Scotland grade levels, how to prepare

I will be moving to Stirling in a couple of weeks and I have had trouble figuring out what grades my children will be entering in school. My son is 7 (born on the 3rd of November) and my daughter is 4 (born on the 17th of December). Can you tell me what grades they will be entering?

Also, can you recommend any books or websites that I can use to help them prepare for their next grade level?

Do you have any advice to help make the transition easier for my 7 year old? He is completing the first grade here in the states and I am concerned that he will feel behind next year. He takes his education a little too seriously and sometimes has unrealistic expectations of himself. (He figured out how to read when he was three.) He can be very hard on himself when he misses a question or misspells a word, etc. I have trouble relating to him in this area since I rarely took anything seriously at his age... or at any age hehehe

From memory, a 7 year old would be in Primary 2 (going into Primary 3 after summer holiday) and the 4 year old I guess would be going into Primary 1 in August although someone might correct me on that.

I don't have much advice about the other stuff except the fairly obvious, ie to check out the local schools and speak to the teachers about your son before he starts.  What area of Stirling are you moving to?

From the wikipedia page 'Education in Scotland'

Children start primary school aged between 4½ and 5½ depending on when the child's birthday falls. Scottish school policy places all those born between March of a given year and February of the following year in the same year group. Children born between March and August start school in August at between 5½ and 5 years old, and those born between September and February start school in the previous August at between age 4 years 11 months and 4½ years old. The Scottish system is the most flexible in the UK, however, as parents of children born between September and December can request a deferral for 1 year (not automatic, requires to be approved), whilst children born between January and February can opt to hold their child back a year and let them start school the following August.

I find it a bit confusing, as it's different to the rest of the UK. Also on that page you can find the names of the school years there as well, as that's different too!

Hope I helped!

There is a website run by the Hamilton Trust which provides lesson plans and activity worksheets that are age/grade appropriate for children in UK schools. You can take a look at some of these and see how your kids will be doing at this level.

http://www.hamilton-trust.org.uk/Literacy/Plans/

Your seven-year-old just finished First Grade which is comparable to Year Two. Next year he will start Year Three.

If you read through the postings on the UK expats living in America website, you'll find that US students are ahead in some areas and behind in others. It really ends up a bit of a wash such that I would not be too concerned about any academic differences. I'm currently on assignment in Hong Kong where my seven year old just finished First Grade at the US-based international school, while his seven year old best friend just finished Year Two at the UK-based international school. They do their homework together and it's surprisingly similar (though one counts 'Quarters and Dimes' and the other counts "Pence and Pounds" in their math games).

If at all possible, my recommendation would not be to worry as much about the academics but try to concentrate a bit on the social aspects. If you can find another child that will be his classmate, try to arrange some playdates and social events before the start of term so that your child will not enter the school as a total "outsider"--not knowing anyone, a bit nervous, etc. Just having one familiar face in the classroom and on the playground is quite helpful to a new kid at school.

Thanks for all your help and advice. I am finally getting settled in and learning the ropes. We moved into Stirling city during this last month (towards the top of the hill below the castle), and I learned that my daughter will be beginning Primary 1 and my son will be beginning Primary 4. There don't seem to be a lot of families on our street, but I am sure we will meet someone soon. It would be great if the kids had a chance to meet some of their school mates before the first day. They have met children from some of the neighboring towns and have had several play dates, but we have yet to meet anyone with kids from the city. I found some books on maths by age and it looks like there is quite a bit of catching up to do, but that shouldn't be a problem. The website looks great, I can't wait to check it out! Thanks again for the help

It'll be fine! I know from when my sister was in first school, but the school had a couple a couple of evenings (Sorry if I've repeated something, there's an ad in the way!) and they will teach you the methods that your children will learn in maths as they are different to what my parents learnt at school, so you will be able to find out what they'll be taught and how to help them if needed and also from what I've heard from Internet friends, but we don't get  as much homework as children do in the states, and the teachers are there if you have any worries about your kids!

Also if you live in a city, then finding kids around you shouldn't be too hard, I don't know anything about Stirling, but if you look on a map then you may find roads that look nearer than they are thanks to cut-throughs. (I know there's some round where I live, but then I live down the other end of the country in a small town.)
Good luck to your children on their first day! (It's in a couple of weeks right?)