Moving back to UK and re-registering at school

[BeSassyPeachDuck]

We've just spent a year abroad. Our kids (year 1 and year 5) have been in an international school for the school year where they follow the British national curriculum. They will complete the full school year and then we'll head back. However, the school years don't quite align and we'll get back in early July (school year runs August to June here).
They don't want to go back to school for a week or two in July. We don't think it makes any sense for them either as they've completed the year and even the curriculums are aligned. They're where they need to be education wise. They're returning to the same school they were at before leaving the UK.
My question is, will it be a problem for the council if they know we're back and don't send them until September? I don't want to be fined! In an ideal world we'd send them in for the odd settling in session, but then we're admitting we're physically back. Honestly, I'm not up for this mammoth length summer holidays either, but I think it's better for the kids than the alternative.
It would be easy enough not to admit we're back as I'm seconded for a year and the secondment only ends at the end of July - I'm just using annual leave to come back to the UK a little early.
Any ideas anyone?

No one is going to fine you! Do you have a UK home already as you seem sure of school places? We found we couldn’t confirm the place until we had a confirmed address and even then we had to be physically resident before it was guaranteed - although the school were great at communicating with us ahead of this with the presumption it would be ok - we were very close to the school and it had a space in the year we needed - this might be harder with 2.

I wouldn’t even get into a discussion about attending in July - tell school you will be ‘in the area’ in July ( no one will question for how long - if they do you had admin for your move - believable unless you are in NZ or similar) and arrange a one day visit if you can as that will make September less daunting for DC.

I realised there you’ve only been away a year’s secondment so you probably do still have a home here! Even so school places I think need you resident at time of application? Or did you just say you were? Hope it all works out whatever way, moving back to UK can have some unexpected hurdles - some you might avoid with it only being one year. Eg trying to get any type of insurance when you’ve been non-UK resident.

Once you know the school, check the newsletter for moving up day.
That way your children can join meeting the new teachers, classroom and potentially a reshuffle of classes etc x

I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Sort the move back, then once you're settled back in July you contact admissions in and say you've moved back and will require school places again from the start of the new term in September. It won't even be questioned why you won't be starting them in the last week of term.

There is no guarantee they will return to their previous school, unless you are 100% sure that they have sufficient space?

For me, whether you send them in or not hinges on that - same school, not so much of an issue;new school, I would as it will help them to get a feeling for things in the last few relaxed weeks of term, meet their new teacher etc.

My dc were out of school for a couple of months when we came back. Our possessions took twelve weeks to get here. Then my youngest was out of school for months after that as there was no school place for her. Nobody cared.

If they are going to state schools then I’d send them in July because what if there are no places in September. You can’t enroll them and not send them. And they can’t keep places for them. If someone wants a place they get it. If it’s private or undersubscribed then I would not send them.

Is your former / preferred school over subscribed?

If the chances are (strongly) that you will be able to go back into the same school, then apply in the last week of term and by the time they do the paperwork to re-admit it will be the end of term anyway.

If it is a popular over subscribed school with a waiting list I would apply to other schools that would be acceptable and get your kids to go in for a week, met the staff, and new friends.

I would send them to school in July to secure their places and to ensure you are in the loop about the new academic year and information about secondary schools, especially if you live in an area where your eldest will be sitting the 11 plus or fair banding exams.

The children will not be on roll at the school at moving up day.