My Town Tutors is a great resource for parents & teachers. Find qualified tutors in your area today!

October Guest Blogs / Top Guest Blogs / October Jokes / Top October Pages

Your child’s education is so important, and it sets them up for life. That’s why, if you’ve decided to move abroad, one of the biggest considerations will be getting the right schooling overseas. There are ways you can minimise the impact of a big move, so here are some steps you should consider taking.

Pick the Least Disruptive Time

Timing is important when making a big move. There are certain times when a move will least affect your child’s education:

  • Before they start school – when it comes to moving your children overseas, the younger they are, the better. They are more likely to assimilate into the local culture and learn the language
  • When they are switching schools – if your child is making the move from primary to secondary, or middle to upper school, then this is a good time for them to move, as they’ll be making the transition anyway
  • Before they start their exams – it’s always best to avoid a big move close to exams. Consider moving when they start studying for their GCSEs, IB or A-Levels, rather than when they’re already halfway through

Consider Hiring a Private Tutor

It’s not always easy to move at a convenient time, so your child may need to spend some time off school before they can enrol. If you don’t want them to miss out on important parts of their education, you might want to consider booking them some sessions with a private tutor, who can keep them on track and ensure they don’t fall behind.

Pick the Right School

Expat children usually attend an international school, as this allows them to follow the curriculum of their home country when they are overseas. Schools such as https://basis.ac.th/ offer a high quality education, so there’s a minimal impact on your child’s schooling when you move away. 

International schools also teach in English, so your child isn’t disadvantaged by not knowing the local language. However, they can also take language lessons so they can get up to speed, and ultimately embrace the local culture more fully. An international school will usually offer a lot more in the way of extracurricular activities too, so your child can still enjoy their hobbies and the things they love. 

While it can be tempting to put your child in a local school, this can be disruptive to their education. They won’t necessarily follow the same curriculum, so may be ahead or behind the other kids, and the language barrier can also set them back.

Expats with kids will often worry about their education and whether it’ll be affected negatively. The key to avoiding this is consistency, ensuring that your child stays on the same educational path. Timing plays a big part in this, ensuring that you don’t move during a difficult time, but getting private tutoring and finding the right school can really help. This ensures your child doesn’t fall behind and can still study the subjects they need and the ones they love, so your move is a positive in their life.