If he is turning 5 year old in 2014, then he should study K1 this year in local preschool. but local school term finishing soon, in Nov, (Dec is school holiday), so he should start K2 in 2015. Then join P1 in Jan 2016
u cannot choose to be small b or big b like in HK, coz the system only allow u to enter the appropriate level in that school year according to age. My boy is born in Nov, so he is the youngest in his class n some classmate born in Jan is almost 1 year older than him.
some school start to teach kids 漢語拼音 in k2 I think, but I personally donno pinyin, so really hard to tell if its difficult or not. my hubby is local said he thinks pinyin is easier compare to Chinese writing