International school for 5-year-old in downtown London

[dabieannie]

Dear all:

I am going on a 4-month secondment to London and would be super grateful if anyone has experience could share with me which international school is better for a 5-year-old boy who speaks little English to have a quick fit in London?

How do you think of
www.eifaschool.com/

ICS London
www.icschool.co.uk/

Have you heard of these two schools and how do you think about them-- thanks so much, which one will be better for working moms!!!

Thank you very much for any of your feedback. Really appreciate it!

Getting a school place for a 5yo in Central London for 4 months is nearly impossible. So - if these two schools have offered you a place - I’d pick the one most convenient for your location logistics and with best facilities.
You are only here for a short time. If your boy speaks French - Eifa school will be easier for him, but at the same time he won’t pick up any English, if this is something that you want him to do.
5yos integrate into new language environment very easily, so he’ll be ok in either of these schools.

For that period of time I would suggest a nanny/tutor who has his language and they do activities together.
4 months in an international school in a language he doesn’t speak will be really difficult. (My kids are both in an international school fyi)
the other alternative is to look for a school teaching in his language.

@NrlySp Central London international schools are used to kids coming in from different countries. They know how to gently integrate them. And at 5yo - the schools are mostly play based, and not too academically pushy. Kids do adapt quickly.
Also - finding a full time nanny for 4 months in London is even harder than getting a place at school.

Thanks so much!

Hi,

EIFA is 50% French and 50% English, right? So why would a kid not pick up any English?

@denisonice

old post - so not relevant for the OP.

But in general - young kids are very pragmatic about language acquisition. And it takes time.
So - a 5yo won’t ‘decide’ to learn a new language just the fun of it. In a mixed environment where half speak French - he’ll stick to the language he can communicate in.

Even if he were in a fully English environment - it takes more than 4 months to pick up a new language from scratch.