racht

Not sure about your reasons for keeping him from school. My kids have attended a school in the UK, Victoria and are about to start in WA. All three schools taught phonics. All three had different methods/models of teaching. Can't comment on the third school as we are yet to experience it but I can wholeheartedly say, my daughter who moved from the UK when she had completed 9 months of reception in the UK and then continued in Victoria has flourished. Her 9 months in the UK meant she was way ahead of her classmates and very confident and went from strength to strength. I cannot see any good reason for hindering education in children, especially not for three years. These formative years are very important to their social skills as much as anything else. Hope you manage to come to a decision and I am sorry if I have been a little too opinionated. It isn't like me, but I am quite passionate about the development of children as a whole and equally as passionate about phonics. Why teach a child a name of a letter? It doesn't help them to read. If parents we're encouraged (and educated) to only teach their children the sound of the letter, then their children would have a far more pleasurable time learning to read. Anyway, I went a very long way around the houses to say, send your child to school, they adapt very quickly to new methods, providing they get the basics and you can do that with them. :-)

Hi Paul,

I would recommend, if at all possible, you visit both and see them for yourself. Think about what lifestyle suits your family. Do you want to be able to walk places, have a community around you, do you want to be near a beach? I wouldn't let the proximity to Melbourne & Sydney affect your decision. The flight you would be doing every few weeks would outweight the occasional holiday you might take. Good luck with it all.

Personally, we spent 2 1/2 years in Melbourne and while we loved the city it never felt like we could retire there. We have just moved over to Perth and already I can imagine myself being here in my old age. What I am trying to say is, it is all subjective. What works for us, doesn't for others. The cities in Australia are all so different and hopefully there would be a city to suit you. Back to your question, for me, no regrets. As for schooling it depends upon which state you go to and when their birthdays fall. For instance, our daughter is about to go into Year 3 here but she had only just finished Year 1 in Victoria. Good luck in making your decision. x

Hop you have a great Australia Day too, thanks again.

I am guessing you wont be able to see the Freo ones from NOR. Taking the train might be a good option.

Thanks for your reply, appreciate it :-)

I can see that you can view the Perth City fireworks from Kings Park and the river foreshore but wondered if anyone knew if there was anywhere by the beach you can watch any fireworks from? Aussie Day looks like it will be a scorcher so the beach would be good for cooling down! I thought I had seen photos fireworks by the sea but can't seem to find anything online.

Thanks

Rach :rolleyes: