moving overseas and starting school

[beansmum]

quick question about timing really...
ds is due to start school here (scotland) in august 2009 and I'm planning on moving to NZ in early 2010. Would he have to start all over again and would it matter?

Or should I wait and start him at school in NZ? or move sooner?

[chloeb2002]

if it helps i started dd in school in the UK in september before moving to aus in november. two reasons for doing it... it kept her occupied and it was a small school so she would blend in easily. and gave me time to pack and sort out stuff without a little helper!

[dodgykeeper]

I agree with chloe. We started ds at school in Scotland last August and then moved to US in October where he went back to preschool. Having him out of the house every day let me get organised and kept him entertained which was important as dh and most of our belongings (including toys) were leaving before us. It also makes the start of school really stress free because it doesnt matter at all how they get on because they will get to do it all over again.
Our dd was in Primary 3 when we left and joined her new class half way through the first term here. Part of me wished that we had come slightly earlier so that she could have started the school year with her peers but the first year in a new country is such a huge transition that I dont think it would have made much difference in the long run.

[beansmum]

thanks for your thoughts. I am actually moving in Jan 09 now! ds will be in nursery here until Christmas and then nursery in NZ until June when he will start school. Think it should work out ok.