chisun89:
Good evening all, please I need advice on something that has been bothering me.

Am planning to relocate on tier 4 visa with my husband and 2kids age 1and 3.
My niece of 8years is currently living with me, will it be advisable to relocate with her? Please I need practical advice and suggestions.

In Nigeria here am a stay at home mom so taking care of them is not stressful, I don't know how it will be over there considering that I'll go to school and still work.

Will it be stressful to come with her, will she be allowed to take care of her younger ones?

Please advise

8 year old is a child so taking care of her younger ones is out of the question. She cannot stay unsupervised with babies. You also be expected to do school runs for her so effectively you be having 3 children. However the issue of if you can bring your niece I can't say for sure

Mamatukwas:


Very true. Most of them still do this.

Good idea.

My sister...I salute ooo

LagosismyHome:


8 year old is a child so taking care of her younger ones is out of the question. She cannot stay unsupervised with babies. You also be expected to do school runs for her so effectively you be having 3 children. However the issue of if you can bring your niece I can't say for sure

OK, thanks for this, it will be stressful for me then

LagosismyHome:


My sister...I salute ooo

I’m loyal Ma

@LagosismyHome Thank you, I've confirmed that they still do this, they worked out the 15 hours to be 2 and half days so I'll have to pay for the remaining days. I think 5 pounds per hour



I think private nursery take the 15hours. Some allow you to pay some extra hours to make it a full day or spread it across fewer days and longer hours but that only in private nursery and not primary school nursery..... for example there is no way I could do 15hours or 30hours. That would have been so stressful dropping a child for 3 hours,I just couldn't. The nursery worked the 30 hours to be 3 full day for my kids so I did that and paid for 2 extra days. Something like that so check with a private nursery in your area and see how they can structure 15hours but don't know if they still do that

Evening UK Parents, what are your thoughts on Kumon? I am not sure I have seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks.

domin8:
Evening UK Parents, what are your thoughts on Kumon? I am not sure I have seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks.

It has its pros and cons but I leave others to respond

domin8:
Evening UK Parents, what are your thoughts on Kumon? I am not sure I have seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks.

Kumon is good but instead of paying out for someone to hothouse your child, do it yourself by using Khan academy. It's the same learning principles and you are in control plus it's totally free and enables your child learn how to complete tasks without direct supervision all the time

domin8:
Evening UK Parents, what are your thoughts on Kumon? I am not sure I have seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks.

I’ve just done some research on both and there are pros and cons to Kumon as someone has said. I suggest you do the research and decide what’s best for you and your child. Plenty user feedback out there.

domin8:
Evening UK Parents, what are your thoughts on Kumon? I am not sure I have seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks.

I do believe that kids in this country need supplementary teaching . Either in form of lesson or parents downloading the curriculum and seeing what works best. The earlier you start the better that way the child grow it as a pattern and not overwhelmed. Even if it 30 mins each day or one hour and they form it as a habit

Kumon : I started off using this from reception but I quickly saw that its all repeative arithmetic. So while it builds the children in some areas of Math problem, once they are given word problems in math they struggle in that area .Kumon is focused on you essentially learning by cramming because you done the same addition over and over again . Also it doesn’t follow the British curriculum which I had a problem with. Also if you compared what is on the curriculum it is so much more extensive than what is taught in Kumon. …However the advantage it get your kids into the habit of doing their work everyday as there is assignment for everyday. At the rate of £60 for maths and £60 for English I didn’t feel it was good value but however if there no other option then this is ok as your child will become very good in arithmetic although not in word math problems .. I have nieces inlaw who started Kumon from reception as this works for them and now in year 6 , this comment about not able to grasp once it’s a word problem but very good in arithmetic is also noted by their parent but at that time it worked. They have now switched her to online lesson

Then I moved on to actual lessons,   starting with Home zoom lesson , there are several and I was with Tecnis Academy . you can check them . This is run by a former Naija teacher .
. I just said Tecnis because that the one I used. There are so many out there. You just have to research and find it ... since she was a teacher you can see that the topics covered in the lesson is very extensive and really covers all they do in school . This was £60 for both math and English ….so this was much better than kumon in terms of topics covered ..... But they didn’t have assignment for each day . so I would go on google and find worksheet on that topic that was the first cons….. The second cons although personal, my kids were not concentrating sometimes, they are twins and tend to play with each other and get distracted

So I moved on to good old school classroom lesson….  They cant play when they are in front of a teacher and other people. This is costing me  £180 per month but since I am targeting 11 plus then I am not complaining yet because the Tecnis lesson was cheaper and was more than good enough. there are over 30 indians in this classroom lesson and this is for just year 3. Some come from far places . People from Asia are not playing at all. They want to excel in every areas but i digress.

Back to topic

Some parents download the school curriculum and just find free worksheet online , or go to WHSmith and buy workbook, you just have to find what works for you .. All have their pros and cons

LagosismyHome:


So I moved on to good old school classroom lesson….  They cant play when they are in front of a teacher and other people. This is costing me  £180 per month but since I am targeting 11 plus then I am not complaining yet because the Tecnis lesson was cheaper and was more than good enough. there are over 30 indians in this classroom lesson and this is for just year 3. Some come from far places . People from Asia are not playing at all. They want to excel in every areas but i digress.

Raising kids with an edge in this uk is not cheap sha. Both money and time must enter.

It’s in this Uk that I saw that even football practice is not free e dey pain.

Mamatukwas:


Raising kids with an edge in this uk is not cheap sha. Both money and time must enter.

It’s in this Uk that I saw that even football practice is not free e dey pain.

Honestly! I wonder how the Asians can “afford” it! Is it that they don’t send money to their villages!?

babythug:


Honestly! I wonder how the Asians can “afford” it! Is it that they don’t send money to their villages!?

They sacrifice a lot like Naija Parents. I know some whose kids go to private schools, pure hard work and determination.

I’ve realized that if something is really important to you, you’ll find a way to make it happen.

LagosismyHome:


At the rate of £60 for maths and £60 for English I didn’t feel it was good value but however if there no other option then this is ok as your child will become very good in arithmetic although not in word math problems .. I

This was £60 for both math and English ….so this was much better than kumon in terms of topics covered .....what works for you .. All have their pros and cons

Sis. I’ve been thinking about this. Why are you paying for extra lessons in English? Maths I get but not really English. Especially as it’s their first language here and most kids speak it really well.

Am I missing something?

Mamatukwas:


Sis. I’ve been thinking about this. Why are you paying for extra lessons in English? Maths I get but not really English. Especially as it’s their first language here and most kids speak it really well.

Am I missing something?

For me it was first based on not Leaving no stone on touched kind of person . .... but secondly there is much more to English than daily ability to speak. Take a trip to the national curriculum or google any year English worksheet

However lastly you have a point that they will all speak English well at some point .

LagosismyHome:


For me it was first based on not Leaving no stone on touched kind of person . .... but secondly there is much more to English than daily ability to speak. Take a trip to the national curriculum or google any year English worksheet

However lastly you have a point that they will all speak English well at some point .

Okay. Maybe it’s because the way they teach it in their school plus the small I’m doing has already made them quite advanced at their age. English lessons have never crossed my mind.

But I see what you mean.

Mamatukwas:


Sis. I’ve been thinking about this. Why are you paying for extra lessons in English? Maths I get but not really English. Especially as it’s their first language here and most kids speak it really well.

Am I missing something?

Writing and evaluating in English is a different beast. For a long time we did not mark SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar). Now we have started grading SPAG at GSCE and A level in all subjects. We still don't take away marks for SPAG (that was how we used to mark) but will not mark down. It sometimes is the difference between a C and a D.

Mamatukwas:


Age 3 till when you start primary gets 15 or 30 hours foc.

Time of day is 9am to 12noon or 1.15 to 3.30 ish (could vary slightly) for 15 hours mon to fri.

You can also customize your 15 hours to 9am to 3pm twice a week and half day on the 3rd day of it works well for you.

9am to 3pm mon to fri for 30 hours.

Again all of this might vary slightly depending on your nursery/provider. Once you start applications you’ll see the options.

Primary school times is 9am to 3pm as well.

Hello mama, please not to take you back again.

Are children of parents on student visa eligible for the 15hours?

Also, must one wait until the child is 3? None for 2years olds?

Ticha:


Writing and evaluating in English is a different beast. For a long time we did not mark SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar). Now we have started grading SPAG at GSCE and A level in all subjects. We still don't take away marks for SPAG (that was how we used to mark) but will not mark down. It sometimes is the difference between a C and a D.

I understand but shouldn’t this (SPAG) be taught as part of the standard English curriculum in school? Why are parents having to pay extra for English lessons?? It’s like the standard in schools is a bit lower than I thought it would be. Cause this ideally should be fundamental things.

The whole discourse has surprised me Wallahi.

SPDAZZY:


Hello mama, please not to take you back again.

]Area children of parents on student visa eligible for the 15hours?Yes

Also, must one wait until the child is 3? None for 2years olds?

[b]Yes you must wait. Entitlement for 2year olds is typically for low income earners and considered public funds. Alternatively you can put your child in nursery and pay until they are 3 and start free hours[b]

Mamatukwas:
[b]Yes you must wait. Entitlement for 2year olds is typically for low income earners and considered public funds. Alternatively you can put your child in nursery and pay until they are 3 and start free hours[b]

Thanks a lot!

Mamatukwas:


I understand but shouldn’t this (SPAG) be taught as part of the standard English curriculum in school? Why are parents having to pay extra for English lessons?? It’s like the standard in schools is a bit lower than I thought it would be. Cause this ideally should be fundamental things.

The whole discourse has surprised me Wallahi.

It used to be taught. Then we stopped teaching it and marking on it because it was disproportionately disadvantaging children. Employers followed by universities started complaining about how learners were starting tertiary quals and work with basic academic writing skills. So it's been tweaked slightly. For higher grades, SPAG is considered. For grades at C and below, it's not quite a consideration. Basically rule of thumb is, if I can just about make sense of what the learner is trying to say then an E or D grade probably a C if the most cogent points are there is ok.
Grades at B, B+, A, A+ then SPAG will most definitely be considered. Therefore, it's touched upon but not taught unless that school streams students then it will be taught to those streamed to a high ability class.

Due to large classes, almost every teacher teaches to the middle ie the C graders. Therefore, parents have to step in to support the mid and low level learners to move up.

Certainly in terms of high standards, a well run, high functioning school in Nigeria definitely produces better quality students. It's why Nigerian and Indian students do well in the UK and most developed countries (maybe apart from the US) because educational attainment is not the over all aim of school for them nor is it touted that way. To get that level of instruction and consequently achievement, you'd have to go private or pay tutors. Even the grammar schools and academies (where possible) cater to students who are almost naturally high achieving ie they won't make a borderline student good without our external input.

Ticha:


It used to be taught. Then we stopped teaching it and marking on it because it was disproportionately disadvantaging children. Employers followed by universities started complaining about how learners were starting tertiary quals and work with basic academic writing skills. So it's been tweaked slightly. For higher grades, SPAG is considered. For grades at C and below, it's not quite a consideration. Basically rule of thumb is, if I can just about make sense of what the learner is trying to say then an E or D grade probably a C if the most cogent points are there is ok.
Grades at B, B+, A, A+ then SPAG will most definitely be considered. Therefore, it's touched upon but not taught unless that school streams students then it will be taught to those streamed to a high ability class.

Due to large classes, almost every teacher teaches to the middle ie the C graders. Therefore, parents have to step in to support the mid and low level learners to move up.

Certainly in terms of high standards, a well run, high functioning school in Nigeria definitely produces better quality students. It's why Nigerian and Indian students do well in the UK and most developed countries (maybe apart from the US) because educational attainment is not the over all aim of school for them nor is it touted that way. To get that level of instruction and consequently achievement, you'd have to go private or pay tutors. Even the grammar schools and academies (where possible) cater to students who are almost naturally high achieving ie they won't make a borderline student good without our external input.

I can just imagine your kids in my head.... they will be groomed to excel because when you follow a topic you follow it up and down and thoroughly

Welldone. I don't know how you create the time and effort. ... I am always well impressed and that our previous offline topic, I haven't had the time to do anything yet. Smh for me. Hopefully this year

LagosismyHome:


I can just imagine your kids in my head.... they will be groomed to excel because when you follow a topic you follow it up and down and thoroughly

Welldone. I don't know how you create the time and effort. ... I am always well impressed and that our previous offline topic, I haven't had the time to do anything yet. Smh for me. Hopefully this year

My sis, we can't come and be making the same mistakes our forbears made na

I'm in the UK from the end of June for about 6 weeks. If you want, we can sit and spend some time and get you going on the other front. Baby steps will get you going!

Ticha:


[b]It used to be taught. Then we stopped teaching it and marking on it because it was disproportionately disadvantaging children. [/b]Employers followed by universities started complaining about how learners were starting tertiary quals and work with basic academic writing skills. So it's been tweaked slightly. For higher grades, SPAG is considered. For grades at C and below, it's not quite a consideration. Basically rule of thumb is, if I can just about make sense of what the learner is trying to say then an E or D grade probably a C if the most cogent points are there is ok.
Grades at B, B+, A, A+ then SPAG will most definitely be considered. Therefore, it's touched upon but not taught unless that school streams students then it will be taught to those streamed to a high ability class.

Due to large classes, almost every teacher teaches to the middle ie the C graders. Therefore, parents have to step in to support the mid and low level learners to move up.

.

Thank you. This has been very enlightening. I’m now even more convinced I made the right decision for my kids because I think what you’ve described is a bit sad.

Imagine taking a decision to avoid impact on a few, then end up skewing the quality of students overall. Smh.

Thank you so very much @Ticha

Do you know what frontal adverbial is? Or is it when I was preparing my son for spelling I pronounced steak as stick and I even confidently explained to him what I was saying? You should have seen his face when he corrected me. I used to think English was just English till I moved here. There's so much to learn that you can't push aside.
@Ticha, I can't seem to find the free Khan academy. One I can see requires that one pays. Can you please share a link if you have it?

Mamatukwas:


Sis. I’ve been thinking about this. Why are you paying for extra lessons in English? Maths I get but not really English. Especially as it’s their first language here and most kids speak it really well.

Am I missing something?

twizzie:
Do you know what frontal adverbial is? Or is it when I was preparing my son for spelling I pronounced steak as stick and I even confidently explained to him what I was saying? You should have seen his face when he corrected me. I used to think English was just English till I moved here. There's so much to learn that you can't push aside.
@Ticha, I can't seem to find the free Khan academy. One I can see requires that one pays. Can you please share a link if you have it?

We are talking about different things but I feel ya khan link here https://www.khanacademy.org/

Thank you.

Mamatukwas:


We are talking about different things but I feel ya khan link here https://www.khanacademy.org/

.

MJ01:
Hello experts in the house


Please someone needs all the advice they can get, 36 week pregnant woman relocating on dependent visa (spouse). She's read/ heard some scary things about taking away one's baby...... Please help.


What are the necessary baby/maternity items worth bringing along?
Does insurance count immediately or you have to pay out of pocket if you haven't registered for NHS ?
How does one not fall into trap of losing the baby?

Please help

Thank you in advance

I hope she’s on her way this weekend? Cause Baby will soon be here. I’d say given how little time she has, don’t bring anything outside maybe ori n co if that’s what is the plan to use for the baby. Once she’s here she can buy the essentials. Bring food/spices for post partum. Clothes n hardware can be bought here.

If it’s Scotland ������� for instance she doesn’t need to buy any essentials as most of it is given free after birth. England is different but still I’d say buy when you get here.

Once you’ve paid your IHS you’re entitled to NHS care. As soon as she enters, she should register at the GP closest to her immediately and ask to he referred for antenatal clinic.

Of course if for any reason you come in and labor sets in you can go straight to A&E. No one will turn you back but it’s not ideal.

Nothing concern her with loosing her baby. The care system here is not full of barbarians looking for who to torment so she should remove fear from her system and be bold. A bigger issue is getting a fit to fly. Ideally she shouldn’t be able to fly at 36 weeks but it’s doable.

Best of luck.

It’s like some folks in wales are moving mad!!!

mumzt:
Awesome. We'll done mamatukwas, long overdue thread.

Here alone with 3 kids all under 8. husband is in Nigeria and just shuffles. Schooling and working without breaking a single rule. I hope to contribute as much as possible

hello maam,

i just read your post. please how did you do this? i also intend coming to the uk to study with 4 young children. what do you advise i do.

thanks