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Original poster

School for 6 weeks

40 replies

vmreboll · 24/09/2022 21:53

Hello! My husband needs to go to London for 6 weeks in February/March 2023 for work. Of course we are planning to join him, otherwise I'll drive myself crazy (we are currently living in Chile), and get an airbnb or a short let. My question is: can my children attend school during that period? They are both british citizens and I understand its their right to get an education while they are in the UK. Please I need your help and advice!

OP posts:
Labraradabrador · 24/09/2022 22:55

6 weeks is such a short amount of time. Surely it would be better to spend the time exploring London, and then to ‘homeschool’ as necessary to keep them progressing/ avoid learning loss? I would also worry that children would find it quite stressful to adapt to a new class, and likely a very different curriculum.

In terms of practicalities, fairly sure you need to show residency to get a school place. when we moved to a new area we needed to show either a signed rental agreement or proof of purchase - pretty sure Airbnb wouldn’t cut it. Even if they did accept whatever short term rental agreement you have, it can take several weeks to allocate a school place.

my husband travels for weeks at a time, so you have my sympathies, but I think you need to resign yourself to 6 weeks of solo parenting or take the kids out of school and make it a big adventure.

Needmorelego · 24/09/2022 22:58

You wouldn't be able to apply for a place until you have a permanent UK address. By the time you get a place your six weeks would probably be up.
I wouldn't bother.
Maybe find some home schooling groups you could go to if you want them to meet some local children.

jellybe · 24/09/2022 22:58

For six weeks I'd make it a big home school adventure. Do lots around London and the Uk that you can build learning around. Travelling can be an amazing education and doesn't have to detract from their formal education.

Really don't think it would be fair to try and get them settled in a new school for such a short period of time.

underneaththeash · 25/09/2022 12:16

How old are your children? Do they read and write English?
I think you’d get a private school no probs, but your chance of a good state school having two in year places in slim.
there’s also a week’s holiday at the end/middle of September, then schools close for Easter at the end of march.
I suspect you’d get 4 weeks only if you’re very lucky and it might not be in a very nice school.

Suttonstracke · 25/09/2022 18:19

If you’re willing to pay some private schools might give you a place. If it were me I would do what the previous posters say and have an adventure around London instead!

Ziegfeld · 25/09/2022 19:41

Pretty selfish of you TBH to rock up in the UK for six weeks with two kids demanding that someone “educate them”, British citizens or no British citizens.
It is incredibly disruptive both to the schools, and to your kids, to join a school halfway through a term for a few weeks. And do you really want to buy two full school uniforms just for a few weeks of wear? Luckily, I think most local authorities would laugh at this request…at best they will tell you that they won’t consider an application until you are actually resident in the UK, and by the time they got round to doing anything about it, you’d be on the plane home again.

Do everyone a favour and stay at home. I can’t believe you can’t manage at home by yourself for six weeks. Single parents manage it all the time….

passport123 · 25/09/2022 20:22

Why can't you look after your kids on your own for 6 weeks at home?

clary · 25/09/2022 22:19

Agree with others, your six weeks will only be five max because of half term; and yy you need an address in England before you can apply for a place, so even if a short rental would be accepted, I imagine that would take a couple of weeks at least. Uniform, logistics (two different schools most likely) - not sure it's worth it, and the children would not gain much.

Why not home Ed and explore- or stay at home?

Rainbowcat99 · 25/09/2022 22:37

Honestly I think you need to put the children first here. Pushing them into an unfamiliar school for six weeks so that you can avoid solo parenting is not really in their best interests. Also, practically speaking you're unlikely to get it sorted in time.
Why not fly out with your dh and have a week or two's holiday then go home. His time away won't be so long.
Or could you hire a home help or nanny at home to help you over that six week period?

Threelittlelambs · 25/09/2022 22:45

Wow! Why not enjoy the time with your children?

vmreboll · 26/09/2022 00:57

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Original poster
vmreboll · 26/09/2022 01:01

@Ziegfeld the above message was for you… and all of the other “super mums” who get to judge me and jump to conclusion without knowing my circumstances.

OP posts:
Twizbe · 26/09/2022 01:04

Way to make friends OP.

I agree though, for only 6 weeks I'd home school for that time. Depending on when you come there may be some half term holiday clubs they can go to to meet other kids.

What age are they and how will it work with school at home?

Needmorelego · 26/09/2022 01:05

@vmreboll wooh that's a bit of an extreme response.
What (some of us here) have tried to explain is the logistics of getting a school place in a school in London is not a quick and simple thing. Seriously by the time the local authority have found a place for your children the six weeks would probably be over.
Calm down a bit and look at home schooling groups in London (there are loads). Your children will get to spend time with lots of children, learn and experience loads. But it's also very flexible so you can do some tourist things as well (which can also be educational).

Rainbowcat99 · 26/09/2022 07:08

Please I need your help and advice!

Asks for help and advice

Is given advice.

• I will do whatever I want and fly to the UK with my family. Again, that’s my decision, not yours.
• Go to hell. I can’t believe you get to judge me like that.

🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

Clymene · 26/09/2022 07:10

You won't get a school place without a permanent address. And you won't make many friends with that attitude either!

MissingNashville · 26/09/2022 07:13

Oh dear. 🤭

berksandbeyond · 26/09/2022 07:13

Ah so you're angry at everyone because you can't hack taking care of your own kids for 6 weeks?

Get a nanny / governess and take them to the U.K. with you, if you must follow in your husbands pocket. Much better for your kids than a few weeks in whatever random school will take them

Maymaymay · 26/09/2022 07:16

Wow! Anyway ... depending on their age there won't be much playing mid year and it'll take a few weeks to get them in I'd say (assuming you want to at least visit the school before sending them there.). Another poster is right you are also hitting half term so are looking at around 2-3 weeks of schooling joining a school slap in the middle of the year- it won't be very fun.

scrufffy · 26/09/2022 07:19

I wouldn't move them for 6 weeks.

I'd do two weeks at home.

Two weeks holiday in London.

Two weeks at home

clary · 26/09/2022 07:20

Wow OP that's quite a rude response to so e generally helpful advice. None of us here are super mums, but a lot of us know something about the English schooling system. Sorry the advice was not what you wanted to hear.

I agree with a pp - if you want your dc to socialise (and why not) then checking out some home Ed groups in advance might be the shout. There will be lots in London, many with expats. And try to be a bit more receptive to advice.

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 26/09/2022 07:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I was just about to give some advice but as you’ve spoken to people like this I certainly wouldn’t be bothering.

Quitelikeacatslife · 26/09/2022 07:25

Hi OP . You do know you asked for advice right.
You do what you want but you have been given good advice
Staying at home with a holiday in UK in the middle sounds the very best advice and least disruptive for your kids.
Yes kids want to be playing with other kids but by the time they settle it'll be time to go home and there is February half term in there
I think it could make your children insecure and confused about their normal school

Clutterbugsmum · 26/09/2022 07:35

No you won't be able to 'just' put your children into a London school for 6 weeks. Even people living in London struggle to get children into a school in London let alone the borough they live in.

Unfortunately schools in London are massively over subscribed.

SoupDragon · 26/09/2022 07:55

as others have said, you won't get a state school place without a permanent address and you won't get a place at a good school due to waiting lists for oversubscribed ones.