Moving back to UK - nursery/reception?

[Wibblypiglikesbananas]

Hi - DD is due to start reception in summer 2016. We are currently in the US for three years, we'd be due to move back summer 2015. At this point, I'd hope to get her into a UK nursery for a year attached to the school we'd want her to go to.

The problem we have is that we'll miss all deadlines for applications and need to apply once we move back to the area we moved from. We won't have a permanent address until we either buy or rent somewhere. I suspect this will be a huge problem (SW London, oversubscribed everywhere). Added into the mix is the option to stay abroad for another year, so returning summer 2016. However, then it really would be down to the wire in terms of sorting a reception school place.

So - has anyone done this and does anyone have any advice? There are various things we could do I suppose, eg I move back with the children before DH's contract finishes? Or we move back to the property we own but are currently renting out, meaning we at least have a permanent address from the day we arrive in the UK (though we'd need to sell and buy somewhere bigger pretty sharpish).

Thanks in advance - this may seem premature but DH needs to speak with his boss re renewing our visa so we're trying to consider all options. The irony is that in the state we are in here, everyone gets a place at their so called in boundary school (ie your closest catchment area school) as it's a legal requirement.

[LIZS]

Does it really matter if the nursery isn't attached to the school ? You cna claim Early Years funding at most nursery/preschools now. Many children won't go from one to the other and it won't give you any advantage in the application process. dd moved from abroad straight into reception where most had come from nursery but it wasn't an issue .

[houseisfallingdown]

I'd agree not to worry about the nursery but get yourself back in time to be settled before the reception applications are due in. There may or not be places in the nursery attached (DCs school in SW London is very oversubscribed but the nursery isn't usually) but as poster above said it doesn't give you priority for reception anyway (assuming you're looking at state schools) and lots of children will probably come from different nurseries.

[ddmommy]

If you are thinking of private - you are not too late and don't need to wait until you have a permanent address. You'll just need to put her name on assessment lists of several schools in the area where you might want to live. And do the same with nurseries.

Our friends moved from the States this fall. They came in in early summer to look at several nursery and signed their DD. In January she went for assessments and will be starting at a great girl's school in S.Ken area.

[Littlefish]

I agree with previous posters that it's really important to be back in time to apply for primary school places especially in areas where good schools are likely to be oversubscribed. Many children do not attend an on-site nursery and most schools are skilled at supporting transitions. If you are not in a settled address when primary school places are allocated, and return as late as the summer before your dc starts school, you will have very little (if any) choice over schools. Personally, I just wouldn't risk it.

[Wibblypiglikesbananas]

Thanks all - so maybe there isn't the rush I was anticipating with regard to being back and settled in time for nursery to start September 2015, rather we could move back at some point during the summer/autumn of 2015, in order to be able to apply on time and from a permanent base for reception and a September 2016 start. I definitely don't want to risk missing out on a place - everywhere has been oversubscribed for the past three or four years. We would be looking at state but then paying the usual premium for a house on the doorstep... I think I'm more worried as a friend has just moved house as she's in a no man's land between three schools, extremely close to all three but falls just short of the very tiny catchment for each.

[mumteacher]

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[mumteacher]

I mean //www.londonpreprep.com

[Wibblypiglikesbananas]

Thank you mumteacher - exactly what I needed.

[RiversideMum]

Why not think of moving somewhere further outside London? There are many fewer issues with schools and catchments!

[Wibblypiglikesbananas]

That's also an option - just need to work out where as I'm technically on a three year career break so if I go back to my old employer, I'd need to be somewhere commutable. Our old neighbourhood also has the benefit of established networks we can slot back into.

[Wibblypiglikesbananas]

That's also an option - just need to work out where as I'm technically on a three year career break so if I go back to my old employer, I'd need to be somewhere commutable. Our old neighbourhood also has the benefit of established networks we can slot back into.