School for 6 weeks

[vmreboll]

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!

I grew up in Central London and can absolutely see the appeal of taking the opportunity to spend a small chink of time there; but I also echo the practicalities around permanent addresses and school waiting lists.

Would you consider a tutor instead of school?

OP - is this a bad idea?

Everyone - yes, it's a really bad idea because (lots of well thought out reasons)

OP - go to hell everyone

(awaiting deletion message because 'OP feels their privacy has been invaded')

Start looking for some local homeschool parent groups on Facebook? Join in some of their activities and sessions during your trip so the dc can mix with others?

I apologise that I said your plan was selfish. It clearly hurt your feelings.

However the facts are what they are. You don’t live in the UK, you don’t have your own address in the UK, (and it sounds like you yourself might not be a UK citizen and almost certainly do not pay any tax in the UK if you live in South America) yet you seem to think the UK needs to make free school places magically available for your family at the drop of a hat for six weeks because “I will do whatever I want”.

The state is highly unlikely to either a) want to do that b) or be able to do that.

If “being with other children, play and enjoy” is what you say is best for your children, then the most effective way of achieving that is probably to stay in your home country and keep them in their current educational setting.

However that may be incompatible with your wish not to be alone with them for six weeks (“or I will drive myself crazy”).

I would suggest your best course of action if you want help with childcare for six weeks is to hire a mother’s help or nanny to stay with you in Chile while your husband is away. I would imagine that the cost saving of not buying three return airfares Santiago to London would cover quite a lot of childcare?

Well aren't you nice 🙄

The idea’s obviously touching a nerve with you for some reason, but a six week holiday would probably benefit them more than whatever school place could be arranged for such a short time. London has unbelievable museums and parks. Many of the museums have great play-based learning provision. You could easily fill 6 weeks, the children would have lots of chances to mingle and play and educationally it would be amazing.

You may find a school, but it may well not be local to your rental, by definition will be less popular, may only have a place for one of your children and may well not get things sorted out for some weeks. Your plan will almost certainly be bad for the school and other children in your kids’ classes. I suspect it will also be very hard for your kids.

and all of the other “super mums” who get to judge me and jump to conclusion without knowing my circumstances.

Perhaps if you had explained the circumstances then people wouldn't need to jump to conclusions. You're coming across as very entitled and a bit more info explaining your special circumstances that make you want to do this might have eased the way a bit. Your response with your lovely numbered points was foul.

FWIW I know of some British kids who lived elsewhere but used to attend a UK school for a fortnight every year. The family had good links with the school though and had a relative living very locally to the school.

I'm gathering that you normally live outside the UK.

Schools in London are massively oversubscribed and people fight tooth and claw for places at the good ones. Yes if you apply you may get a place eventually after much stress, but any state school place you could get in these circumstances will be dreadful.

A private prep school may well be happy to have your kids for half a term if you have several thousand pounds to spare.

@vmreboll what a really weird thing to do.

You post with limited info and expect a response based on information you haven't given!!!

No school is going to give you a place for 6 wks. Schools are on their knees as it is without entitled expats turning up demanding education.

They will laugh at you- like everyone here.
Why don't you take your own advice and also go to hell 😂😂 or learn to parent your own children on your own !

You ask for help and advice then post one of the most aggressive responses I have ever seen in my 20+ years of being on MN. What you want isn’t possible but you clearly aren’t used to hearing the word no.

OP my suggestion is that your DH asks his employer about bringing his family to the UK and whether (or not) being in education here is possible.
Yes there are lots of threads on MN about more long term moves to the UK from overseas, but your circumstances are very different.
It is possible to apply for private i.e. fee paying schools before having a UK address / moving to the UK. In the London area lots of schools will be used to this situation and will be able to provide advice on all the requirements needed.
Other posters have already explained the system for applying to state schools and that you are unlikely to be offered a place within 6 weeks.

Good London private schools are oversubscribed many times and have waiting lists.

Schools are over subscribed all over the country, never mind London where I can imagine you're looking at year long waiting lists. Children have a right to education if they live in the UK, not just rocking up for a 6 week holiday. And don't forget, even if you did get them in a school, halfway through the year they would have already missed out on half a years curriculum and activities in that particular school, which would be very confusing. As others have said, London is full of museums, history and interesting places to visit that would easily fill your time up and teach them so much alongside.