Moving from Spain to Uk with child (education question )

[Jordan0204]

Hello everyone . I was looking for some advice and if anyone could answer some questions I have.
I've lived in spain for 13 years and have a 6 year old son.
Unfortunately me and his dad's relationship hasn't worked out .
Eventually I'm looking to move back home to the UK.. as I have no support system here and very lonely . The court will decide whether I'm actually allowed to come home with my 6 year old son.
I wanted to see if there qas any primary school teachers or other parents that have been in my situation.
My son understands and speaks English almost fluently.. he's actually trilingual .
The eduction system is alot slower here .. so atm is just started to read in Spanish and catalan but in uppercase letters .
What type of help would my child get at school as I can imagine him being very far behind and this is what is holding me back on hurrying my journey home .
Would he always be behind or would he Eventually catch up ?
I've looked at out of school extra tuition if needed .
But the fact he doesn't know lower case letters and cannot read or write in English is worrying me alot on top of all the other worries I have .
Any advice would be great

He will be fine. I'd be surprised if he wasn't academically equal to his peers by the end of the school year.
If he's 6 now, I'd guess he would be in y2 (or maybe the oldest in Y1).
The sooner you get here, the longer he has to catch up.

He was born in July.. so would be one of the youngest ?? Here the school year us from 1st January.
Just worried as he cannot read and write .. I dont want him just sitting there not having a clue what to do .
I think due to having to go to court .. he will likely be nearly 8 by the time we get there as I don't think the process will be very quick .. even less so it being spain . So probably start the academic year of Sept 2023

Summer born children can now start reception a year later so I would ask about him going into year 1 rather than year 2.

Hi @Jordan0204,

Maybe you need a little extra support for him to put your mind at ease and get him up to speed?

What could be quite useful is having a tutor who speaks Spanish and can help him in two languages to improve his English? Ask for Hayley at Gifted Thinkers Tuition- she speaks Spanish and could help him with his English and give him the support he needs, using Spanish if necessary!

This is the website if you want to get in contact with them, I use them for my daughter and they're great: www.giftedthinkers.co.uk

Alison

Hi,
I'm in a sort of similar position to you. Have lived in Spain for the past 2 and a half years and now am heading back to the UK with my 7 year old and 3 year old. My daughter doesn't have the same level of Spanish as your son and is fluent in English, as she attended a bilingual school, but she is behind the English system as like you said, it is a slower system here. I'm also a primary school (ex) teacher so I'm very conscious about how behind she is!
However, when I was teaching I came across so many children who had moved from abroad (including Spain) who moved at around aged 7. Some couldn't read and write, or just had the basics, and they were given extra support - usually with other children who were struggling. But by the end of the year, they had caught up and some were even academically above their peers.

So I'm just trying to remember this - I think the UK start formal education too early tbh - and I think around 7 is when kids are really ready to learn.
Good luck with your move!

Oh thanks so much for your reply. Everything is currently on hold atm.. as my mum has just been diagnosed with cancer. And I woild have to take my child's father to court to be able to move home and I can't deal with it all atm as myself will be travelling to and from England throughout the year for my mum .
Is your ex spanish ? And allowing you to leave with the children?
I think I put it all off for too long as wanted to keep father and son together and notnl unsettle Alex , but wasn't thinking about my happiness. Looks like it may be atleast another year for us 😔.
When are you heading back ? Good luck