Hi all,
We're moving to Singapore this summer with dh's work and I'm hoping I'm going to be able transfer with my work, although that's still being discussed. At the moment I'm trying to do lots of research from a distance. I'm super excited, even though it's a little bit strange to be contemplating a move to somewhere I've never even set foot in!
My main concern is getting ahead of schooling waiting lists, given that they seem to be crazy, on the basis that this will probably in turn dictate where we choose to live. I'm conscious that this is a question which has been asked a lot already, so I've read some previous threads on here and done bits of research elsewhere but would love to gather some up to date thoughts.
Dd1 will be 3 this April so will be suitable to start nursery class at some of the schools in August/Sept, or reception in August 2014. Dd2 just turned 1, so we've got a bit longer with her.
I've got various questions, which I'm sure some of you can help with.
a) do you think the ideal would be to try to get dd1 into a nursery attached to a school, so she can continue through, or at that age might it be better for her to go to a separate preschool and maybe wait for a place to come up for reception year at the schools - or is it v unlikely to get a reception place if you've not been there for nursery year?
b) if we go with the school option, then I suspect our choices are going to be relatively limited, given that it is quite late in the day to get a place. It's likely that dh's company will pay for the fees, so we've got the luxury of being able to choose the place which we like best, without having to worry too much about the fees. So, which places would you recommend in an ideal world.
c) I've contacted TTS and obviously been told of long waiting list. As we're not likely to do a recce trip for another month or two and I'm not prepared to pay for deposits until I've actually visited any of the schools, it feels relatively unlikely that she'll get a place there. So in an ideal world, would any of you recommend it for a 3 year old? She currently goes to a Montessori pre-school in London for 3 hours a day and absolutely loves it, but it's quite a small v friendly and brilliant place, so stepping up to a big school, on top of getting used to having just moved countries may feel like a bit too much.
c) I've read great things about Dover court on here, in terms of size and supportive atmosphere, which really appeals, although also seen comments where people suggest that they would move kids to TTS or St. Joseph's or somewhere else which had a longer wait list than Dover court, if they'd been offered a place. Do any of you with kids at DC feel that way or are you really happy with it? I know I have to visit them ASAP to get my own sense of them.
d) has anyone been to one of the Dulwich College presentations? And if so, any thoughts?
e) any other schools which any of you have experience of and would particularly recommend?
f) finally, if I could plan things perfectly, I'd be able to transfer with my work but have some unpaid leave before starting work out there, so I could have some time to find somewhere to live, settle the girls in, find childcare, get into the swing of things...! So, what do you think is the minimum amount of time I'd need to do all of that, before starting work?
I'm sorry this has turned into such an essay! If any of you living there have the time to respond, I'd be so grateful. Thanks in advance.
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Moving to Singapore this summer - thoughts about schools and all sorts of other things!
20 replies
needabetternickname · 11/01/2013 23:23
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