Moving back to England

[Dontbugmemalone]

Hi all,

I am currently trying to prepare myself and my family for moving back to England after 4 years away.
I would very much appreciate any advice about finding a job, a flat to rent (pref. short term), settling down, looking for a school for an almost 5 year old and any other pearls of wisdom you might have.

The biggest issues are finding short term accommodation and job hunting.

Thanks in advance :)

[quoteunquote]

Do you have an area in mind?

[TwasBrillig]

Where are you moving from? When are you moving and any areas in mind?

School will be a bit tricky as school places have recently been allocated but it depends where you are thinking as you can contact local council.

Do you have family or friends anywhere? A job or job in mind? Rough budget?

[Dontbugmemalone]

Hi, not really. I'm from Birmingham originally but would like to try somewhere different. Our current plan is to move somewhere temporarily until either me or DH can find a job, wherever that may be.

[Dontbugmemalone]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm moving from Poland.
I don't exactly but in 1, maximum 2 months.

That's what I'm worried about, finding a school place for DS1. You have to have a UK address to apply, don't you?

I have family and friends in a few cities but they won't be able to put us up unfortunately.

I am able apply for anything and everything, have worked as a support worker and a TEFL teacher in the past. DH is an engineer and is applying for jobs now but it's not easy to find looking for work from abroad.

Budget is cheap as possible :)

[SavoyCabbage]

I'm doing this too at the moment. It feels bigger than emigrating did in the first place! Where to live, no car. Jobs.

There are vast parts of the uk where there are no problems getting a school place. Some LEAs such as Newcastle, put a list on their website saying which schools have places in which areas. I was aiming for June at one time and every school I contacted had space for both of my dc.

[Dontbugmemalone]

SavoyCabbage- Yes, it's so much hassle isn't it?
Thanks for the information- that's more reassuring!

[Dontbugmemalone]

Shameless bump :)

[pupsiecola]

We just moved back from Singapore to Hampshire. I think I must have been so lucky. I wrote to 26 schools in and around the area we wanted to live in (about 40 minutes from the area we lived in before) and about 3 had spaces for both. Two were in special measures and then there's the one we went for which is a very good school. For Hampshire you don't have to have a UK address to apply. But once you've officially accepted the places the children need to be attending school within 4 weeks. There is no flexibility on this.

It can be done. Choose and area and look at every school there. The Right Move schools website is very very good at summarising schools and letting you compare etc.

[Dontbugmemalone]

Pupsiecola- Thank you so much for your reply.

Can I just ask how you decided on Hampshire? How was it to find somewhere to live/find a job?

Sorry for being nosy but every little bit if information helps :)

[pupsiecola]

Don't worry!

My DH is getting a transfer with his company. They are being very supportive (it was our decision to move overseas and he sought out a job in Singapore with a global company). We are coming back a year early and his company want to keep him.

We lived in Surrey before. Wanted to be a bit further out, really like Winchester area. Near enough to family and friends but far enough away (from family mainly!). Still okay for London/airports (in fact very near Southampton airport which is great for a lot of Europe). It was a bit of a punt really, but so far so good.

Which area are you from and where would you consider?

[SquinkiesRule]

So why does it feel bigger than when we moved away?
We are doing it too.
We have a place to live but will need to find work and enroll Dd in school. It's bloody stressful.
I'm more worried about finding work than anything.

[RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief]

If you're completely flexible, you could post in the primary education section, asking for MN'ers to tell you areas where there is not so much pressure on school places. Some areas are far far worse than others, either due to sheer pressure of numbers, or because the better schools have faith criteria. Scotland seems less crazy than England- would you consider that?

[coffeewineandchocolate]

I think if I was you I would take the following criteria into account

1. where is your dp most likely to get a job? your job seems more flexible but as an engineer will he be restricted in area?
   

1. affordability- obviously London and the s.e are going to be more expensive than the north for example. what are your salaries likely to be? would you be able to rule out areas based on that.
   

1. have you family support in the UK? do you want to be near them?
   

1. lifestyle- do you prefer city/ town/ country? would you like to be near a polish community (maybe offer you job opportunities in English tutoring?) do you have any hobbies you would like to continue?
   

imo locating fir schools may be a bit of a red herring as everywhere these days it's feeling the strain educationally and its a real lottery choosing somewhere in the hope the school accepts your dc/ is as good as ofsted says it is. I would choose based on all other factors in my life, get them right and face the schools dilemma if/ when you have to.

good luck!

[Dontbugmemalone]

Hi, thank you all for taking the time to reply.

Pupsiecola- That's very good, obviously it's better to work for a global company in situations like this.
Wow, that sounds like you chose a great place. How do you feel now to be back home?
I'm from Birmingham originally and I'd like to live elsewhere. Everything depends on DH finding a job, he's a highway engineer, so anywhere near projects would be good. I prefer the south of England though, I don't know why :)

SquinkiesRule- I think because now, it's not really an adventure. It's hard to get settled but I think you're right. Finding a job and sorting out school is very stressful. It was easier to move away than move back.

RichMan- Thank you for that great idea, I will try to do that later.
I did consider Scotland but I think I will try to find somewhere in England to stay short term and then see where we end up. I think (hope) it will be easier to travel for interviews and such in England.

[DontmindifIdo]

I agree your DH's job hunt needs to be the priority as you seem to have done the sort of work you can do anywhere.

If he is completely flexible too (although as an engineer, I wouldn't be sure) I'd start with picking a family member you think will be helpful/supportive and try to rent near them - they even might be able to recommend some local letting agents you could call, or give you advice on schools/areas.

[Dontbugmemalone]

Have just seen your post Coffeewineandchocolate- thanks for replying.

-DH thinks somewhere around London is the most likely and he's looking for upcoming projects which companies might be hiring for.

• I think for whatever job I can get, it's most likely to be minimum wage. DH has a lot of qualifications and almost 5 years experience so I'm guessing (hoping) about 20,000 to begin with. It all depends on the position he'll be able to get.
  

If I did work then I'd also need to find childcare for DS2 who is 11 months old.

• I have family but I'm that close so we won't really have any support from them. It doesn't really matter how close/far to them we'll end up.
  

• I think because of jobs/school then either a town or city would be the best options. I haven't considered living near a Polish community. Do you think people would want tutoring?
  

We don't really have hobbies just walking and cycling so can do those anywhere :)

Thanks again for all your help.

[Dontbugmemalone]

DontmindifIdo- that's a good idea, thanks. I could contact my aunt and see if she knows anyone.

[coffeewineandchocolate]

I think tutoring is a possibility- maybe teaching basic English to parents but there could be a possibility of you training to be an interpreter depending on how good your polish is? I think they are pretty well paid (can be up to 30 pounds per hour depending on demand). polish interpreters would be very in demand in Lincolnshire, Worcestershire and west Yorkshire I think as there are big polish communities there.

[specialsubject]

regarding rentals - the way the tenancy system works means that most rentals are for six months minimum, this is called an assured shorthold tenancy and gives most protection to both you and the landlord. After that it is two months notice from the landlord and one from the tenant.

there are short lets operating - I lived in one and it was fine - but they need more trust.

make sure your landlord protects your deposit in one of the approved schemes, and if the property has gas it must have a current safety certificate that you see before you sign up. This is renewed every year. Any landlord that doesn't do both these (legally required) things should be viewed with suspicion.