Moving to Tenerife

[antoniaw]

hello, this is my first time posting on here :)
Myself, my husband and our 2 children (10 & 5) have made the exciting decision to move abroad. My in laws already live in Tenerife and we visit so often that its like a second home to us.
I was wondering if anyone on here had done the same and could offer any advice. Im a little worried about schooling as I initially decided I was going to pay for them to go to a private British school. However, Im starting to change my mind and am thinking a Spanish school would be better for them to blend into the culture and learn the language.
sorry for the long post, but any tips or advice would be great!
TIA

What do you mean "never have the chance to study at University".

Loads of Spanish students go to University.

The 10yo will struggle with the language, the 5yo will pick it up really quickly. I wouldn't move with a child above the age of 8.

Education is limited? There are loads of international schools in Spain.

@antoniaw I work remotely pretty much. But not allowed to work from another country with my employer (only for short periods). This is because there are tax/ni issues - has he checked with his employer? Even if he is contract, not all UK companies will pay someone based abroad. Additionally is DH getting the visa that Spain offers for digital IT workers? Not trying to rain on your parade … just want to let you know, although you probably do.

Oh and given they can’t speak the language fluently or at all a village school is totally out of the question. It will have to be an English speaking international school, can you afford to commit to the fees for so many years? If your dh loses his job or is made redundant you will be totally screwed as the employment opportunities there are so limited/non existent.

I can’t believe you are even considering this as a possibility tbh. You could lose everything, including any viable future for your children.

Yes but there are international schools in Tenerife too

In a British school, all or almost of the children will speak Spanish in the playground, canteen and among themselves and dinner ladies, sports coaches, instrumental teachers etc. will all speak Spanish, and your children will also have Spanish AFL lessons so I wouldn’t worry about that side.

Speaking from expérience, Spain is a wonderful place to live, I don’t know Tenerife, however.

You can't just work remotely unless you work for yourself and apply for a nomad visa ( which has qualifying criteria) as you will fall foul of the 90 day rule post Brexit unless like you he has an EU passport

It’s a pipe dream until the children reach adulthood. Life there is VERY different to a holiday.

"We felt othered by the locals" and "It will take years to break into a community".

Sure that happens even if you just move from one part of the UK to another part of the UK!

I haven't lived in tenerife. But I've lived in mainland Spain. And I have to say, I'm glad I went. I had a great time

No, not in my experience. They actively didn’t like us living there. Not all local communities support the msss tourism and the constant invasion of their islands.

I think your children will benefit from a Spanish school- they will be bi-lingual in a very natural way. Good for you, OP.
best wishes
¡Buena suerte!

It doesn't matter.
Even speaking the language

If people move from one town In the UK to another town , they often talk on mumsnet about the locals leaving them out.

And about how they are finding it hard to break into local groups.

I personally wouldn't move to Tenerife either as I think it would be more difficult move.

But I don't have any family there myself. OP has her inlaws there, which would make it easier for her.

Did you completely wreck your children’s education and future? This is not about ‘enjoyment’ we have a responsibility to our children to make good decisions for them. I lived on the mainland too for a while. It felt more cosmopolitan and less provincial. The schools are more varied. Even then a 10 year old is a difficult age in my experience.

You're being extremely dramatic no?

How exactly is she wrecking her children's future.?

For a start, there's a large British expat community in tenerife. So they'll have loads of people to talk to

The international school isn't 'eyewateringly expensive' in Tenerife.

How exactly is she wrecking her children's future.

You seem to have a very low opinion of Tenerife.