Moving to Spain with Children from the UK

Moving to Spain with children is a very different proposition from moving here alone.

When it's just you, you can make questionable decisions, live out of boxes for six weeks and call it an adventure.

Add children and suddenly there are schools, friends, languages, healthcare, activities, bedrooms, Wi-Fi and somebody demanding to know whether Spain has McDonald's.

It does.

We can continue. 😂

Is the Costa Blanca a good place to raise children?

For many families, absolutely.

One of the lovely things about family life here is how much of it happens outside.

Children grow up around beaches, mountains, sports facilities, village squares, local fiestas and communities where families are very much part of everyday life.

But don't choose an area because it looked wonderful during a two-week holiday.

Living somewhere with children requires a completely different checklist.

Where are the schools?

Can they walk there?

What happens after school?

Are there sports facilities?

What do teenagers do?

How far are you from healthcare?

Will they be able to make friends locally?

And what happens in January when the holidaymakers have gone home?

Choose a community, not simply a property.

What schools are available?

Depending upon where you live and what you're looking for, families may consider Spanish public schools, concertado schools, private schools or international schools.

There isn't one universally "best" option.

The right choice depends on your child, their age, languages, your budget, how long you're planning to remain in Spain and what sort of education and integration you're looking for.

Some parents arrive convinced their children must attend an international school.

Others specifically want Spanish state education because they want their children to integrate fully into local life.

Research the options before choosing the house.

The most beautiful villa in the world becomes considerably less appealing if you've accidentally created an hour-long school run twice a day.

Will my children have to learn Spanish?

If they're going to live in Spain, we'd certainly hope so. 😂

But depending on where you live, Spanish may not be the only local language involved.

Here in the Valencian Community, Valencian is also an official language and is widely used in education and everyday life.

How languages are used within individual schools and educational programmes can vary.

For British parents this can initially sound daunting.

For children, it can also be an extraordinary opportunity.

Children often adapt to languages considerably faster than the adults worrying about them.

Before choosing a school, speak directly to the school about its current language programme and how it supports children arriving without the local languages.

What if my child doesn't speak Spanish?

Don't assume they'll be the first child ever to arrive at a Costa Blanca school unable to speak Spanish or Valencian.

This is an international area and schools are familiar with families arriving from elsewhere.

But age matters.

Personality matters.

The individual school matters.

And every child's experience is different.

Talk to schools directly about how new pupils are supported and give children time to adjust.

Moving country, changing school, leaving friends and learning a new language is a lot to deal with simultaneously.

Even when the new house does have a swimming pool.

State school or international school?

This is one of the big family-relocation decisions.

Spanish state schooling can offer children much deeper integration into the community and language.

International schools may offer continuity with an education system or curriculum your child already knows and can be particularly relevant to families who expect to move countries again.

There are also cost differences and practical considerations such as location and transport.

Rather than starting with:

"Which is the best school?"

start with:

"Which environment is likely to work best for my child?"

They're not necessarily the same question.

Where should families live on the Costa Blanca North?

This is where things get interesting.

You don't automatically need to live in one of the famous coastal resorts to have a wonderful family life.

Dénia offers a proper year-round town, beaches and a huge range of facilities.

Ondara has schools, sports, shops, activities and excellent connections.

Pedreguer combines everyday Spanish town life with easy access to the coast.

Beniarbeig and El Verger offer smaller communities while keeping you close to larger towns and beaches.

Pego, Orba, La Xara and the surrounding villages offer still more alternatives.

The right answer depends upon your family.

Do you want the children to walk to school?

Do you need to commute?

Do you want teenagers to have some independence?

Would you rather have land and space?

Do you need to be near an international school?

Are you happy driving everywhere?

These questions help narrow the search far more effectively than simply telling us you want four bedrooms and a pool.

What is everyday family life actually like?

This is exactly why we've started creating our Mums in the Marina Alta guides.

Because property pages tell you almost nothing about actually raising children here.

Parents need the useful stuff.

Nurseries.

Toddler groups.

Football.

Dance.

Libraries.

Holiday activities.

Birthday venues.

Local fiestas.

What to do when it's raining.

Where to take them when it's 36 degrees outside.

And, occasionally, somewhere a child can play safely while Mum or Dad finishes a coffee.

Our Moving to the Marina Alta with Children guide looks at the bigger picture of family life here, while our Living in Ondara with Children guide gets properly local with schools, nursery, sports, activities, useful contacts and places families actually use.

Those two should be internally linked here once they're live.

What about healthcare for children?

Before moving, establish how the whole family will access healthcare in Spain.

Your entitlement will depend upon your circumstances, residency status and how you're covered.

Don't assume that because one parent has a particular healthcare entitlement, you've automatically answered the question for everyone.

Our separate Healthcare in Spain for UK Citizens guide explains the main things to investigate before relocating.

Again, this should be internally linked.

What about residency after Brexit?

British children moving permanently to Spain are part of the family's immigration planning too.

Your residency or visa route, family circumstances and documentation all need to be considered before the move.

This is one area where you should obtain current professional advice for your family's individual circumstances.

We've also created a separate guide to Residency & Visas for UK Citizens Moving to Spain as a starting point.

Don't forget the children are moving country too

Adults tend to focus on the practicalities.

House.

Money.

Paperwork.

Removal company.

Residency.

Schools.

Children may be thinking about something completely different.

Will I make friends?

Will anyone understand me?

What happens to my best friend in England?

Can my dog come?

Will I like my new school?

Let them be involved where their age allows.

Show them the area.

Visit the school.

Find the football club, dance class or activity they're interested in.

Let them choose something for their new bedroom.

Make the move something that's happening with them, rather than something the adults have simply announced.

Teenagers deserve particular consideration

A six-year-old and a sixteen-year-old can experience relocation very differently.

For older children, friendships, independence, education, exams and future university plans may be significant considerations.

And location can become especially important.

A remote finca with extraordinary views might be your idea of paradise.

For a teenager dependent on Mum or Dad for every single journey, it could feel rather different.

Think about transport, activities and whether older children can eventually develop some independence.

You are choosing their home too.

Should we rent before buying?

For some families, renting first can make sense.

It gives you time to understand an area, investigate schools and see how everyday life works before committing to a purchase.

For others, particularly those who already know the area extremely well, buying immediately may be perfectly reasonable.

There's no rule saying every relocating family must do one or the other.

But don't rush into buying the wrong house simply because you feel you need everything settled immediately.

Getting the location right matters.

Bring the children property hunting

Within reason. 😂

There are limits to how many villas any child should reasonably be expected to inspect in one day.

But if they're old enough, involve them.

You may be surprised by what they notice.

Adults are admiring the kitchen and mountain view.

Children are asking where their friends would come over, whether they can walk anywhere and why their bedroom appears to be the size of a cupboard.

Occasionally they have a point.

The perfect family property isn't necessarily the perfect family home

A property can tick every box on paper.

Four bedrooms.

Pool.

Garden.

Terrace.

Parking.

Beautiful views.

And still be wrong.

Because family life happens outside the property too.

School mornings.

After-school activities.

Friends.

Shopping.

Doctors.

Football practice.

Teenagers wanting to go somewhere without requiring a parental taxi service.

That's why when families come to Renvida, we want to know about the family, not just the property specification.

Tell us the ages of the children.

Tell us what they enjoy.

Tell us about school plans.

Tell us whether you want village life or the coast.

Tell us what worries you about the move.

Then we can start working out where your family might actually be happy.

A different childhood

Moving children abroad is a big decision.

There will be challenges.

There will probably be days when somebody announces that they hate Spain and want to go home.

Possibly one of the adults. 😂

But there can also be an extraordinary childhood here.

Languages.

Sunshine.

Sea.

Mountains.

Fiestas.

Outdoor life.

New friendships.

A different culture.

And the opportunity to feel at home in more than one country.

The house matters.

But what you're really choosing is the life your family will live inside and around it.

Property. Family. Real Life.

Welcome to The Renvida Way.