4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Fizzle Knit]

DH and our 3 boys have the opportunity to move to Normandy for a 6 -12 month period. All the practicalities, and financial stuff aside my main worry is the boys' education. DS1 is in Y8, and the younger two in Y5. Are we being highly irresponsible taking them out of English education for a period, or are we giving them a brilliant opportunity to experience life abroad?

We're trying to work out timings, and at the very latest would return to this country before they are due to go into year 10 (GCSEs start) and year 7 (start of secondary) respectively. We would enrol them in school in France for the duration.

While there seem to be a lot of expat sites and moving to France sites out there, Omlet is the obvious choice to me for asking this question, because of all the wise, thoughtful and experienced people on here!

(The chickens are my other worry - do they do pet passports for poultry?)

[iar fach goch]

Have no experience of living in France but I think it is a fantastic opportunity and shouldn't interrupt their schooling at too crucial a time from what you have worked out. I would say definately go for it, just think of all the experiences they will have. I would love to do something like this with my 3 boys.

[Patricia W]

Go for it - it'll do wonders for their French and for their appreciation of how other countries live. As for the chickens, maybe someone from here will be surrogate Mums for the duration? Or rent the house out with a proviso only for chicken lovers!

 

I think you'll regret it if you don't - but others may think differently.

 

Tricia

[Space Chick]

I think that they would benefit more from the experience, what a fabulous opportunity for you all.

 

Also at that age they are far more likely to learn and adapt to French, so what a future you will be giving them by helping them discover another language whilst they are young (this assuming you don't already speak French, and coming from an adult trying to learn Spanish and wishing I had the opportunity whilst young )

[kitbag]

I think that would be a fantastic oppurtunity especially for your boys! They would be able to speak french so well and the whole general experience of it would be brilliant! I would definately go!

[Egluntyne]

I'd be off like a shot.

[Busybird]

This may be a daft question but are you familiar with France (even if only from a few holidays)? Do either of you speak French or are you comfortable learning a new language? So long as you and DH are happy to live alongside the 'natives' and integrate into their lifestyle and culture whilst there then this sounds like a fantastic opportunity

 

My DD is in Y8 and DS2 is in Y5. I would feel comfortable taking them out of the English education system so long as there was a decent education system - even if run along different lines - where I was going (which I believe the French have?). The experience of living abroad would be such an amazing education in itself.

 

There is so much more to life (even for young people ) than passing exams. I think your boys would gain a huge amount from this experience - so long as you and DH see it as a positive and exciting opportunity .

[Sam Palmer]

Sounds like a great opportunity for all of you.

Missing KS2 Year 6 SATS is no great loss (if you did), as in my son's secondary school they tested them all in the first few days in September anyway and said that although they use SATS as a guide, they go by their own results on the whole. They've gone back to streaming for all subjects at his school from the beginning of Year 7 though, so I don't know how it's done elsewhere.

[Snowy]

The people that we stay with in Brittany took their 6 children out of the UK system when they moved to France 7 years ago. Their ages must have been between 3 and 15 years at the time. They have all had a fabulous education, the eldest are going or have been through uni and they are all fluent in French. Go for it!

[poachedegg]

Education isn't just about school and exams, but experiences too and this would be a great opportunity to give them an education above and beyond what many other children would receive.

 

So if that is your only concern, I would definitely say go for it!

[Jules.]

Oui

[Happy-Mama]

sounds like a great opportunity

[Olly]

I can't answer the questions about education, but in a general sense I would agree with all the others - what a fantastic opportunity for the whole family to experience a different culture and learn to speak French, provided you are all willing to have a go and integrate into the local community.

 

It's not the things that you do in life that you regret, it's the things you don't do. Go for it.

[missuscluck]

It does sound like a fantastic oportunity and a great life experiance for your kids.

[ClaireG]

I agree, it can only enrich your childrens education. Go for it!

[Cate in NZ]

Speaking as someone who has moved 2 children out of the UK education system and into another one overseas, I'd say go for it . Of course we didn't have the language difficulty, which must complicate things quite a bit, but I believe that there's no better way to learn a language than to be immersed in it...which of course your children will be once they start school.

I worried endlessly about my children's education when we were contemplating emigration...in fact if I were to relive the experience I can honestly say that education would be one of my least worries, children are amazingly resilient and I've been awe-inspired at how mine have just settled in, made friends & got on with it. And of course all developed countries have a recognised system of education, the syllabus & the mode of teaching may be different from the UK system, but overall they're all driving towards the same end results.

Personally despite all the stress & anxiety I'd have hated to deprive myself of this opportunity, so I'd really, really urge you to go for it...it'll be a fantastic experience for you all, and it will enrich the children's education in everyway, not just in terms of academic achievement.

That said I'd suggest visit some of the ex-pat sites, there's one that I frequent that appears to have a lively French section, and ask some questions from people who've done it for real, so that you can prepare yourselves for some of the realities of the French education system, differences aren't quite so shocking if you're already prepared for them, and there's a whole host of practical basic advice to be had about living in another country.

Good luck with the decision making though, there's a lot to consider & anyone contemplating the emigration roller coaster ride has my empathy, & whole hearted support

[Couperwife]

I dont have children, but I totally agree with everything said on here - Go for it!!!!!

 

sound like a great opportunity

 

education is only a very small part of life

 

cathy

x

[kitchens]

I suppose the only thing I would say is that you are not going for long, but if you are happy that you might not be able to get the kids back into the school you take them out of in the uk then thats ok

 

Having said that it sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Whereabouts in Normandy?

[Mrs Webmuppet]

Go for it.

 

I used to spend my summers living with a french family in Pontarlier ( near the French /Swiss border) and loved it. I ended up speaking french so well my O level was a breeze!

I also went to school for a few days while I was there and the school day is slightly longer and you go to school on Saturday mornings but you get longer school holidays.

 

 

Kids adapt easily and will pick up the language in no time.

[Chickvic]

Sounds like a fantastic opportunity - go for it

[chickenNutter]

Definitely a 'oui' from me. If your kids are only yrs 5 and 8, than I say no harm done to their education. Go for it!

[OllieNLucys Mum]

I would say absolutely go for it. Don't worry about the children they will be fine and probably fluent in french in no time.

 

My daughter became ill at the age of 9 and then had NO education at all for 5 years and then recommenced with just an hour at the hospital school.

 

She has gone on to do GCSE'S and is now doing A levels. This experience has obviously completely changed my views on school attendance. I was so anxious my son never missed a day or even an afternoon if at all possible. My daughter missed 5 whole years but will be going to Uni the same as her brother if she chooses.

 

I was told by all her gcse teachers that all the necessary work was actually taught during those 2 years and as she was bright the 5 years lost wouldn't matter and they didn't

 

 

Sadly what she did loose out on was life experience confined to bed and the house, but your kids will be getting that in spades. Good Luck it'll be great.

[WarrensWorld]

Vous avez l'occasion de se déplacer en France. Allez pour elle et la bonne chance avec le mouvement

[Rhapsody]

'Allez pour elle'

 

Sorry to be a party pooper but this is not always the opportunity it sounds. I know, I've done it and after the novelty wore off I just wanted to be back home. Living in someone elses culture is difficult even if you have languages (as OH and I do) and the problem with the ex-pat scene is that you are kind of thrown together with people you normally wouldn't bother with

And can I just say the weather in Normandy is no better than ours so be sure you really want to do this!

[henriette]

Oui, Oui and encore Oui

It will be a great experience for you all. Do you have any knowledge of the french language? If not, you might find it really helpful to have some basic understanding.It makes such a difference if you know a few words. Your children will learn french very quickly.

We retired over here 4 years ago and have never, never regretted the move. One of my daughters moved to the Pyrenees at about the same time and she too loves it.

 

I didn't bring chickens to France so am not too sure whether you can or not. Defra might be your best contact. http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/factsheet/factsheet.htm

I have to admit I didn't really understand all of the factsheet though

The french Embassy might also be able to help