Please help me!!!! School/HK confusion!
- Thread starter cadogan
- Start date
Can I please ask someone's advise about full day vs half day sessions at the kindys......I can see it would make sense to send the twins to ESF Hillside (K2) to maximise their chances of getting into Bradbury in 2011. However, as far as I can see, you can only do a half day there. Woodlands, Tutor time etc all offer full days. My instinct is that the twins should attend a full day - as i have said after 2 years of half day kindergarten here in the UK i feel they are totally ready to be in a full time school environment, and they are more than ready to start some proper learning, reading, writing etc. However, if a full day session in one of the kindergartens i've mentioned is really just the same as 2 x half day sessions (ie they just repeat what they've already done in the morning, just with a different set of children, so not actually learning anything more) then this is of course less important, as it's not the childcare i'm after, more their educational progression. How much do people feel attending the ESF kindy instead of one like Woodlands effects a child's chances of getting offered a place at an ESF primary school?
Finally, do any of the international schools offer full days for their reception year - on the websites it looks as though they also only offer half days for the 4 year olds.....
Finally, do any of the international schools offer full days for their reception year - on the websites it looks as though they also only offer half days for the 4 year olds.....
Most of the afternoon programs is just extra stuff, they repeat more, and do additional fun activities. They technically can't go faster, because there are kids who don't do the afternoon classes at all. My oldest did for 5 afternoons for the entire year. She came home with extra little math and writing / letter things but more repeating. I think that pretty much goes for most preschools, also the one my twins are at right now. Your child will have priority into ESF Primaries based on siblings and/or ESF Kindies. Also, non-Cantonese speakers (Cat 1) will have priority over Cat 2 (Cantonese speakers). I've been considering ESF Kindy for mine but I'd like them to get used to longer days so therefore we're staying at their current KG, and they'll have priority in QBS anyway based on their siblings. A lot of reception years are only 3 hours, I think. HKIS has some extended days (until 2 pm) but most have morning or afternoon programs only.
i think my husband and i will be flying over next week sometime so as soon as that is confirmed i'll get in touch with all schools ref visits (will only be there 2-3 days - are most schools flexible on visits?) - should I bring the twins with us in case they can jump into the interview process at that point (for the Interntaional Schools), or is there no way they will consider them until they have reached the top of waitlists?
One other thing - earlier in this post someone suggested that most people at an ESF school would probably jump at the chance of a place at an International School if it came up...can I ask what is the basis for this might be (level of education/facilities/environment/social???).
One other thing - earlier in this post someone suggested that most people at an ESF school would probably jump at the chance of a place at an International School if it came up...can I ask what is the basis for this might be (level of education/facilities/environment/social???).
The main thing is that a lot of international schools have better facilities and smaller class rooms. I would probably jump for GSIS, however, at this point, at this age, I just don't believe the double (or triple) cost justify it. My daughter is 5! It's Primary School ...
rani
Administrator
I would love to move my son too, but I know he's really happy where he is. My current concern with ESF is the levy. It seems teachers aren't exempt from the capital levy, which they're implementing in 2011. I've noticed that a lot of teachers at my son's school have 2 or 3 kids enrolled in ESF schools, and they're already having a tough time making ends meet. So does that mean in 2011 we'll see an exodus of teachers?
Don't they do the levy only in Year 1 and Year 7, so not for those enrolled already? I have 2 enrolling in 2011 though?! I am not too worried about an exodus, which other options are there ... cheaper ones for non-Cantonese / Mandarin speakers? Or am I naive?! I am not saying it's not a lot of money but it's not a yearly thing and it doesn't affect all parents at once, correct? Only thing I've been wondering, what happens if you leave HK ... will you get it back?!