Leaving the UK for Spain or France with children

[Mumof3andworkingFT]

Hi there,

Would welcome thoughts /recommendations on possible cities to move to in Spain /Southern France. We have 3 young children (2, 3 and 8) so we need to think of an international school for the eldest following the British curriculum. I speak French, my DH doesn't (not children). I feel that we are getting quite tired ot the UK and I am seriously contemplating the idea of relocating for 2-3 years to a sunnier country (I am quite sick with the British winters) to enjoy a different lifestyle while the children are still young (but possibly move back to the UK at the 11+ juncture for our eldest to enter the UK secondary schooling system).

I can find a job in Spain (I don't speak Spanish) or France and DH will commute between the UK and our chosen new location.

València, Barcelona, Madrid in Spain - anyone can share opinions on pros and cons of each? How good are the International private schools in Spain please? For some reason I am more inclined on Spain although I don't speak the language than France.

Am I totally delusioning myself to think that life in a warmer country will be easier with young children? The nursery cost alone in the UK are killing the family budget 😏. Will it totally screw up my 8 year old to move her back in 3 years time just as she would have settled?

Has anyone made the move to Spain /Southern France and regretted or loved it? Am I looking at this from a grass is always greener perspective? The thought of another long winter in the UK on the horizon has clearly prompted this message.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I have itchy feet 😊

There was a similar thread this morning so apols if this was also you - to clarify, do you both have EU passports?

Oh no it wasn't me.

Yes we all hold EU passports.

Good to have the choice! I’d move to France as I find the language easier. But I don’t know that you’d get that much difference in weather, unless you were on the south coast.

Ah-ha, here's that thread anyway, clearly as the weather gets a bit colder everyone in the UK with an EU passport quite rightly thinks about buggering off, I know I would if I could!

FWIW, how confident are you about finding work in Spain? Unemployment rates are very high. I don't know if I'd plan to move back again in only three years, it seems like a lot of upheaval.

@LadyWithLapdog Yes France would be easier as I do speak French. Definitely south coast with international schools.
I will look into Aix / Lyon / Nice a little closer.

@tribpot thanks for sharing the other thread. Portugal was mentioned on it too. I will explore that as well.

As for work, my current employer would be flexible with a temporary relocation but as mentioned is it worth for 2-3 years?!

Toulouse is really lovely

@KnickerlessParsons thank you for the suggestion! Are there good international schools near Toulouse? I will look into it. 🙏🙏

I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me given the multicultural aerospace industry there.

If you are looking as far up as Lyon you may as well look at the area surrounding Geneva, and see if you can get a job in Switzerland and a G permit - not a problem usually if you have an EU passport. Warm summers (didn't drop below 30 for 3 months this year), cold winters (skiing on your doorstep), good multilingual schools (at a price, mostly) and big anglophone community. No sea, but lots of lakes!

Barcelona is nice....spent several years there....not cheap tho...london prices for most things now....and if you dont learn catalan you will always be an outsider....its a hard language....after 4 years i wasnt very good but did go with fluent spanish...!!

We live in Spain, Murcia Region. We've been here over 4 years and no regrets.
Eldest was 10 when we moved, youngest 1 and a few in between. All go to Spanish school and very happy.

Some good private British schools locally too, and a big mix of nationalities attending, mainly Spanish.

Brilliant lifestyle.

@AllLopsided thank you for suggesting Geneva. Cost of living consideration for anything CH.

@earsup yes I hear about prices in Barcelona. Loved when visited years ago.

@mamatoTails thank you. How long did it take for your 10 year old to learn Spanish at school? Do you speak the language? How long is the school day? Are you planning to come back for Gcse? Have you integrated well?

Geneva is very expensive, doesn't really meet your remit.

Primary aged kids will quickly adapt to the local school system, I wouldn't worry about that, they will adjust on return too with a fluent foreign language

He was fluent after his first year of school here, now he can flip from one language to another without even thinking.
His siblings took a little longer but they were a little more nervous! But they all loved school here from day one and preferred it to their schools in England.
We won't be returning, he'll be taking Spanish exams in the next few years.

Local schools here are 9-1 in June & September and 9-2 October - May.

High school here 8.15-2.15.

I think some regions may have slightly different hours.

There are semi- private schools which have longer days, usually Spanish. Then the private schools which are around 9-5.

Im still learning the language! I wish my brain understood it as easily as the kids brains do!

@mamatoTails thank you! 9-1pm or 9-2pm is half days really. What do you do for after school care for working parents?

@gogohmm yes indeed. I pay high prices for everything in London so yes if I am to move my family I would welcome a good standard of living for a lower monthly spend.

Do adults integrate easily in Spain (apologies for the generalisation) or are you finding it that it is easier to socialise with other expats?
How much do nurseries /pre-school for 3 year old kids cost roughly? How long is the preschool day for small kids (I am thinking if it 9am till 2pm I need to find a nanny to bridge the gap until the end of the working day).

From my research into international schools in France they were extremely expensive and difficult to get a place although I guess as you are only looking for one school place it might be easier. The schools will not share any information with you on spaces etc. unless you fill out all the forms and submit all documents so it's quite difficult to just gather info.

I love living in Spain. Life is easy. Nursery is free from the year they turn two as they join preschool then. And we paid €350 a month full time for 6-18 months.

school is 9-4.30, you can either pay for lunchtime childcare, clubs and food, or pick them up between 12.30-3. Mine go to the local state schools though, a friend works in the British school in Madrid, it’s very good. But €€€ if you’re on a local income!

I found it easier to integrate once I spoke Spanish as I work in a Spanish speaking environment, but there are big expat communities even in the non traditional cities.

unless you have a special skill set jobs in Spain will be very very limited. My sis lives near Alicante ( owns a spar type shop for expats ). All the casuals in the shop and bar staff locally even though it’s an expat area , speak at least two languages and many get by in English Spanish French Italian and even Russian.

@Kingstonmumof1 yes I had heard about this, thank you for confirming this is the case indeed. The South of France would be easier in our case as I speak French and kids can learn I guess bu I have to admit I am a little more drawn to Spain /Portugal for the milder winters although I see the disadvantages with not speaking the local language. Where are you guys in France?

@Helenloveslee4eva hmmm I see the scenario you paint. Thank you!