Hi, my husband and I are looking at the possibility of relocating from Scotland to Saumur in the South of France to run a business. Unfortunately my husband became unemployed due to the current climate in Scotland and work is proving difficult to secure, we are under no illusion that France will be any easier to find work however it has given us a chance to evaluate our future and where we are going. In order for us to set up a business one of would have to try and secure a job until the business was running effectively. I currently work in a high school as a clerical assistant providing clerical support to the pupil support team and senior management team which includes the head teacher and her deputes, it is a job I love and was wondering if anyone knew what the possibility of obtaining a similiar job in a British school would be. My husband is not work shy and can pretty much turn his hand to anything including many diy jobs in our home although no qualifications, he is an experienced forklift driver working in many warehouse environments and has also been a delivery driver and again I am finding difficult to establish if there is a demand for this type of work. I really like the look of Saumur and I like what I have read about the area, and I was wondering if there was a british pre school and british primary school for my children who are 3 and 7, the settling and integration and happiness of our children is paramount, and we think that if they were to attend a french primary school they would be affected academically in the sense of their french speaking would no doubt be fantastic as they are so young however other subjects may be affected as we are assuming all subjects would be taught in french. I hope there is someone out there who is able to give us some information. Many thanks in advance.
Sonya
Possible move to South of France
Hi Sonya,
I have only just found this site myself about 10 minutes ago. I just read your post, and I can totally relate. I am married to a brit, and we moved to the South of France nearly 3 years ago, with our five children. I will not fib to you, it is not easy, but my goodness it was definitely worth it. My husband is a builder, and it took some time to settle, but life is getting better all the time now. (as long as the children are okay, I am okay) My children went to the normal schools, without any french, ages then 11, 10, 6 and a twin of not even 3.
If you would like to chat about it, please do feel free to leave me a message 
Have a lovely day!
Hi
Thank you for replying so quickly, it's good to hear that you are getting settled and it was worthwhile moving, it is exciting and daunting at the same time to think of putting a new way of life into place. This is probably a real dumb question but what do you mean a school without any french is it a private british school and are there a few of these schools in south france. Where do you live in south france? and how have you found everything else such as general living, entertainment, locals, friendships etc? Do the children have opportunities where they can play with other children outside of school?
Thanks
Sonya
Do you and your husband speak good French? If not, you will find it as difficult to get work as finding a job in Scotland if you do not speak English. The number of English speaking schools in most of France is about the same as the number of French speaking schools in Scotland. Saumur is in the Loire valley, not the South of France, and is a small town of about 28,000. Your children should thrive in the local French schools if they are encouraged by you to do so
Hi - I can only agree with ManchePaul - work will doubtless be harder to come by in France than Scotland - especially if you have no French. You and your husband might pick up some bits here and there - you never know who you will bump into - but you will not get small jobs like that unless you are actually living here. Your husband might pick up some building work for a local company, but if he does not speak French and does not have formally recognised qualifications then a French employer might look closely at the insurance situation.
If a French warehouse took on a British fork-lift truck driver when there are unemployed French people he would soon be made to realise his mistake. Similar situation for driving jobs.
The local school is the local school - forget any ideas of English-speaking schools just now. In fact, your young children will integrate rapidly - this will be the least of your worries.
Your children will have lots of opportunities to do sports + other activities organised by local organisations.
The biggest worry is how you are going to finance yourselves when you are here. How much money will you have when you arrive? Let's say for housing + living 30,000€ per year.
The French locals should be OK but bear in mind you will be another uninvited guest in their country. Speak to them in French, buy food in local shops, hand out bottles of decent malt.
Re entertainment don't expect nights in pubs with karaoke - if you don't speak French there's not much use in inviting neighbours for dinner. You can get British TV installed. Family nights in. The French wil socialise with their family first and French friends secondly.
To bring this ramble to an end - some respondents are positive - just do it - it will all work out. Others, like me, are more cautious - it might work out, but what if it doesn't?
There are stories of impoverished Brits here selling their furniture so that they can buy food for their children. Other families break up because of money squabbles, or the fact that husband and wife have to spend all day together because no-one is out working. Still others miss their families + friends so much, nights in pubs etc.
You need to contact Social Security in Newcastle to see what benefits you would be entitled to in France.
You could also hope that someone in Saumur reads this and can give you more info about expats in the area. But most British expats seem to like villages or houses in the sticks.
Finally, the decision is yours - but if you do decide to move then do your sums very carefully, and have a plan B if neither of you find work.
Ian
I moved to the south of France—Grasse. Just prior to 9/11. Between two families, we had 6 children. Since we were only there a year, they all attended the International School of Nice. The education was decent for the little ones, not my teenagers.
Both my sister and I spoke French and I agree with the other fellow. The French don't take kindly to people who don't at least try to speak their language and follow their customs.
Since your children are small, I too would put them in a local school, and you will make more french friends this way. Again, start studying french!
We live in Grasse. A lovely part of France and not far from the Nice airport.
Good luck
Shawn
www.shawnunderwood.com
author of 'Mommy are we French Yet?'
hi i see your message was two year ago how did you end up did your plans work out
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