hiya all
 

we have the oppurtunity to move to granada area on the 20th may permantkley but i have 5 small children will they adapt ok to life over there and how does schooling work does anyone know?

Re: hiya all
 

Firstly let me welcome you to the wonderful place that is BE, secondly let me commend you on your constitution, 5 kids all under 5!!!!

Re: hiya all
 

lol i know would we cope in spain with them??? hehehehe

Re: hiya all
 

If you can cope with them at all then you can cope with them ANYWHERE!

Re: hiya all
 

he's right!

added to which, where I live there's free full time education from age 3 (gotta be a bonus in your situation!), though I'm not sure if it's a national thing.

In my opinion, the education system here is at least as good as in the UK, if not better, and runs on similar lines

Re: hiya all
 

do the kids fit in ok with the spanish speaking schools?

Re: hiya all
 

sure they will have no problems whatsoever

I came when my son was 6 - within 6 months he was having no problems at all communicating with the other children or the teachers

go for it while they are young

:thumbsup:

ps yes in this area its free schooling from age 3 too

Re: hiya all
 

Hi mumof5under5,I dont know anything about schooling in Spain,but congratulationson the move,I hope everything runs smoothly for you,I hope you and your family have a wonderful life in Granada,you must keep us posted.Cheers the best of luck :thumbsup:

Re: hiya all
 

Hi there. Which area of Granada might you be moving to? I'm moving to Granada later this year.

Re: hiya all
 

absolutely.......& the younger they start the better

mine were 4 & 7 when we arrived, spent a year at an international (english speaking ) school .....waste of money IMO at that age (in retrospect)............, so 5 & nearly 9 when they started spanish school just over 2 years ago

sometimes when they are playing with their spanish friends I find it hard to work out which child is mine...they sound so spanish....and even spanish people haven't realised they are english until they speak in english!

Re: hiya all
 

cullar we are moving to its a little village am really nervous dont know if i can go through with it being born and breed in britain lol!!

Re: hiya all
 

hi there

The kids will adapt without any problem. The younger the better!!.

Schooling (obligatory) starts at 6,, so any that turn 6 in 2007 will officially start in September. Nursery type schooling starts at 3.

Loooooooooooooooong school holidays though in summer (12 weeks)
School books now free in Andalucía, but you have to provide eveything else,pens, paints,paper, books etc... free transport for 6 & over in most rural areas.


As soon as you get here , go to the local school, and find out if you can get them in for Sept. Official registration will be over by then, but if there are places, then no problem.

Try to get the kids to learn as much Spanish as possible before you get here, even if it´s only how to give their names, and hola-adios-gracias.

Personally we have found the schooling excellent.
Official statistics indicate that it´s overall better in Spain, and more kids reach a higher standard, but obviously there´s good and bad everywhere.

Small rural junior schools,also generally do better than bigger ones.

My daughter (youngest) is in year 5 at junior school. There are only 7 kids in her class which is actually year 5 and 6. lots more personal attention etc...
Her school does LOADS of school trips ( free or small charge )

just had 4 nights in Granada province at an eco'school type place, to learn about environment, and on way there had day in Granada city, went to Science park and cinema, etc... only cost 10 euros and that was their cinema and spends for first day.
Boys at local high school, 1 pc per 2 kids in each classroom, loads trips too, but not so free!!, and good standards too ( well for the one that wants to study!!)

sorry...
gone on a bit

hope it helps

Re: hiya all
 

how far away do you live from cullar?

yeah it helped loads thanks

Re: hiya all
 

Cullar Vega, near Armilla? It's about 10 kilometres from Granada City. My boyfriend's from Granada and he told me that a lot of new flats and houses are being built in Cullar at the moment. We're buying a flat in Cenes de la Vega (all going well), just outside Granada, in the east. I know what you mean about being nervous - I'm TERRIFIED! I think it's normal to feel like this. But it's very exciting too! :)

Re: hiya all
 

:o not sure really!!! have to dig out a map and check where Cullar is!! Heard of it, think I may even have driven throughnear it, but mind totally blank as to where it is!!we are about 30 mins from Baza, which has a good hospital btw if you didnt know, and lots of shops. hosp ben great with the kids, was there today in fact

Re: hiya all
 

the house we are renting is 30 mins from baza aswell so u prob close to us email me if you can for friendly advice from someone who's there!!! x

Re: hiya all
 

Hi Mumof5under5, you will find lots of support and advice from everyone here. Good luck with your search for a school for your little ones. Don't know if I could have coped with 12 weeks hols though! :D :D

Re: hiya all
 

cheers for that,yep five kids is hard,but i reckon finding work for myself and the other half will be just as hard though,what do people reckon

Re: hiya all
 

A lot of schools do have holiday activities, taking the kids for hlaf days every day during the holidays, you do have to pay, but would give you a break.

Re: hiya all
 

without trying to bring a "downer" to your plans... you are nowhere near the coast. do you speak spanish ?? there is a reason why all the houses are so cheap over that way you know... :o

Re: hiya all
 

may not be close to sea, but theres the Negratin reservoir, also referred to as Baza lakes. Better than the sea for swimming IMHO, as it's fresh water!

Also closer to ski resort at sierra nevada if that's of interest.

the Spanish love kids, and especially little ones, so the kids will be a great way to get to know everyone!

Many town halls put on free activities for kids during the hols.

for swimming there's also the Cela balsa , natural warm water spring, and LOTS of people go there from Baza area as well. several bars /restaurants around it too

Re: hiya all
 

Oops, sorry! Wrong Cullar! :o

Re: hiya all
 

aaaaaaaaahhhhh!
I thought that one of was relocating for their company........not sure I'd take the chance with 5 kids & no job to go to......unless you've a lot of money to keep you going!

Re: hiya all
 

hi mumof5under5,

You mentioned finding work. Can I ask the obvious question of who is going to take care of your children if you are working?

M

Re: hiya all
 

You have 5 kids,so Im guessing you are not any where near to retirement,from what I have read both on here and on the net its very difficult to find work especially if you dont speak the lingo,and if you do manage to find something I believe the pay is peanuts compared to UK,Im not sure whether you would find childminders easily,and they have to be paid,I really doupt whether you would earn enough to keep your family on and pay a childminder has well,Im sure there are plenty of people will shoot me down if Im wrong :eek: I also think finding any work would be hard living inland,ooooooops I dont want to dash your dreams,hope you have pots of money to keep you all going,Im not trying to put you on a downer just trying to be realistic.I wish you and your family the very best of luck :thumbup: