Finding Schools and Childcare in the UK for Visa Families — relocating to the UK under the Skilled Worker route is both a milestone and a journey into new beginnings. For many families, it’s a time of excitement, adjustment, and countless decisions that shape everyday life. Amid the paperwork, house-hunting, and settling into a new job, one of the most meaningful choices revolves around where and how children will grow, learn, and find their own sense of belonging. It’s a process that blends practicality with care — discovering spaces where little ones feel safe, nurtured, and inspired.
Where to start?
When you come to the UK under a visa such as the Skilled Worker route, your dependent children (and spouse, if applicable) generally have access to state schools in the UK. While the visa guidance pages on the Home Office website focus on immigration eligibility, they imply that dependants residing in the UK are able to attend education and access childcare services in much the same way as other residents, provided they live here lawfully.
Key points to confirm:
- Check whether your visa status allows your dependants to live in the UK for the full period of your stay.
- Recognise that schooling and childcare systems vary across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Some independent schools or specialist childcare settings may have additional entry criteria or costs that go beyond general state provision.
Choosing a school: inspection ratings and what to look for
One of the first tasks is identifying a suitable school for your child. The inspection system formerly used by Ofsted gave institutions an overall rating (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate), and many families rated those highly when making decisions.
What you should do:
- Visit the official inspection report search via GOV.UK.
- Check the most recent inspection date, and review areas like quality of education, leadership, personal development, and behaviour.
- Visit the school in person, if possible, speak with other parents, and review admissions criteria (especially catchment areas or sibling priority).
- If a school lacks a recent full inspection grade, you’ll need to dig deeper into local reputation, exam results, and visit the site.
Why this matters:
A well-ranked school, or one with strong recent inspection feedback, helps ensure your child receives quality education — a key factor when relocating internationally, acclimatising to a new country, language and culture.
School admissions
For children of visa applicants, the admissions process is broadly similar to other families, but with a few extra considerations.
- In England, local authorities usually open applications to primary (Reception) and secondary (Year 7) for a set window (often November the year before).
- Your catchment area (postcode) and timing matter — popular schools fill quickly.
- School-specific criteria may include siblings, distance, faith affiliation, or priority for looked-after children.
- For independent schools (fee-paying), the process may include assessments, interviews and scanning your financial plan.
- If your stay is limited or temporary, it’s wise to ask how the school handles children who may leave mid-secondary education.
Childcare provision
While schooling covers the period from about age 4 (Reception) to 18, childcare — nursery (ages 0-4), after-school clubs, breakfast clubs and holiday care are equally crucial for working visa families.
Funding & policy updates:
- From September 2025 in England, eligible working parents will be able to access 30 hours of funded childcare per week for children aged 9 months to 4 years.
- Government plans are in place to reduce childcare costs further by revising staff-to-child ratios.
For visa families, this means:
- You’ll want to check if the childcare provider is registered with Ofsted (or equivalent in your nation) and meets quality standards.
- Costs vary widely regionally (London vs. rural England), so budgeting early is critical.
- Holiday club fees and full-day care outside term-time are often more expensive than term-time hours.
Quality and regulation
Beyond cost, quality matters — especially when your children are settling into a new country and you’ll want peace of mind about their care.
What to check:
- Is the provider registered with Ofsted (or local regulator)? Use the “Find an inspection report” service to review.
- For nurseries/childminders: check staff-to-child ratios, evidence of safeguarding, curriculum for early years, outdoor space, and proximity to your home or workplace.
- For after‐school or holiday clubs: check flexibility, what times they operate, supplemental fees, and whether they engage with homework or other activities.
- If your role involves long hours or shifts (e.g., healthcare, tech migrant roles), look for providers open early/late or offering holiday cover.
Enrolling dependants and visa-related matters
When relocating under a Skilled Worker visa, consider how your dependents’ schooling and childcare interact with your visa status.
- Make sure your dependent children’s immigration permission is valid and linked to your visa — delays or expiry may affect school enrolment.
- Some schools (especially independent) may request proof of UK residence, visa status or prospective stay duration.
- If your job is mobile (offer may shift location), pick a school or provider with flexible exit/entry policies.
- When moving mid-term, contact the local authority for advice on school places, waiting lists and admissions outside standard cycles.
Final thoughts!
Moving to the UK under a visa is a major life change — but for your children, it’s a new chapter in education and growth. Getting schooling and childcare right early gives your family the firmest base to succeed.
If you want more insights into immigration, working in the UK, family settlement and visa-related logistics, keep following SkilledWorkerMag. We’ll bring you up-to-date guidance, practical checklists and the stories of professionals making the move. Make the journey smoother for yourself and your loved ones — and let your new life in the UK begin with confidence.
