At what age do you apply for schools?

[somebodyfamous]

OK I've been reading a lot of posts here but get very confused by dates, being late for applications etc.

My girls were born on 2 Nov 2006 which makes them 14 and half months old today.

At what age should I be applying for them to go to preschool? And then what age to apply for kindergarden? Am I too late?

Should they be attending something this September when they are 22 months old?

What ages is everything?

I know I asked something like this many months before but I'm still feeling confused (and to be honest overwhelmed by having to make so many decisions...)

Thanks in advance!

[carang]

it all comes down the the school that you want them to go to as different schools have different policies.

you DO NOT have to give into pressure if you don't want them to go so young. it's up to you as none of it is mandatory. i never wanted my kids to get sucked into the system so young. the ONLY thing that has made me change my mind is that we moved from DB (lots of friends/kids to play with at the playground) to Sai kung Country Park (only 2 kids his age, both or whom go to school). He has no one to play with except adults and his baby sister. I think he needs the interaction with other kids, so hubby and i are considering putting him into 1/2 day from march. he will be 3yr 1 m when that happens.

[sky123]

In September at that age they would normally go to pre-nursery. But of course you can wait until they are three and start Kindergarten. Different schools have different acceptance ages. For some the cut off date is September but others it is December. As your children were born in November you'll have to check the cut off date. I don't think all pre-schools will be full, no harm in asking around. Otherwise if you want them to start at 3, then you'll need to start applying around this coming September time.

[somebodyfamous]

Thank you so much Cara & Sky. I will first go and check out some schools and see what I think of the environments. Step by step and I guess its not too late either (phew! what a relief!)

[spockey]

Hi Somebodyfamous
My little man has been going to playschool/playgroups since 12 months old. I've seen him learn lots from the social interactions. In April (at just under 25 months), he has been scheduled to start an independent (no helper/no parent even the bus pick up!) half day pre-nursery programme from 8:45 to 11:45. I purposely picked the school as it has a very small classroom size... something I would not even get in my home country without paying an arm and a leg.

The decision has been influenced by his signs of independence and what he would be doing if we were back home i.e. full day child care/pre-nursery.

But, for the last year, we have been enrolling him in programmes step by step... once a week, twice a week right to a daily routine now.

Good Luck!

[Neha]

ESF - U apply for kindergarten in October 2008 for September 2009 class -

Preschool u can join anytime as long as there is availability in the school of your choice,

Victoria also informed that for class of 2009 which is the date for our kids applications forms will be out only in September 2008.

Like u , I also was confused while reading another thread where moms have already put their kids on the school waitlist for 2009 school year.

Will be Visiting Highgate, International Montessori and Victoria in these few weeks to check things out .

Will let u know

Neha

[AnpanBaby]

As my boy was born in December 2006, I am now asking around about schools. I hope my sharing can help a bit!!

* age requirements for playgroups vary a lot. The best way is to call those that you are interested and see if you could do a trial. I find trial classes very useful.

* nurseries - legally, schools could only accept kids of age 2

* preschools - vary depending on the school again, but most usually accept kids of the age of 2 as they aim to "prepare" the child for kinders

* kindergartens - most either accept by the age of 2 yrs 8 months or 3 years old. Some even by 3 yrs 8 months/4 yrs. They also set their cut-offs at different times, but mostly at year end or at the time when the kid starts school. I find this the most trickiest part for babies who are born in the last quarter of the year (hoho, and that's our babies!!!) Just not to get things too confused, I guess the best way to shortlist some kinders and apply accordingly.

AnpanBaby

[AnpanBaby]

Dear spockey,

Can you pls kindly share the playschools/playgroups that you've been to?

AnpanBaby