I’m coming home and I’m so happy

[Rememberthesummerofninetyfive]

Live abroad, not been happy for a while, even though it’s sunshine and an incredible lifestyle.
We’ve finally decided to come back-this time next year, I’ll be home,
Very excited now, it’s been years. Our jobs and house is sorted, when do I sign up my Dd for primary? (I can homeschool if the worst comes to the worst) but ideally I want her in a lovely primary school
Excited to be back to friendlier people, the humour, the shopping, the green countryside..,even the rain 😂

Contact your local council/authority where you will be living. Welcome home 🏡 😁.....btw it's currently raining 🤣🤣

GOOD FOR YOU OP.

I lived abroad for 11 years. Came home in December. Took a bereavement to give me a firm kick up the arse as to what I wanted out of my life.
I wish you all the best.

@AgainandagainandagainSS Bereavement for us too, so sorry x

Is it good to be back? What did it make you realise you wanted out of life?

@shellyleppard Thank you 🙏

Do I contact them before we’re back?
Should be back school holidays over summer, doesn’t leave much time to sort a school 😬

@Rememberthesummerofninetyfive are you talking about next summer??? Sorry to be dense but schools have just started back after the summer holidays x

@shellyleppard Yes, sorry, we need to sort everything out here before we make the move, we’ll be back next summer hols x

We moved back after 10 years in SE Asia. I remember beginning to get organised about the children's school quite early on. Good luck OP

How old will she be? Will she be starting school in reception or joining older? And when you say you’ve sorted house and jobs, does that mean you’ve got an address you can put on school applications?

If you have an address in the uk you should apply for schools now (I think the deadline is January). If not you will just need to wait until you get here and take what’s available. If it’s not ideal you can go on waitlists for other schools. Especially in the south east there is a lot of movement in early years of primary.

Where I live primary school applications for Reception are open September-January for kids to start the following Sept, and it's done on the local council website. I think kids joining any other year group doesn't have such a strict deadline but I would look up your local council and they should have info. You'll need a UK address to make a school application

I lived abroad once. I’d love to go back but it’s too expensive. The thing I liked best about coming back was understanding everything verbal and written, it can be really isolating when you only have limited understanding of the language. I’d go back in a heartbeat though ( and learn the language properly this time).

Welcome home! I lived abroad for a few years and since returning to the UK have never wanted to live anywhere else. The UK has its downsides but I missed this place so much and coming home was wonderful.

I lived in Qatar for 3 years, I was so bloody glad to come home permanently I cried when I boarded the plane.

Oh this is so lovely to read.

I couldn't live abroad as despite its problems there's noting quite like the UK. I'd also miss London and the seasons too much.

Good luck OP!

Sorry should have added this is reception only, any other year and I think you’ll be reliant on what has space when you come back.

Google your local authorities school application dates although I think England all have the same final date.

I can only remember the secondary school dates (final application is 31st October) but from memory primary applications are later?

Will you be picking a school without visiting?

This is so true. I love being home in my country because I understand my own language inside out. I lived in Greece for five years and did learn the language to a limited extent, but could never converse at a complex level.

I was tired of being ‘other’, constantly the one having to adapt. I was tired of traveling (took 20 planes in a year with gran’s illness, death and aftermath), wanted to buy a house, wanted to go to church in my denomination, wanted to speak my own language sometimes.

I wish you all the very best.

It can really make a difference to your wellbeing just being able to understand everything around you. I really loved the other country but it felt like I was living outside myself if you see what I mean.

Check the admissions pages on your local authority website.

For a Reception place applications will be by mid Jan (for England).

They may or may not accept an application if you are not resident. But they might if you have a property that is not rented out.

If not you will need to make a late application. They will have an obligation to find a place for your Dc, but it might not be the school of your choice. Is your property on the doorstep of a lovely school? Are schools in your area over or undersubscribed? Are all the local schools fine?

good luck and welcome back for when you arrive!

You need an address to apply for school, I'm assuming England. Do you have a house here?

Thanks everyone x

We have an address, the school I’m hoping for, but know I possibly won’t be lucky, is one I’ve visited as my niece & nephew went there.
Dd would be going into Year 2

It’s raining here in Surrey today x welcome home! The trees are mental this year, it’s like living in a forest

I came home today OP! Ireland though … not UK.

We lived abroad for 7 years and echoing previous posters I longed to understand everything, to be able to talk to anyone, to go to cinema without having to wait for the original version (in English) shows.

I too was sick of being other. It’s so good to be home.

Welcome home OP! I'm happy for you x