[Bernadette]

Hi
We are planning to emigrate next year from the UK .... application going thro'. Both my husband and I are in IT and plan to get jobs when we arrive. But what is there for children? We haven't a fixed place/area - we plan to go where the jobs are.

In this country my son would have been in full time education from Sept 07 but I understand school starts in NZ when they are 6. So I want to find out what they are suppose to do in the mean time. Plus I have a 1 year old who needs occuping!

Any help/ideas would greatly appreciated!

Thanks Berni

[Lupin]

School starts in NZ from the day after they are 5. If they are attending school (ie not homeschooling) then they legally need to start school before the 6th birthday.

You could look for kindy and a childminder who could look after the younger child and collect the older from Kindy for you.

For occupying them both you can't better Playcentre (http://www.playcentre.org.nz/) but that includes you attending so isn't childcare but is a great way to occupy and stimulate them from day 1 and for you to meet other local parents and network.

[Lupin]

Also, another great thing about playcentre is that they can do painting, woodwork, waterplay etc to their hearts content, especially useful before your possesions arrive and if you're in a rental.

Plunket (http://www.plunket.org.nz//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home) do toy libraries so you can bring less toys in your luggage.

Lucky kids, NZ is wonderful for young children :)

[gil]

Hi Berni,
A friend of mine has a nanny for her three as both she and her hubbie work full time.. All hers are in school, so the nanny arrives at 7.00 and gets them ready and takes them to school then picks them up at 3 and stays till 6, when they get back from work. This costs about $450 a week. (and this is Auckland, Howick area)
Gil

[jubjub]

Gil, that sounds like a good deal! Two of my friends use daycare centres and pay around $60 a day.

[Tia Maria]

Hi, I posted an answer about childcare cost on this thread (I'll bump it):

www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9683

My son was in a similar situation in that he had done a term in the UK and then came here and went to Kindy before attending school once he turned 5. I did worry as I was getting emails about how his UK friends were learning to read & write etc and he was busy playing with hammers in NZ.

But there was no need to worry, once he started school he picked up everything really quickly and I am now a convert in the belief it is better to teach children these things when they are older. It was also nice becuase while he was at kindy he made friends with others that would be going to his school.

You may have a preference as to whether you prefer the idea of full time childcare or a nanny but you may find you have limited options as not all childcare places offer full time hours and those that do can have long waiting lists and it can take a while to find a good nanny.

It might be a good idea to delay one of you starting work for a few weeks so that you can find suitable care for children, rather than feeling pressured into choosing whatever is on offer.

Good Luck.

Cheers

Tia

What do you do at the moment with the children?

[Bernadette]

Thank you all for your replies - they were most helpful & put my mind at rest.:)