Advice on moving to Sale/Altrincham/Timperley please!

[ThisCharmingMum]

We currently live in Leeds and are moving to Manchester soon to be closer to family (and free childcare ).

DH has got a new job so we need to move asap.

We are looking at the Timperley/Sale/Altrincham areas due to proximity to DHs work and good transport links etc. Have also heard the local schools are good in those areas.

I was wondering if any of you had any advice to offer regarding good primary schools (DS will start school in Sep 09) and daycare (DD is 11mths and I work FT).

Timperley is looking like the most probably place because I have a couple of friends who live there, but I wanted more info on Sale just in case we were better off moving there.

Any advice will be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

[ThisCharmingMum]

Have just realised that this subject has been touched upon in another thread re:Altrincham and Timperley. Any info reagrding Sale would be very helpful....

[puffling]

We were considering these places at one point. We decided on Altrincham as it has a town centre,restaurants, market shops etc. Timperley was pleasant and sale had some lovely houses. All good choices.

[Mandy21]

You'll have seen my post about schools but just wanted to make sure you're aware of the timescales - if you want to be considered for a Sept 2009 school pace, you have to apply by early February (I think its 6th). If you haven't already moved by then, you have to have at least got to the stage of exchange of contracts. That means you probably need to get your skates on in terms of finding somewhere and starting the ball rolling.

In terms of areas, there are some goos parts and some not so good parts of sale, the same can be said for Altrincham. Timperley is generally seen as pretty good.

Hope that helps.

[ThisCharmingMum]

Thank you both

I think we have mostly decided on Timperley - mainly because I have a couple of friends living there.

We are lookign at some properties this weekend and hopefully should be moved well before feb, in time for the school deadline.

One question - is there a catchment area for Sale or Altrincham grammar schools? In any case, I have heard the comprehensives in Trafford are generally quite well thought of as well compared to the national average.

[Mandy21]

Yes, they have catchment areas - have a look at these links for the altrincham grammars - you'll find the details there.

www.aggs.trafford.sch.uk/index.php?page=admissions

www.agsb.co.uk/admissi ons.html

Hope that helps.

Mandy