Love my school but I want a family now

[pumpkinspicecinammon]

Fellow teacher here!
First of all I hope everyone is having a lovely half term. I am enjoying coffees, lovely walks and I have to say lots of treats : cinnamon rolls, pumpkin spice lattes ( only 2 pumps of syrup as it is too sweet for me ) a very nice massage - Got a discount on treatwell! I had the best sleep ever afterwards so I really recommend it. Hope you all are enjoying some much needed rest 🧡

Back to my dilemma : I am recently qualified and an ECT in a fantastic school, I have been very very fortunate as this was my dream school . I was the last one in my cohort to get a job because I was waiting for the right place.
I lived in London before then moved to Oxford to do my PGCE. My school is located in Oxfordshire and it is shockingly expensive to live in Oxfordshire. Of course I new Oxford city was very expensive but I thought I might find something affordable in the county? For now the only affordable town is Faringdon but It would be quite far from my job... I understand that Oxfordshire is an expensive county but I am just so so upset that I cannot find anything affordable and spend half my salary on rent.
Plus I really want a family now and I do not want to wait any longer, childcare is too expensive as well... basically my partner and I feel priced out of everything... and we want to start our family.
They say the want to keep teachers in the profession... how are they supporting teachers in Oxford/ Oxfordshire area? There is a teacher retention crisis in this area.
I am originally from France, I do not think I could teach there as there are no international schools in my town.
But these would be the benefits: my family can help with childcare and by this I mean everyday and anytime I need it. I have a wonderful extended family as well who can also help and a support network. I would have a beautiful big house... but that would mean giving up teaching. Of course I can find other jobs, I am a language specialist so I could potentially find something remote...
My partner's job is very flexible as he can work from home from anywhere
Do we move back home? Or do we stay here for the job I love and fight our way through?

France sounds like a better option from the facts you have presented.
It is tough out there, I agree.

Hi
By the way I love the UK and have been happy up until we started discussing about having a family and noticing that financially it will be very hard. I know lots of people do it ...
The UK has given me great things but it does not seem family friendly

That is true, lots of people do it but the fact remains childcare is so expensive. I didn't know Oxford/shire was an expensive area. I'm sure other posters will be able to offer some supportive views.

London, Oxford, Cambridge are all expensive. Have you looked into shared ownership housing for teachers?

I haven't and thank you for this suggestion!!

I think the shine of a dream teaching job would soon wear off when the reality of trying to raise a family in a high cost of living area with no support network kicks in. Why Oxfordshire? Given you moved from London, don't have family where you are, and your partner's job is flexible, could you move someone cheaper? I have to say though, France sounds tempting, even if you have to do a bit of retraining so you can teach there.

Why is the choice Oxford or France? I live in Yorkshire and have quite comfortably managed 2 maternity leaves and childcare to work part time. My husband earns similar to me. I'm not an ECT though - I don't think it's unusual in any profession to need to work for a few years to afford a family unfortunately.