Whether your company is relocating staff on international assignments or a domestic move, autumn is the time when schools invite prospective parents and interested parties to take tours of their schools on Open Days.Now is the perfect opportunity for members of your team to visit local schools where they will get a chance to meet teachers, parents and students and to take a tour of the school’s facilities.

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For a limited time only, employers can access the Relocate Guide to Education & Schools in the UK for FREE. Packed with 170 pages of expert advice on UK education, access the guide here.

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For families who are relocating, choosing the right school will be at the top of their priority list and research has shown that finding the right school is vital in minimising family assignment failure. Finding out what a school can offer your relocating families well in advance will help them to prepare for their move and allow time for them to factor in any exams, tests or interviews that may be required.

The importance of school Open Days in making an informed decision

Employers need to ensure that they are aware of the school options available for relocating families and attending an Open Day – and encouraging relocating families to do so, even if their relocation is some time ahead – is one of the best ways to do this.Open days often provide important insights into a school’s ethos and learning culture and are therefore, arguably, one of the most important deciding factors when choosing a school. For some tips on getting the most out of the day, read our article School Open Days: make sure you ask the right questions

Admissions deadline for UK state primary schools: 15 January 

When applying to UK state primary schools for the first time for entry into a reception class at the age of four-plus, the deadline for September 2018 is 15 January 2018 and many primary schools are currently conducting open days. Read more about the procedure for applying to UK schools here. 

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Related news:

• Employers: support relocating families with our free UK Education Guide
• School open days: helping you make an informed choice
• Relocating? Top tips on choosing a new school

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Understanding the options at independent and international schools

For those considering independent schools, the Independent Schools Show is a must. Taking place on 11 and 12 November in London, it is a chance to engage with leading schools, senior figures in education and respected head teachers as they gather for the world's biggest open day.The Show provides the obvious advantage that all of the schools are in one place and so it is an excellent way to get an overview of several schools at once that may be an option for your relocating families.In an ideal world, many schools advise families to make applications one complete academic year in advance of entry, regardless of whether they are applying for a school place at the start of their child’s compulsory school education or transfer to secondary school.However, many families going through the relocation process will not have the luxury of that amount of planning time and will be looking at securing a school place out of term time. You can read some helpful advice on ‘in-year’ admissions here.For those applying to International schools, autumn is an equally important time with more opportunity to secure places than January onwards when waiting lists build.The earlier your relocating families apply for a school place, the better. So take advantage of the Open Day season to take tours of schools and help them to make an informed choice.

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Relocate Global's Guide to Education & Schools in the UK 2017 is packed with expert tips for those who are relocating and the professionals who support them. Access your digital copy here.

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For related news and features, visit our Education & Schools section.Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  

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