest in second languages nowadays, never mind a third, which I find frustrating. And it doesn't seem to be a priority at GCSE or A level either - which is silly considering how much integration we are having with Europe. I think it's because the Department of Education is worried about school leavers coming out at 16 or 18 barely getting qualifications in English and Maths, and many being functionally illiterate, so they feel languages are very very low down in priority.

I suppose if you call your phonics and reading sessions "games" she might enjoy it more. They do books for Alphablocks (on Amazon UK) but no DVD yet (which would not be compatible with US machines) so it's only youtube for now.

There's a "fashionable" trend in London for the last five years for getting babies and toddlers exposed to a foreign language- and apparently full time Mandarin speaking nannies were in highest demand....! Your role as a mum IS an important job! Anybody can earn money and have a career but your role as mother is not replaceable. And as someone who used to have a demanding career too, I'd say that some "projects" that mothers have to accomplish are far more demanding than work projects.

We are an American family too. Any suggestions on schools for Year 1 (will be 4 years old in June 2012) in East London? We live by Snaresbrook/Wanstead/South Woodford area. Forest School has no places left and we have a similar situation where work is paying all education fees.