moving to UK for job in London - where to live, 3 kids...

Trains go into LiverpoolStreet from pleasant towns in Essex and Hertfordshire.

I would look at places like Maidenhead or Twyford. If he catches the direct train, or can be a fast commute to Paddington (30 minutes), and the 20 minutes by tube to Liverpool Street

You can't assume your ds will get a statement or specific additional support, but once you have a school allocated arrange to meet the SENCO to discuss his issues and reviews to date (do you have paperwork in English?) If you can do so before the end of summer term then it may give him an easier transition , as he can meet his new class and teacher before September. If he has any therapies ongoing you need to find the UK equivalents and possibly pay privately if you want to continue without a wait for referrals. Will you have private medical insurance?

Having your husband move earlier could be ideal in that he can get things moving school-wise and on other matters (register for NHS/GP, which may be essential if you require a UK medical statement for your son). Also, your being back in Seattle could be convenient in case you need to obtain any missing paperwork (for example, from your children's schools).

I would suggest moving in June because, as a new arrival in a new country, not everything will go smoothly (due to lack of familiarity with how things get done here) and the extra weeks of physical presence in the UK may help expedite paperwork, etc.

If you are concerned about your children missing out on a few weeks of school, I don't think it will be a big issue. And giving them an opportunity to enjoy summer in the UK could ease their adjustment.

Sorry, much cheaper than other London PRIVATE schools. The German school is a 4 - 18 school.

Have you considered the German School in Ham, near Richmond? The girls could continue in the German language system and although it is private it is much cheaper than other London primary schools. Not sure about how it woudl deal your DS 's needs ( not clear if he is German speaker) but the state primaries around there are good.

From experience of a close friend, if you apply after the schools have closed for the summer, you will not get a response until September.

Assuming your dh likes his new job, will you live in the UK indefinitely? Do you have plans to return to America?

Just wondering as many expats on fixed term contracts send their dc to the American schools - though they are expensive and over-subscribed, so not easy to get into.

I'd say move in June, as most families moving into an area will do it in the summer holidays (end of July through August) if they can. So if you swoop in in June, your kids will nab places that might easily be full by September.

Probably June would be slightly better than July but as long as t s early July (which iirc Swiss school terms do) it probably won't make much difference. Uk state schools close 3rd week July to End August so that period is more tricky to get responses.

It might be better to move in June. But it really depends on how many kids want places at the schools. Honestly, choose an area that looks promising, and ring the Schools Application Department in that local council. They'll tell you how many kids are on the waiting list, and if there'd be any places in the current years. They'd be helpful! They'd also tell you what you need to do, and by when.

There'll be no difference in all likelihood between applying in June or July.

If you get your older girl into a school, your younger will automatically go to the top of the waiting list as a sibling (as long as this is school policy so do check). That would make her very likely to get a place in September as it is pretty common for kids not to turn up at the start of the year, even in very popular schools. If not September, then soon after. But be prepared for a nerve-wracking wait and for her to perhaps attend a school you're less happy with while you wait.

I second NOT going for Brighton. It's way too far away. There are three international schools in Surrey, and the county is leafy, pretty, with good commuter links. (Wahh! I sound so homesick!!!) Plus there's loads of historic things, like Hampton Court Palace, the Royal parks (Bushy Park, etc); there are three racecourses, motorways to everywhere else in the UK, it's only 90 minutes to drive from Surrey to the coast for holidays... Why did I ever move... ;)

The council (which allocates school places) looks for proof of residence. Such as a Council Tax bill (the tax you pay for living in a house in a certain area), where your kids currently go to school, bills for gas and electricity, etc.

It's stressful applying for a school place before you move. I did it last year and it was nerve-wracking! But the schools staff were lovely on the phone abd really helpful.

They won't "hold" any places for out-of-town applicants. The first kids to get the places will be the most local, or the ones with siblings already in that school. But the waiting list will change ALL the time as families move in and out of the area.

When I applied for my youngest son to go to Thames Ditton Infant school, he didn't have the first round of school places so was was put on the waiting list. We were actually allocated a place at a school 4 miles away! (I was so upset.) That was in the April. By June, he had got a place as a family with twins had moved out of the area, freeing up two places.

I really miss it there. I moved due to divorce and having to buy my own house - I couldn't afford to buy there so I moved away to my hometown. Again, I had to apply for school places at a weird time, but it was (again) fine. Although the schools here, which aren't as good, are more over-subscribed than in TD! There have been about 60,000,000 houses built in my hometown and all the schhols are full. :(

Brighton to Liverpool Street would be quite a trek, and way more than an hour. You might want to think about Hertfordshire and Essex where you could be closer to the countryside if you think you'd prefer that?

Having said that, most of London has plenty of parks, and outside very central London you'll find it easy to see green space.

For schools, the applications for new starters at 5 and 11 close in January (primary) and October (secondary). Children do not then find out what place they have till the spring before they start in September. Any other child applying at any other age will be treated as an in-year applicant, and so sits outside that process. Your middle child would be the only one that would be the position of needing a place in the first year of a school (year 7) unless you end up in one of the rare places with middle schools. They are likely to be the hardest to place as schools start off full and places may then appear as the kids progress through the school. Any popular state school will be full in year 7 already so that will be your biggest challenge.

If your son has a diagnosed learning disability and requires additional support, he may be eligible for a statement (the name for this has recently changed but you'll find most people still using or understanding this term). I'm not sure how quickly you'd be able to achieve this as your local authority needs to organise assessments, although it may be speedier if you have existing evidence of support needs and diagnosis etc. but it's unlikely to be in place before he starts school. Nevertheless it would enable you to specify a school that can meet his needs, so it's worth exploring.

Many parts of London are very walkable with nice parks and not usually that crowded.
I think you need to give an idea what your budget is for housing, and what your minimum housing requirements are (how many bedrooms, do you want to run a car & need parking included, etc). That will determine a huge amount.

A lot of expat families live in the Weybridge, Cobham , Woking and SW London border area with Surrey to be near ACS campuses, which you may find more akin to your background. London and to an extent Brighton are very urban , far more so than cities in CH.

I don't know what your budget is but property in Brighton can be similar prices to London and train fares are stupidly over priced. Have you considered Cambridge or Essex as an alternative? Cambridge is a fantastic city with fantastic schools. Essex is close to the coast. Also for Liverpool street you might want to look at East London. Lots of up and coming areas.

What do you mean by early applicants? Almost every 11 year old has just received the initial result of their October application which the vast majority will accept even if they go on a waiting list for another preferred school in case of movement between now and summer.