American family moving - advice and info on education system

[rosemc]

My husband's job is relocating him to London, so we are moving to England. We only found out last week, and I'm overwhelmed trying to understand the UK education system along with NHS etc (let alone how to make friends in a new place). We currently live in Boston and have two daughters ages 9 and 7. How are children placed into UK years, will they be tested or just moved into the right age category? Any advice for making the transition would be helpful.

The only expected time I found was from Langley, but you can take a guess on other stations nearer or further away.

Langley is due to run crossrail from 2019 with an estimated 43 mins to get to canarywarf.

I would say be prepared for a foreign country. It's an easy trap to fall into to think we share a common culture because we share a common language.

Greenwich is good for Canary Wharf or try anything with a train line that goes through lewisham for dlr e.g. Great schools near us n hither green or further out look at Orpington for example. Or try the orange line which goes into Canada Water where DH could change for jubilee line to Canary Wharf e.g. Brockley, honor oak, forest hill. All nice areas though less posh than dulwich.

What's your housing budget?

Having been to Boston I am not sure that London compares with it. London to me seems far more densely populated. Whilst there are some nice areas with open spaces, they can be costly.

Do you currently live in central Boston? Are you looking for something similar? Have a play with google street view to look at areas you are interested in. Look at places outside of London, see what you may prefer.

Can your dh ask colleagues already working in the UK where they live?

The East London line is perfect for Canary Wharf, and Forest Hill and Honor Oak are both lovely, very close to East Dulwich. Great schools. If your eldest is year 4, try the Horniman primary. Fantastic little school right by the museum. It has year 4 places.

Once you have an address, enter your postcode into the Find local services section on the NHS Choices site for information on local GPs, including who's taking new patients and reviews from current users.

If you're not up for the enclaves in Kensington/Chelsea/St Johns wood, try Greenwich or Blackheath. Good state primaries, green open space, easy access to the wharf.

I have pmed you rosemc

If you aren't wedded to living in London (it isn't for everyone) then Canary Wharf is a very easy commute from towns such as Billericay and Chelmsford. Billericay has a reputation for being very family friendly with very good schools and lots of activities for children. Semi-rural setting, large park, woodland, sports clubs, art groups and lots of chances to get involved in the community. Lots of the parents will be commuters into Canary Wharf and the City.

I would say that having been an expat in the us and other places before a short stint back in the uk, that while you might plan on making tons of British friends, the reality is that if you are living in an area where you have the option of getting to spend time with other expats then it gives you a fallback to help you ease your first few months. I am a Brit, but moved to a new area when we moved back so knew no one, and the best thing I did was join the local American women's club. So, definitely look at the west side of London; surrey, etc.

Following on from ksb comment see here, Amerucan Women of Surrey

www.awsurrey.org/Home

They might be a good resource for info- women who have done exactly what you are!