Single mum, moving to Luxembourg... any tips/advice?

[Wavesandsmilesagain]

I’m excited and nervous in equal measure. I’ve been offered an amazing job in Luxembourg and will move out there over New Year. Coming along for the adventure will be my (just turned) 13, 5 and 3 year olds - my older son will stay back here with my mum to finish GCSEs.
Part of the package includes the services of a relocation agency but this is really just for housing and admin. It won’t extend to sorting schooling or childcare. I’ve heard from the Junglinster school and they will take a mid year application for my older daughter. Not a peep from Differdange/Michel Lucius. For the younger two I’d like to put them to the local school in the commune (my son was 5 and my daughter 3 at the start of the school year so they’d I think be able to join). As I’ll be working full time I’d intend to use the associated Maison Relais.
I guess any tips on areas to live (office is on the centre, Boulevard d’Avranches), and how/if it’s possible to register for the local school and Maison Relais before arrival, or whether I might be able to find a short term babysitter to cover the first month... or indeed if there might be waiting lists for the childcare. I have been reading up lots but advice from those on the ground would be so so helpful.
Also, welcome is any advice on activities that we could enjoy at weekends etc...
Many thanks!

If you are on Facebook there is a goup
Luxembourg expats forum
You should join

Have a look at the British Ladys Club. Good for kids events too.
www.blc.lu

Thank you, I did already join the Facebook group but there wasn’t much practical advice forthcoming. Similarly, I looked at BLC online and seemed maybe more for people who aren’t working? I’m currently trying to work out whether to blow our rental budget on a small apartment in the centre or be maybe 30-40 minutes drive out and have more space (but maybe extra childcare costs).

Doesnt it make financial and practical sense to be as near to work and school as possible? Then no need for a car, more time as a family. I m a single parent of 4 myself with no family support and 100% care, i always opt for choices which give more family time and cost less at the same time. My rent is higher but saving on costs associated with living further away anf gaining on family time.

Public transport is cheap and efficient in Luxembourg.
Working in the centre of Town you will be served well by the bus system.
However the road you mention is very long so good if you are Town end as you could live anywhere easily.
If the other end then better you live that side of Town.

We live in Strassen and it is very well served by public transport. Bertrange and Mamer are on this side of Town.

Thank you for the helpful advice. I’m definitely working on the centre of town end of the road. I’m conscious I need to ensure there are spaces at the local school and Maison Relais childcare too, so this is going to impact on where we live. I’ll get a parking space with my new job, but public transport will be fine and probably cheaper (not sure?) dependent on where we live. In case of emergencies I’d rather not be too far away, or have a car.

In terms of where to live my concern is we can’t necessarily achieve more family time for less cost: it is significantly more to live, it seems, in the centre. Maybe 35/45 minutes away before you can achieve the lower rent and more space (and so lower that the travel and childcare costs would probably see a net saving still) I’ll keep looking online until the relocation agency gets involved... my preference is genuinely still to be living nearer work as long as there is space at the local school and we will have a little bit of space

I live in Lux. Great place to bring up kids.
You Will also be eligible for child benefit - details are on cnpf.lu.

If your child goes to the new school in Junglinster it would make sense to live out that way and put the 2 youngest in the local school system.

My ds is at ML. Happy to provide feedback on it.

Thanks for the extra tip on child benefit and would love to hear about ML. I’m now in the throes of decluttering before we move... determined to not move with things we don’t really need or really treasure. As a bit of a lifelong hoarder this is a huge challenge!

I am moving to Luxembourg in March with hubby and three young children (aged 7 and twins who will be just 4). Plan to send older child to Michel Lucius and girls to local. I was just interested to hear from anyone who has recently made the move with young children and how you have generally found Luxembourg, things to do with the children at weekends etc? Thanks in advance! :-)

Hi; I might be able to help a little but we haven’t actually moved yet - date is 16/17 February and this is basically because it’s been so hard to find school places. For me it’s complicated as I’ll work full time with no other support so was dependent on finding a place where there’s not a waiting list for the Maison Relais. At the local schools they close for lunch and finish at 12 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Unfortunately in many many places there is a waiting list so I had to narrow my search down to areas where there were places and a house with a landlord that would accept our family size (5 in total is considered a big family).

However, we’ve just about got there I think and will be moving at half term - I’m doing an every other week commute in the meantime.

There are waiting lists for LML, I’ve heard good things about the new school at Junglinster which I think opened a full primary English offering and may have a space mid year.

I’m not sure I can help yet on the side of things to do at weekends, but from what I’ve heard there aren’t really after school activities, those type of things happen on a Saturday (music, sport).

We are pretty much excited still for the move but it’s been one of the most difficult periods trying to get things organised. I walked into this with a huge number of assumptions like available school places and out of school care, and so I’m glad I found out before committing to a house in an area that wouldn’t have worked practically.

You may find this Facebook group for parents helpful to join.
www.facebook.com/groups/163441367138653/?ref=share

PM me if you want. We live in Bonnevoie which is very convenient, there is a direct bus to Michel Lucius. Some schools have private foyers which may have shorter waiting lists. Also i'd recommend joining luxmama and ladies of luxembourg aswell as Luxembourg parents on facebook.

hi am thinking in move to Luxembourg as well , I am looking for job before I can go. Any advice , am single mother of 14 and 12 years old and I want bring my kids with me . Am looking for better life , am in UK at moment .

Unless you have a EU passport, Brexit made moving a lot harder.