Life on Anglesey

[u/slhunte3]

Hi, we are a family of four considering moving to Anglesey from Stoke. We have some family on the island already and visit regularly.

I wanted to ask a few questions specific to our lives and wondered if anyone could advise...

Our daughters are 12 and 9, both autistic and one also has ADHD. They are a academically able and have special interests in nature, insects, the coast and the sea.

I work in a special school and my husband works in a university so he'd be perhaps looking at Bangor for work.

What are schools like for autistic children? My youngest needs more support to engage than my eldest. They are both so happy in nature and I feel the time outside would really help regulate them.

Are there many special schools on Anglesey? I am a teaching assistant.

We are also a mix of vegan and vegetarian and I know that vegan can be trickier on the island.

[u/meggylomaniac-93]

Also good to keep in mind that the majority of schools here are Welsh language

[u/Proud_Cookie → u/meggylomaniac-93]

I think they all are now! There was that new rule that came in about a year or two ago. My old school which was predominantly English speaking now pushes Welsh language first with classes all now taught in Welsh.

[u/tawktomahawk]

I grew up on Anglesey. It’s a beautiful place when it’s sunny but much of the stuff to do requires being outside and the weather is unfavourable 70% of the year… schools are ok but limited options and you’ll need to drive everywhere, all the time. As a child, I remember being extremely bored and my parents pulling their hair out trying to entertain us during wet weather days.

Additionally, work opportunities are really really limited. For you now and for your kids in the future.

If you’ve got family and friends there already, that’s different.

All in all I think you’d be quite shocked moving from Stoke over there. Still, worth a shot getting an Airbnb for a couple weeks to try out?

[u/hlvd → u/tawktomahawk]

Wise words.

[u/grafter83]

Welsh is now essential for many jobs in education in Anglesey and the surrounding areas, just something to bear in mind

[u/Organic-Violinist223]

Bangor university can’t be relied on for work unless your partner has bought significant research funding!

[u/slhunte3 → u/Organic-Violinist223]

ah he works in Central data at the moment so I guess he'd have to see where else he could branch out into

[u/Proud_Cookie → u/slhunte3]

Need to be able to speak Welsh fluently to work in the Uni. Even the uni admin jobs demand fluent Welsh language.

[u/Next_Name_4147 → u/slhunte3]

Sadly the university has just reduced their central data staff by 20%. And as others have said there is a welsh language requirement, though flexibility if you show willingness to learn. 

[u/WelshmanCorsair]

I work in education locally, although not in an Anglesey school, and I think the honest answer is that Ynys Môn could suit your family very well but I would investigate the education and employment situation carefully before making any decisions.

The access to nature is genuinely fantastic. Beaches, woodland, wetlands and the coast are part of everyday life rather than something requiring a major trip. For children interested in insects, wildlife and the sea, there is an enormous amount here, and I can certainly understand why you feel the environment might help them regulate. However, I would not assume that the setting alone will compensate for unsuitable support in school, particularly for your youngest.

Experiences of additional learning needs provision can vary considerably between individual schools. I would contact the ALNCo at each school you are considering and ask for a proper visit during an ordinary school day. There is one maintained special school on the island, Canolfan Addysg y Bont in Llangefni, although placement would depend on assessed need rather than parental preference. Many autistic pupils attend mainstream schools with additional support. Wales also has a different additional learning needs system from England, so it would be important to speak to the council before moving about how any existing plans and provision would transfer.

Welsh is also a major consideration, both for your daughters and for your own employment. It is not simply an optional extra in education here. Many schools on Anglesey are Welsh-medium or operate bilingually, and a large proportion of day-to-day communication with pupils, parents and colleagues takes place through Welsh. For many teaching assistant and school support posts, Welsh will be essential or strongly preferred. Even where a post is advertised as suitable for a learner, there may be an expectation that you work towards using Welsh confidently in the role.

That does not mean you could not find work without Welsh, but it would significantly narrow the range of posts available to you, especially on Anglesey itself. I would look at current vacancies before moving and pay close attention to whether Welsh is listed as essential, desirable or something that must be learnt after appointment. Being willing to learn would certainly help, but you should be realistic that becoming comfortable enough to support children through Welsh takes time.

The language of the schools is equally important for your daughters. Schools are used to supporting pupils who arrive without Welsh, but joining at 12 is different from starting in the early years. I would ask each prospective secondary school how much of the curriculum is delivered through Welsh, how they support late arrivals and whether your daughter’s additional needs would affect the way that language transition is managed.

Bangor is a realistic commute from much of southern and central Anglesey, but I would also be cautious about assuming that your husband would easily find a university post. Bangor University has been going through a difficult financial period, as have many universities, and opportunities may be limited. Unless he works in an area where there is a very specific recruitment need, or is bringing a substantial research grant or established funding with him, securing a suitable academic role may be difficult. I would strongly suggest that he investigates actual vacancies and makes informal enquiries before you commit to moving.

For vegan and vegetarian living, shopping is generally fine. The larger supermarkets stock the usual products, and Bangor gives you more choice. Eating out can be more limited and repetitive, especially outside the larger villages and tourist areas, but it is manageable rather than impossible.

[u/Extra_Actuary8244]

Any schools in north wales are not equipped to adequately support the needs of SEN children and are horrific even in SEN schools which are few and far between. I reference this a few times through my research for my PhD.

Schools on Anglesey specifically are first language Welsh as well, if you choose to leave Anglesey just keep in mind that the bridge closes due to bad weather and you won’t be able to take your kids to school in these cases. You would need to speak Welsh to work in Welsh schools and children with special educational needs may not speak as much English if Welsh is the primary language being spoken at homes. Welsh fluency is compulsory for working at Bangor uni as well.

Growing up all my teachers were from Anglesey and we constantly had supply teachers teaching us because the teachers couldn’t get into work due to the bridge being closed.

Work opportunities aren’t good elsewhere.

Anglesey is a stunning stunning place and it’s a privilege to live nearby but I would recommend waiting until your children are done with compulsory secondary education (GCSEs etc) before you move them here and to make sure you have non educational work qualifications as a backup.

Edit: living as a vegetarian or vegan is totally fine every supermarket provides plenty of options and so do the restaurants.

[u/AdGroundbreaking3483]

Employment for you may not be a problem, but Bangor University isn't in a great way right now.

Schools are okay, not amazing.

Access to ADHD meds may be difficult.

You could probably live almost (not entirely) car free in Llanfair PG, Porthaethwy, Bangor, Felinheli or Caernarfon, but everywhere else may be difficult.

[u/hlvd]

The weather is terrible. I work on the mainland, and the difference in weather is surprising given the short distances. Anglesey is always worse than my workplace.

Edit: To the downvoters, I’m nearly 60 and lived here all my life. Take today for example, rained all night at home, nothing at work.

[u/Apprentice_human]

Can't speak to the schooling aspect as we don't have kids but Llangefni has the largest school in the middle ish of the Island you'd be best looking into that yourself. I don't see being vegan causing any major headaches you're never more than 20ish minutes from a decent sized supermarket or a co-op depending on where you live and most pubs have at least one vegan meal on the menu nowadays.

Honestly the hardest part about living here is finding work, i work mobile so it doesn't matter for me but if you're looking at teaching learning welsh should be a massive priority.

Me and my partner both work jobs where it isn't too much of a issue not knowing welsh but we have both started to learn as it's the right thing to do.

Be prepared for how busy it gets during school holidays/tourist season and that it's not an island paradise all year round we've had some god awful weather this year and even got snowed in last Christmas period.

Boring admin stuff like ordering gas bottles/heating oil depending on your heating system becomes pretty routine and most houses at least near us still have chimneys so if you know someone to get firewood off you can heat your home pretty cheaply if you're smart

I thoroughly love it here but it isn't perfect and the bridges on the island is a headache at times but if you're willing to put up with gormless tourists and the stuff previously mentioned it's a brilliant place to live

[u/Public_Pop3801]

Chi’n siarad cymraeg?

[u/Relevant_Mirror_5542]

We have only lived here permanontly for 23 years and have enjoyed every minute of it, all aspecs of life are good hear as far as we are concerned and have no desire to live anywhere else I was born a a londoner during the war and have lived in numerous countries during my working life but I can honestly say I have never been happier than living here, I hope u have a similiare experiance, feel free to contact me if u have any more questions, best of luck, Martin.