How to apply for a primary place now??

[stressed0ut]

Dh has just been offered a job in a county we have holidayed in but don't really know very well and which will require us to move as its too far to commute. DS1 is due to start school in Sept and has a place at the lovely village school near us, he's about to start his settling in days in a couple of weeks. I have no idea where to start with regards to the move - do I find out which schools might be able to take DS first or look at houses and then hope the school has a place for him? Anybody moved this close to starting school? I don't want to unsettle DS1 anymore than necessary and hope that this move will be our forever move (location that is, doubt we'll find our forever home in time to register for school!!) Any advice would be great as i'm struggling with the whole thing at the moment!!

[Ihavenoclue]

You need an address to actually apply for a school within a LEA. You can certainly phone around to see where you stand regarding places, but there is still lots of movement between now and the first two weeks of the new term. The LEA will help you once you move and if he is under 5 may not need to start in September if you can't find a suitable space. This will give you more time to look around for the right place.
Once you apply you can still appeal if there is no space at the school.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Do you have a house to sell before you move? Is there a chance that you and DS will remain where you are for the time being until the accomodation is sorted or will you move anyway.

Agree with Ihaveno, he doesn't have to start school until he is 5 so you could always hold off for a bit.

[stressed0ut]

We're in rented at the moment and only have to give a months notice so could move pretty quickly. We were living overseas, came back to the UK at Xmas in time to register DS1 for school and were really lucky to find a beautiful house to rent and a fab primary school but DH hasn't been able to find work nearby. We love the area we're in but we have to go where work is really as we don't want our family to be separated anymore (DH remained overseas whilst i've been here on my own with our 3 DCs!) New area looks great too though and house prices do seem to be cheaper which is a big plus!! I really wanted our next move to be to our forever home though. But there's so much to consider with this move - I want DS to go to a good school, we want to live in a nice area, DH doesn't want to commute too far. I just feel so bloody guilty about unsettling DS again as he's made new friends at pre-school who'll be going to his primary school. He was 4 a couple of months ago.

[stressed0ut]

Sorry that was such a ramble!! There's just so much to think about. Guess we need to head to the area for a visit and start phoning schools!!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

stressed please stop feeling guilty, you have top move where the work is and that is out of your hands. DS MAY miss his friends but will soon adapt and make more friends and I'm sure you will talk to him and prepare him for the move to help him settle.

What I would do is inform the school he won't ve starting afterall. Find a house to rent in your new area whilst you find one to buy. Then find a school for him to start. If you are worried about having a further move, into an owned home you can always keep him off school, he doesn't have to start until he's 5 anyway.

[stressed0ut]

Thank you!! I feel so guilty for having moved him so many times in his little life so far!! He's a cracking kid and gets on well with everyone. I know the most important thing for him will be having us all together again and having his Daddy home every night. Thanks for listening, i'll start hunting for a house to rent now!! :)

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

He sounds like a lovely boy and if he gets on with everybody, you have nothing to be guilty about. Hope you all enjoy being together in your new home.

[stressed0ut]

Thank you :)

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Think you need to tell us where you are moving to now stressed "somewhere we've holidayed" sounds lovely

[stressed0ut]

Only Somerset! So not too exciting really, although it is for us as we're craving green fields, rolling hills, pretty villages.... we were living in the Middle east before which offered nothing but sand!!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sounds lovely.