How to Apply for an ESF Primary School Place?

Please note; the following information is for ESF (Foundation) Primary Schools. For applications to the ESF Private Independent Schools (Renaissance College & Discovery College) please refer to their individual websites directly, for their separate application forms and procedures ~
Renaissance College: www.renaissance.edu.hk
Discovery College: www.discovery.edu.hk

ESF (Foundation) Primary Schools:

• Go to the ESF website at www.esf.edu.hk and click on the "admissions" option and follow the instructions to make an application.
• Pay particular attention to the accuracy of information, as inaccurate, incorrect or incomplete information may render this application null and void.
• Don't forget to submit the required documents.
• Please note: All ESF schools are zoned according to your residential address, therefore the same form applies to all primary schools.
• ESF kindergartens will provide the ESF Admissions Office with a full list of students attending their individual kindergarten, and their starting date, to verify attendance.
• Applications should reach ESF Centre between 1st and 30th September 2009. All applications received on or before 30 September 2009 will be processed in random order, assigned a computer generated sequential number and placed in the relevant category. Applications will then be sorted by school of zone, with siblings and ESF International children accorded priority within each category.

Important Dates and Timelines

• September 1st - 30th: Applications being accepted at ESF Centre. Please note:
  • Applications received prior to this date receive NO advantage.
  • Applications received after this date have a different sorting process (refer to the ESF website for more details)
• Early December: 1st round of invitations for an interview are sent out. 1st round interviews will be held between 4th and 29th January 2010.
• Primary school personnel visit the kindergarten during the month prior to the interview date (December - January).
• Parents will be informed of the interview results by the end of the first week of February 2010

Invitations for an interview continue from December to April (and sometimes longer) until all places are filled.

What is a Typical Interview Like?

Groups for interview usually comprise of six to eight children from the same class or session. ESF International Kindergarten children are encouraged to wear their uniform) for familiarity and conversations starters). Children are invited to a group interview, with three to four school staff members (usually the Year One teachers and Coordinator). Often the Special Needs Coordinator is also present. The interview usually begins with sharing a 'big book' together. Children are encouraged to listen and answer questions about the story as it unfolds. They may be asked to predict what happens next, discuss their favourite character or retell a little of the story. If the story has predictable or repetitive language, they may join in as the teacher reads the story. Following this, the children will be able to choose from a range of activities, such as construction sets and/or drawing whilst interacting with one another and the adults.

What Skills Are Important?

The teachers are looking for evidence that each child can understand and use enough English to allow him/her to access all areas of the curriculum once in the predominantly English environment of Primary School. They may chat to your child about their family, favourite toys or friends. The school staff are very experienced with encouraging and assessing your child's (English) language, in a relaxed and friendly manner.

What if My Child Does Not Get an Interview Date?

• In the rare event that your child does not get an interview, do not panic!
• As the interview process unfolds, more spaces become available as other families do not accept this invitation for interview or placement.
• This process continues until all the available spaces have been filled

"My Child is Extremely Shy in New Environments; What if She/He Doesn't Speak During The Interview?"

The teachers are all professionals who understand that some children maybe affected by the new process. They will give the children every opportunity to join in. Afterwards they will generally contact the Kindergarten to find out if this 'shyness' is a result of lack of English language ability or simply as a result of unfamiliar in new situations. We are professionally and ethically-bound to give a true and honest appraisal of your child.

What Follows the Interview?

Parents will be informed of results. Assuming success, then a deposit is required to secure your child’s place.
Please note:
There is NO transfer between ESF Primary Schools ←→ ESF Private Independent Schools
There is NO transfer between ESF Private Independent School ←→ ESF Private Independent School

What if My Child is Unsuccessful?

• No ESF Kindergarten child will be turned down before the Primary school staff have discussed the situation with the kindergarten. At this point, teachers’ assessments, will form the basis of a professional dialogue between the school and kindergarten, to discuss your child's ability or readiness to attend an ESF Primary school, in the upcoming academic year.
• After 2+ terms of attendance at the kindergarten prior to the interview, the kindergarten staff will have collected many observations and assessments of your child. Through reports, parent-teacher discussions and samples of work collected in the portfolios, your child's progress, and concerns if any, will be fully known to parents prior to the school interview. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the school interview will reveal any unexpected or new concerns, which may impact on school-entry.
• If it is thought that immaturity may be the cause of a child's poor performance, AND he/she has an autumn term birthday, then there may be some scope to offer him/her an opportunity to remain in kindergarten WITH A GUARANTEED INTERVIEW FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

How Can I Help My Child Develop Their Language Skills?

Admission to an ESF Primary School depends on whether the applicant has sufficient grasp of English to be able to cope with an English medium curriculum.

• encourage extended sentences (not just one or two word responses)
• use descriptive language
• practice following instructions
• use social conventions (such as greetings, 'please' & 'thank you' and 'excuse me')
• express their ideas, feelings and needs
• talk about story-book characters, events and settings
• express imaginative ideas, and,
• ask for help or clarification if needed

More Fun Ways to Increase Your Child's Confidence

• Play 'I Spy' - as you travel on the bus, MTR, in the car or on the ferry. I spy with my little eye something beginning with...... Give your child the initial sound (not letter) of the word, making it far easier to guess and giving them an introduction to initial sounds in words!
• Consider making your child their own photo album of important places and events. Encourage them to explain the photographs, and together write the child's descriptions below each photograph.
• After reading a book together, extend your child's imagination, and story-telling skills by thinking of an alternative ending, or extension to the story. To further extend this, encourage your child to illustrate, and 'write' down these story variations.
  
• When you are out shopping, point out signs and logos that you see in the environment. Recognising environmental print is another really good way to introduce children to early reading in an enjoyable and relaxed way! Try asking your child to find a particular (visually familiar) product on the supermarket shelves.
• Encourage more exposure to other English speaking classes. E.g. ESF Educational Services Ltd (operated in affiliation with the English Schools Foundation providing a range of English and Sports programmes for your child). For further details phone 2711 1280 or look at the website www.esf.org.hk
• Children often have favourite story-books which they love to read again and again and again. Encourage this by letting your child re-tell the story onto an audio tape or video. Encourage the use of repeated phrases, and to use intonations and expressions. Ensure your child's spoken words align with the page and illustrations shown - that is, encourage your child to look for visual cues to prompt the story events for each page.
• Encourage your child to answer and talk on the telephone to family members and friends. Provide an pretend telephone to encourage imaginary phone-calls.
• Consider home-based 'show and tell' - for the whole family! Take turns at talking about particular objects or describing special events, listening to others and practice asking what? why? how? and who? questions.
• Remember interactive language exchanges (conversations) are far more effective for language development than monologue (listening to TV or a video, or solitary play). So instead of putting on a video, organise a play visit or a visit to the park for your child. The benefits; physically, socially and language-wise, are far greater than sitting and watching a television