Hello
Me and my family are relocating to normandy in August. My boy is 7 years old and we were wondering where is the best place to live and what’s like settling into schools for him. Thanks in advance
Hello @iclark95 and welcome to the forum.
You obviously have your own reasons for deciding to relocate to Normandy in August, but I must admit to being a little perplexed that you ask our advice about the best place to live…
Frankly, it’s a bit like asking how long is a piece of string… 
and regarding Schools, where is your son currently doing his schooling?
Settling into a new school might be a little trying or handled with ease, depending on his capabilities.
I presume you have already looked at the Schools in Normandy, which ones do you favour?
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As Stella notes, you have your own reasons to move to Normandy. As I came onto the forum today to research location v climate I’ll point out that the reason I’m doing this is to move from an area which has more or less the same weather as SW England.
If SW English weather is not an issue for you, all good. There are other attractions to Normandy.
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The best place to live is very subjective. It is the place that provides most of what you are looking for in life. What are you looking for?
Im sorry of you felt that way i have done my research but ive not psoken to people who actual live there.
Hi, were looking for village life where pace of life is slow close to a good primary school.
No need to be sorry, but we need some details if we are to supply you with some useful answers. 
Hopefully, you already speak French and I hope your son does too as this will ease him into the local school life.
Do you already have employment arranged in Normandy? (if not, how will you support your family?)
this question is pertinent to locating your best options
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Other things that would help are whether or not any of your family will be working? If so, doing what? Is it a permanent move? Does close to school mean walking or driving distance? Do you speak French? How much are you going to spend on house purchase/rental? Why are you moving to France? etc
(Sorry I see that @Stella has already asked)
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
I am also a little puzzled by your question - without some hint as to your reasons for coming to live in France and your preferences it is impossible to provide an answer. Normandy (like most places) offers a wide variety of places to live from large cities such as Le Havre (pop 166,058 so slightly smaller than Oxford) all the way through to tiny villages and hamlets and everything between. Are you an urban or rural type? Will you be working - if so, where as you will presumably want to commute, if not how are you supporting yourself? I assume that with a 7 year-old you are not retired.
Does it have to be Normandy?
As others have said what is your level of French, does your son speak any (because the average 7 year old is unlikely to have yet been taught any French at school in the UK - though your personal circumstances might be different). What is your visa status - are you a UK or EU national?
So, if you have “done your research” you already have ideas. It would be both polite and useful to say what research you have done, or what areas you have shortlisted so that we do not go over old ground.
OK, getting somewhere.
How much do you know about schooling in France, are you happy to send your son to a normal French state school or are you thinking of a private school (usually religious and usually Catholic).
Have you read through (e.g.) Overview of French primary school | Expatica to get a good idea of how it all works.
If you don’t supply some information to help people answer, you will not get informative responses - in fact you might as well ask us what is our favourite colour. I quite like purple 
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Hi Stella
Im currently learning French and so is my wife. My son starts French classes next week. We are going to initially rent until we see what area suits us best to be our forever home. I’ll still be working in the UK but only work for 6 months of the year. I dont need any visas as im an irish citizen too. Initially id like to rent close to a village until my wife feels confident then we can move more rural setting.
Well that is a start.
How close to shops/supermarkets do you want to be? eg less than 10km, or up to 50km?
Are you sociable people, would you want to be in a village that has an active vie assocative? Would you or your wife risk feeling isolated if you have little in common with your neighbours?
Which villages in Normandy have you visited and which did you particularly like?
In many villages the population tends to be elderly because younger people move to towns to work. So there are few children and not every village has its own school. School buses are provided to collect children from the surrounding villages.
Rural France is far more rural than rural UK. I think in the UK people would call a place with houses, a few shops and a bar and a bus service, a village. In France it would be considered a small town. Many villages in Normandy have literally no facilities apart from a Mairie and perhaps a salle des fêtes, no shop or medical facilities or public transport. Living close to a village such as that could in effect mean living in the middle of nowhere.
I’m glad you are all learning French.
For your son, it should ease his way into school life
and you (his parents) will need to be able to assist him with homework etc (Homework starts from Age 6)
You mention that you are Irish and don’t need any Visas.
Regarding your wife and son, what nationality are they?
I ask so that we might help re their Visas applications etc if necessary.
Does your wife Drive? Public transport is a bit hit and miss and you say you will be working in UK 6 months each year, so she and your son will be on their own?
I’m sure we’d all like to help you find the best place
but we do need your input and it can seem to be a bit like pulling teeth… 
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It was August when we moved for good and the first thing you need to do is see the director of the local primary school to see if they are WILLING to take your child into their school, it is not an automatic right and unless you are going for private education, you have to go to the nearest school to your home. Mine just turned up after being accepted and never looked back although there were tears a few times but the language soon started to fall into place and both did an extra year at primaire before collège and both ended up eventually in french universities with degrees and one is now a teacher here himself in a city collège so it is possible.
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Hi
Thanks for the reply. Travelling to a primary school wouldnt be an issue as we both drive, yes we’re sociable people I just dont want my wife and children in a remote part yet. We’ve visited Clecy and La Hague areas and both appeal to us. We are stuck between both have good plus points and no negative points. We’d want to be close to a village with a small community. I dont need to be next to a large town or city. We are active people who love out doors.
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Im sorry Stella i didn’t think i was going to get the replies so quick and i certainly never menat to offend anyone. There’s so much information. My wife and myself drive, we’re very sociable people and both learning French along with my son. We are just initially renting for the 1st year so we can find somewhere that fully suits our needs. We’re adaptable people so we don’t need something set in stone or exact needs. I just want somewhere close to a decent state primary school and doctors and also close to a nice little village to join in wth the local community. The rest isn’t much of an issue, my childs welfare needs are met we’re both happy.
Oh yes, we respond “swiftly and with style”
Doing our best to help.
By the way… what nationality is your Wife… and your child/children ??
(“I just dont want my wife and children in a remote part yet.”)
you’ve mentioned you have a 7 year old, but what ages are the others? Maternelle starts at 3 years old.
Well that should not be a problem because there are very few large towns or cities in Normandy.
Really you have so much choice, just pick a place that appeals.
In fact your child might like catching the school bus, it is a chance for them to interact.
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You do reply quick 
and its great. My other boy its a bit more complicated hes a new born foster boy and a new born. Hopefully we get to adopt him and bring him with us 
. My wife is British, visa shouldnt be a problem as she’d have the same rights as me looking EU government websites. Thanks again for understanding
Thanks Sandcastle. Sorry about being vague i didn’t think you lot would be so helpful and on point 
You should check the EU websites again.
A Brit with an EU-Spouse does need to apply for a Visa if wishing to live in France.
whilst it might be a bit complicated getting the Application dossier together it’s certainly not impossible.
You might want to finalise the adoption of the foster child, before trying to move countries.
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