[5kings]

Do NZ schools have a long 6 week break like we do in the summer? I am wondering if there is a better time to aim to be in NZ from a getting kids into school point of view?

We might come over as visitors, and go for work permits etc while in NZ, would the children be entitled to education with us on a work permit?

Sorry it's a million questions from me again!

Helen

[tomo1340]

I beleive the 6 weeks is over Christmas.

[tea drinker]

Hi
school term dates (approx as I think there may be a few days difference from area to area
29 Jan - 18 April start of NZ academic year so they have just had their long Summer holiday
5 May - 4 July Autumn term
21 July - 26 Sept Winter term
13 Oct - 19 Dec Spring Term

According to a message elsewhere I don't think that NZ terms have 1/2 terms

Hope that this helps? :nice1

[sizzlingbadger]

Nope NZ doesn't have half terms. Not sure how the little ones make it through a 10 week term at times :exit

[Tia Maria]

In some ways it makes sense to come over in the long holidays so the children can start school in Feb (the start of the NZ school year, not Sept like the UK).

However, it can be more difficult from a house and job finding situation as thing really do slow down in January. We arrived in Jan and a lot of the rental agents were away and we were competing with holidaymakers for short term accommodation as it was high season. So I know some people think starting the kids after the Easter holiday is quite good, as its easier to set up before in the few weeks before then.

However, (again :) ), the children starting school at the beginning of the school year has a lot of advantages also.

I've not known of anyone not being able to get their children a place at a school, no matter when they came. It was all very easy for us and everyone else we know but i don't know about others.

Cheers

Tia

[5kings]

Thanks for all replies so far!
There is so much to think about in the early planning stages, I think I will be happier to have a plan to stick to once we have decided on the best way to do things.

Helen

[Sam B]

We came over at the end of January - 29th, and the schools usually start back after the first week in Feb, so this gave us a week to get sorted out. I had already chosen and enrolled the children in a school via the internet (lots of studying ERO reports and websites, and also inside info from the local speech and language therapist who I was in contact with). It worked really well for the children to start at the beginning of the year in the lovely summer term.

[dharder]

We came before Christmas, so the boys had about 4 weeks in school before the break. They made some friends who they saw over the holidays, know what the building looks like, and went to a holiday programme on school grounds for a couple of days. I think it helps them in that not everything is totally new on the first day of the new year (Thursday for us), but I'm sure whichever way one does it, the children will be fine eventually.

Since they mix all the classes for the beginning of the term anyway, and they get new teachers, I'm not sure how useful it was to have them in school at the end of the term from that perspective.

I'm not sure if you mentioned where you are going, but in our school they operate a very strict zone policy. Which means you can't enrol before you have proof of address within the zone, but it also means they have to take your kids, whenever you arrive, if you live within the zone.

Kindergarten was different, they don't have a zone but a loooong waiting list (even though they are on the same grounds as the primary school).

Good luck,

Daniela

[Tia Maria]

Since they mix all the classes for the beginning of the term anyway, and they get new teachers, I'm not sure how useful it was to have them in school at the end of the term from that perspective.



Good point, my son's class is being split 50/50 with another class and getting a new teacher. So he will know half his class from last year but the other children will be 'new', (although he'll have seen them around the school).

Not sure about the fee paying, but I do know one of the schools will take people on a working visa, the other school won't and requires PR. And as dharder mentioned they will all need proof of address, which is why its important to have your rental sorted out.

Cheers

Tia

[IanW99]

...
Not sure about the fee paying, but I do know one of the schools will take people on a working visa, the other school won't and requires PR. And as dharder mentioned they will all need proof of address, which is why its important to have your rental sorted out.

Cheers

Tia

Tia, are you sure that this information is correct? According to NZIS if you have a valid work permit and your child is dependent then they would need to apply for a student visa and are considered as having domestic student status.

This gives them the same status as any other child and entitled to go to the same schools and pay the same fees as any other NZ child.

Of course if they don't, then they would be considered international students which some schools will not accept.

They would not be eligible for tertiary education so would have to pay international fees unless they have a PR.

Ian

[5kings]

Once again a BIG thank you for everyone's replies.

We haven't a clue where we will end up living, and at the minute are not even sure which route to take into NZ. We don't have enough money to go for PR without selling the house first, but also don't yet have a job offer to go for a work visa. :confused: Although to be fair we haven't even applied for anything yet.

It's good to hear hopefully we can get the older two into school on a work visa for us and student for them. That may be the way to go, if we can get a job offer. Or to come in as visitors, and go from there, job, work visa and eventually PR.

I think we might have to do something mad like come over in November as visitors, and go from there, and the kids will maybe have to miss a few weeks school. Hmmm, plenty to think about here.

Helen