Moving to the UK

[RachJW]

I'm hoping someone out there can help me please. It's looking very likely we'll be moving to London for a couple of years for my husbands work, and I haven't been able to get the information I need. I've been doing all these web searches with no joy... suspect my terminology is all wrong.

I have a 3 yo and a 1yo. Would someone be kind enough to clarify:

• is the term "nursery" for paid, long day care or pre-school? Or both? I'm working at the moment so the kids are in long day care, but I'm not sure if I'll work in the UK so am keen to see what options there are.
• is there an equivalent to what we call Playgroup in Australia? It's very informal, we meet once a week in a specific spot with loads of toys and outdoor equipment, and we just pay a small fee to the Playgroup organisation.

And while I'm at it, we're thinking of living around Twickenham / St Margarets - any thoughts? Good for kids? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

"Nursery" does tend to be used for both, yes.

And yes, we call them "playgroup" too. But you'd probably only find out what there was near you by asking around your local area once you've arrived.

I like Twickenham/St Margarets. Will you still be here when your DCs start school? If so you'll need to factor schools into your decision.

Thank you!! Very helpful. It's a 2 year posting, so no schools won't come into it, although pre-school will. Actually now that I think about it.... here children start kindergarten at either 4 or 5 in February - but I'm assuming your school year starts after your summer? In which case, he might have a few months of kindy in the UK before coming back to Aus.

In the UK you legally need to be in education (at school or otherwise) the term after your fifth birthday, and terms start in September, January and April. So it will depend on your DS's birthday. If you weren't working at that point then you could just decide to officially home educate him for a few months until you go home, rather than enrol him in a school and then take him out again.