Schooling for a 5 year old in Brussels

[newmuminbxl]

Hi Super mums of Bxl, this has been most popular discussion in this forum no doubt, and here am again, seeking valuable inputs from mums like you to put my daughter in a local preferably Dutch speaking school in the areas WSP or WSL as we are most probably going to stay there only. We are moving to Bxl in august and my daughter has been going to English speaking school so far.

1. will she have lots of issues is adjusting to the school as she does not speak dutch?
   
2. Ive found the following schools. Can you please advise which ones are the best in terms of standard of education, flexibility, multi nationalism, friendliness of teachers
   Mater di
   Basisschool Angelusinstituut
   Basisschool Sint-Jozef
   Vrije basisschool Voorzienigheid
   GO! basisschool De Zonnewijzer
   GO! kleuterschool Sipiwoke
   GO! basisschool Floralia
   GO! kleuterschool Floralia
   Gemeentelijke basisschool Prinses Paola
   Gemeentelijke kleuterschool Paul Hymans
   Gemeentelijke kleuterschool Prins Boudewijn
   Gemeentelijke basisschool Mooi-Bos
   Gemeentelijke kleuterschool Mooi-Bos, Centrumschool
   Gemeentelijke basisschool Stokkel
   
   3)Between this Go, Gemeentelijke and Vrije types what is the difference and what is the most preferred please?
   
3. My first preference is Mater di. What are the realistic chances of getting her to nursery so late. My husband is a Dutch speaker
   
   Thank you so much!!! Will be a great help! :)

[cannotseeanend]

I'd say completely forget looking for the best, just get a place anywhere and move near to the school. You would be wasting lots of time and energy doing anything else. At this time of year, Dutch speaking families are not prioritized, it's first come first served for any spare places. You could make your life easier by choosing to live instead in Vlaams Brabant where places are more easily available.

Given your daughter speaks not Dutch, I'd also advice AGAINST schooling in Brussels, if you want the Dutch to become fluent quickly. The majoriy language of the playground in most schools you mention is French not Dutch, another reason to consider Vlaams Brabant instead.

[newmuminbxl]

Thanks a lot for your reply cannotseeanend but right now we dont have an option of staying outside bxl as i cant drive well and I am working at the bxl centre. May be next year we indeed move to Vlaams brabant or if we see our daughter is not comfortable in school put her in an english speaking school. In Vlaams brabant can you specify which areas are the best in terms of schooling? And some few good schools may be? Also in WSL now, do you think getting into Mater di is realistic? Thanks once again!

[cannotseeanend]

Trams and buses go from Vlaams Brabant into Brussels. Look at Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, Kraainem, Tervuren, they are all very easily accessible from the centre of Brussels, by bus, metro and tram.

You must forget looking for good schools, it's pointless, Flemish schools are pretty consistently good. You need to look for a school with a place.

I have no idea what places are available. Why don't you look on the vacancy list for the relevant school. Why do you want Mater Dei????????? It's not in WSL. It's 90% French speaking. It's no better or worse than the other 100 or so Flemish schools in Brussels.

info.inschrijveninbrussel.be/basis_vrijeplaatsen.aspx

[newmuminbxl]

Thanks a lot for the link cannotseeanend and advice! Will get back to you guys again.

[cannotseeanend]

You don't say whether your child is born in 2008 or 2009. If 2009, there is only 1 school in your area which has a place and that is Mooi-Bos (Joli-Bois), pretty nice area and houses local music academy, shares campus with 2 other schools. It's in WSP. Centrum (Centre) has a place but it's a francophone school in fact which does immeersion into Dutch at age 5, so if your child is not francophone, then not able to take the place.

If 2008, then there is a place again at Mooi-Bos but also Sint-Jozefs WSP (don't confuse with Sint-Jozefs WSL, this school is primary only, the secondary is highly regarded too. Again nice area.

If I were you, I'd have already phoned and emailed Mooi-Bos, but then the school is shut for the next 5 weeks, you have to rely on someone being inside the closed school to answer.

[newmuminbxl]

thanks a lot once again! I have seen the same which is pretty sad. Is there a difference in methodology of studies between ogo and go schools? Arent GO schools preferred more?

[newmuminbxl]

Also cannotseeanend i have another question. If we tell the school authorities that it was really not in our hands that we decided for school so late as our offers really came in july, do you think they will make an exception? thanks again!

[cannotseeanend]

You need to ask each school, but I very much doubt it, locals can wait years to get into their nearest school in some areas. You need to contact the schools with places.

[cannotseeanend]

There is NO difference in schools,other than who are the governers, concentrate on getting a place. The schools I suggested are just fine and they are listed as having places, just take one of them.

[newmuminbxl]

Ok thanks a lot cannotseeanend. i will definitely check with the schools that have place. You have been a great help. Any questions, I know where to find you :)

[newmuminbxl]

i think i have to wait till mid august when we arrive in bxl to check with the schools, all schools are just closed now :(. Till the time a school re open, can you suggest please (here i am really taking advantage of your knowledge, excuse me for that) what kind of care can i put my daughter in? Like are there summer camps or special activity days arranged by some authorities or do i have to get a baby sitter from the authorized list which is available in the commune?

[cannotseeanend]

Why wait? Why not phone, leave messages, email? The longer you wait, the less chance there will be of places. Contact inschrijveninbrussel.be at the earliest opportunity.
What sort of care are you looking for? After school? Holidays?
Perhaps your husband can look up whatever you are looking for, he will be better at searching than me as I don't speak much Dutch.