re-entering school system

Hi ummsana, Just thought I'd ask you how was your trip to Doha during the Easter holidays ? Hope you and the kids enjoyed yourself. Have you managed to sort out the schooling? I have been in Doha for just under 3 weeks. All the paperwork done now allhamdullilah. We managed to get permission from SEC too and my son started school here on Sunday. If you need any questions answering than feel free to ask.

No you don't need immunisation record for when you go now on holiday but when you do move permanently in Shaa Allah than schools do ask for immunisation record so have it for than.

No I have not driven in Qatar. I do not even drive here in the UK even though I have a licence. The first time around my hubby did the pick and drop from school as he would drop in the morning n go straight to work and than pick up in his lunch hour. It was too hectic for him. This time he has told me that he can't do that so I will either need to drive or we might get a driver. I do not feel comfortable using the school bus for my younger one who is 3.5 yrs old at the moment. Another thing is that nursery and reception year in most schools finish one hour early compared to year 1 onwards so we have to make some kind of arrangement for that too as my younger one will be starting reception in September. The school you mentioned only opened recently so they will more than likely have no waiting list. The school that my son went too was very new too and they had no waiting list at the time either. Make sure you take immunisation record for your children from the GP once you do move in Shaa Allah as schools do ask for them. In Shaa Allah when you travel now in the next few weeks , make sure you n your children passports have 6 months validity to enter Qatar and you have a credit card to make the visa payment at the airport. Another thing is to let your bank know that you will be travelling abroad so when you go use your card, they do not block it. These are small and silly little things but it helps once you are there to avoid any issues,

I live more towards central Manchester. I totally understand what you mean about just wanting to live as a family. I lived away from hubby for 5 months the first time and this time he has been away since December so I don't know how you coped for a year. I just googled ORYX school as I have never heard of it. If it is a school for Qatar airways employees than is it not easy for you to secure school places for your children? Where is your accommodation? Traffic is horrendous in Doha so it is better to live near school and work.

Omg I am in Manchester too. No I have never home schooled. The first time I went, I had already secured a place in school for my son to start in September. We went after the end of school year and after the school holidays , he started school from day one. This time allhamdullilah he has a school place to start in April so when I do go end of March, it will be Easter holidays there too and he will start after the holidays. We have been told by school that SEC will grant permission if we take the offer letter/email, school fee invoice paid and the RP and SEC has told us the same thing as my husband went to their office. Have you visited Qatar at all since your husband has been gone ? Tbh I m abit vary of home schooling as the schools ask got reports etc. Family is telling me not to put my younger one in school as we will have to fund his reception year fees ourselves but me and hubby do not want to do that so will be sending him to schools too. Which schools have you contacted in Qatar?

Hi ummsana, I read your post yesterday and feel I needed to reply. I have been in your position twice, trying to find school places. My husband moved to Qatar in Feb 2014 and me and the kids moved in August 2014. At the time only had one school going child who I managed to secure a school place for September 2014. I did that while I was still in the uk. The company which my husband was working for was not providing us with a school allowance so we had to choose for the cheaper option plus all the good schools had very long waiting list. Anyway my husband lost his job in March 2015 so we had to relocate back to the UK. Allhamdullilah he managed to get another job in Qatar and moved in early December. Me and the kids are still in the UK and are hoping to relocate by the end of the month (after hubby passes his probation). This time round I need to look for school places for both my children but allhamdullilah schooling is paid for. Like you I got told by all the schools about the deadline to start school in Qatar. If you are coming from abroad,the deadline is the 31st of January and not after that. This is what DESS, Doha College etc told me. This was very frustrating for us as I didn't want to relocate before hubby's probation was over but than didn't wanna wait till end of July ( which is when the school terms end here in the UK). My husband went and spoke to SEC ( Supereme Education Coucil) , who basically either gives permission or not for your child to start mid way after the deadline. They said if your child has a place in school, bring the offer letter and your child's RP to them and they will let them start school. My older son has managed to secure a school place starting on 10th of April. We will take the offer letter from school and his RP to SEC once me and the kids get to Qatar and I'm Shaa Allah he will start from the 10th of April which is when the last term on school starts. At this stage my younger one is just in playgroup so I am just looking for him to start in September in Reception year. My hubby's company pays from year 1 and above so we will have to pay for a year ourselves. If you have any questions than don't hesitate to ask as I have just been through this all recently. Up until last week my son had no school place and now he has managed to secure one in one of the best schools in Doha. Just hoping my husband passes his probation and than we can all relocate. Where in the UK are you ?

Not in Qatar, so if someone more local contradicts me, take their word. We investigated the possibility of a home Ed stop gap when moving to KSA, and most schools were not amenable. They wanted reports from previous schools proir to entry. However, if the company education allowance won't start for another year, does that mean your kids are very early primary, and so most schools wouldn't have expected them to start school, and hence won't be expecting reports? If you couldn't access schools sept 2017, would you be prepared to either home Ed for longer, or return to the UK and reintegrate there? ie I'd have a back up plan incase it proves impossible. Or could you look at starting school mid year, and paying the fees out of your own pocket? You'd have reports from June/July 2016, and would be looking to put them in Easter 2017, so no further reports would have been issued?