[Mushymoo]

Hi

Can anyone explain how the term times work in primary schools for New Zealand Had a look at they seem to run Jan to Dec. Can someone clarify for me as I am trying to work out best time to come without too much disruption to my daughter

[peebles16]

My understanding is that they break up for summer holidays around 20th December and go back at beginning of February but as am still in UK maybe better if someone in NZ answer this one!

[tigerlily]

I think there is a break in late June/ early July as well.

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=3767

[Tanya]

Main long summer holiday runs around 20 dec (give or take) to end Jan/early Feb.
There is roughly 10 weeks to each term, there being 4 terms to the year. At the end of each term there is around 2 weeks holiday except for xmas.

This is my childrens school dates for next year to give you an idea.

Term 1
Thursday 31 January to Friday 18 April

Term 2
Monday 5 May to Friday 4 July

Term 3
Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September

Term 4
Monday 13 October to Thursday 18 December

Each school can have slightly different start dates to the one above to within a week - its just an indication.

Hope that helps

Tanya

[katiejay]

We'll be in NZ from the middle of November, with the plan that, as it's only a month until the children break up for the Summer holiday, there would be no requirement to put my boys in school until the end of January/beginning of February. That then gives us breathing space to move around and find the right location before getting the children into school. I don't want to move them once they've started school, unless we have no choice. In the 10 weeks or so off school, I plan to give them study time at home - I'm no teacher, but I can read with them, and get them to draw and do their handwriting and spelling. I presume that won't fall foul of any laws in NZ?? The boys think it's a great idea!! :nice1

[mgbridges]

My understanding is that children can't start school until they are 5 yrs old. i.e. not the UK system of them starting 'in the academic year in which they turn 5. They also don't HAVE to start school until they are 6 yrs old. However, from what I've picked up in the month I've been here is its unusual to wait until then and a lot of children attend nursery/kindergarten before mainstream school.

At my son's school there is a new Year 1 class starting next term (the last term of the academic year) but they will stay in Year 1 for the whole of next year as well. This means they will do a year and 1 term in Year 1. I think this is because they will have all only just turned 5 years old.

However, there are several children in the class he is in who are 6 already and I think he is amongst the youngest (birthday in December). He is being very stretched as he has effectively started towards the end of the academic year that he would only just be starting in the UK. There also seem to be children starting at or leaving his school fairly frequently.

When we were moving we figured that it was highly likely that he would end up starting part way through the academic year in New Zealand. I therefore staying in the UK until the end of July this year so that he had at least done one full year at his UK school. As it turned out his 'summer' holiday ended up being almost exactly what it would have been if we'd staying in the UK. However, he is one and a bit weeks away from the end of term (2 week hol) and then only another term until the long summer holiday here!! I've therefore instigated a 'homework' policy - reading the books he brings home (different one or two every day), writing practice in some Phonics books I got from Early Learning Centre and doing dot-to-dot to practice numbers.

Anyway this turn into a bit of a ramble sorry - hope it helps,
Anneliese

[katiejay]

That's great for my youngest son, as he's not 5 until boxing day! So he'll have just turned 5 when the school year starts. My oldest son will be just 8 when we arrive in NZ so he'll need to be kept on track during the time off school. When we came out for a reccie trip in March/April, his school were great and provided me with extra homework for him to do while we were travelling. So I've got a template to work from - just make it a little bit harder as he's a bit older. The UK libraries also have workbooks you can buy which are at the right level for certain ages and match the UK curriculum, so I'll get some of those to take too. One of my other aims was to try to get settled in time for the boys to make friends in the school holidays and that way they might know some of the pupils at the school when they start, so it won't be so daunting for them. We found NZ children very friendly when we were out there (South Island) earlier in the year - they don't seem gang-like and seem to take to newcomers pretty well. :)