Moving from Eng to Scotland in Feb !

[RASHU]

I have to move for a new job from Newcastle to Glasgow in Feb and wondered how will this affect my child's transition . He has just strated the reception here and would be looking to continue there . Wonder if anyone could help by guiding me what the procedure will be .

What age are they and when is their birthday?

Primary 1 new starters are between 4½ and 5½ in Scotland. If they turn 4 by the end of the February then they start school in August of that year. If they turn 4 from March onwards then they start school the next year. You can also defer entry for a year and go into Primary 1 a year later.

Main question is birthday as PP said. If after February they will not be in P1 but will be eligible for the 1080?? hours funding for a nursery place somewhere.

We did a similar move last April and DD is August born so went from reception to Lockdown to P1. She's ahead somewhat but the school is keeping her busy and happy.

Schools are generally (pretty well all occasions) required to find a place for a new child in the catchment. If not the LA will provide transport to the school you are assigned.

In Scotland you have the right to choose between Catholic, Non Denominational and Gaelic medium schooling. The council has to provide transport if your catchment school is too far away - you have a "catchment school" for all 3 types.

You can request other schools as a "placing request", this isn't guaranteed though. Looking at last year's stats some schools had 100% success, others had 100% of placing requests refused.

Other oddities from an English perspective... bank holidays are not consistent across Scotland and you may have school off as a "bank holiday" while you are working and vice versa. Half terms are not really a thing - we've mostly got long weekends rather than full weeks in East Dunbartonshire. Might be awkward if trying to travel to see English friends/family but I don't think fines apply.

As far as starting school is concerned once you have an address and proof of council tax payment being set up you contact the catchment school (can get details from local authority site) and you get a form to fill in.

We moved in April so was all very odd - the Head Teacher had to "break into" the school to get the necessary forms - he was covering the keyworker care in the attached nursery so was very much available.

Thats great help . Thankyou both.

So, assuming my plan for move in Feb goes ahead, do you think I can put my son in to school without missing any days. I mean to say time l;ines wise is it enough time to make the plan work?.

Do you mean start school in February when you first move or wait until later in the school year? You haven't said what age they are just now

Or you could time to settle and get a place for after the Easter Break

Your main limiting factor (assuming your child is in the age cohort) will be getting a tenancy agreement and setting up your council tax account. I'm assuming you're going into rented because at the moment the Glasgow area property market is moving very quickly with limited supply of houses, and you'd probably have to offer very high to counterbalance the uncertainty of having to sell an English property.

I think things can move very quickly but have no direct experience as age/lockdown meant no school until the August return to school in after the holidays.

Thanks. My son is 5 years old to be exact and has started Reception this August in England. He loves going to school. So I would hate to have him sat at home even for a day - Ideally would like him to start his new school in Scotland as soon as we move there - hoping to be mid Feb the latest. So whilst I can get the tenancy sorted and council tax set up (if we rent, also looking at the buying options at the moment, but worried about time duh !), wonder how will it take from the time application to starting the school...

If you have an idea which council I'd talk to them - we settled quite quickly on East Dunbartonshire because it has good secondary schools and was perfect location for DH's work. You might find other areas work for you or it might be less obvious where you want/need to live.

A chain is technically possible from England but I think you'd struggle at the moment with the state of the market.

However rentals have no minimum period, just standard notice for you, which is handy for renting while sorting a purchase.

Ask for advice in Scotsnet - there will be more people with local knowledge there

If your ds is 5 now and started Reception this year, that sounds like his birthday was sometime between September and now. So he'd go into P1 but would go from being one of the oldest in the year to being one of the younger ones.

Thanks prettybird.
Thanks randomsabreuse .

Agree rentals easy. Just that it measn having to moove out again in few months (hate moving with so much stuff - family of four !)

Hi. Any idea about castle hill primary school and st nicholas primary school - any good ?