Should we mjve? Please help me decide

[Beebityboo]

We moved to the semi rural village we currently live in a year ago. My DD was horrendously bullied in her last year at primary and we wanted to give her a fresh start.

After A LOT of difficulty we got all three DC's in to very highly rated, over subscribed schools and they've settled well. DD is still having trouble making friends (aspergers) but she doesn't hate school which is a big step forward.

However, the house we are currently renting is falling apart around us and the LL just will not do anything. Windows that don't open, no bathroom ventilation and the list does on. He's happy for us to stay here as long as we want but needs to be really strong armed in to making repairs.

I also hate it here . I've not been able to make any friends, there's only a little library/cafe in the centre and as we don't drive, literally doing anything else requires a half hour bus journey. I spend all my days in the house by myself even though we have a lot of lovely countryside nearby.

So we are currently weighing up our options and I really need some guidance. Do we:

A) Stay in the village we live but look for a nicer house (the kids could stay at their schools so no disruption etc)
B) Stay in the village we're in and the house we're in and learn to accept how run down/shabby it is but with a bit of security as the LL wants us in long term.
C) Up root completely and move to the cathedral city nearby. This is my preferred option if I was being selfish as I love it there, but it means all DC's changing schools again/higher rent. However its the place I feel I'd like to settle long term. I don't feel that way about where we currently live.

None of the DC's are particularly bothered by the idea of moving, but I wonder if it is because they've been away from their schools for months. I also have no guarantee of school places where we're moving, and I'd imagine it will be made all the more difficult due to the pandemic.

Please help me decide what to do! Its eating me up at the moment.

Yes think I'll give the council a call tomorrow for some advice. It may be I homeschool for a year anyway at this rate. Eldest DD and youngest DD are both ASD and just will not cope with the social distancing/strangeness of schools right now but will try to cross that bridge when we come to it.

Yes it must be very strange now going back into school but everything different, and changing when advice and rules change.
At least there are a lot more resources available right now if you decide to home ed longer term.

By the sounds of it there won't be any problem with keeping even registered children home til things are a bit more back to normal anyway.

As a pp said, schools aren't going to be back properly for quite a while, and having had 6 months away (after only 3 months in their new schools) going back will be like starting somewhere new anyway.

You said inter high was an option for your eldest. Could you do that for a year anyway, starting now?
Maybe a few terms for your middle DC and home schooling for your 5yo too, to give you time to get them into the right schools.

In normal times, a period away from school would be really disruptive, but just now it's probably worth it to get the right home life and school.

Inter high is quite expensive and we'll be able to more easily afford it in a year or so but not quite yet. She has been home schooled before for a period of time in yer 6 so we are quite used to it and really she would prefer it overall to being in school. I just want to give her a good chance at secondary school first so she can make friends etc.

I feel like home school until after Christmas would be my preference but am a bit too scared to pull the trigger and deregister them just yet which makes knowing when to apply for schools etc more complicated.

How did you get on op?

It really wasn't right . I was told by the letting agent it needed a bit of cosmetic work but it needed far more than that, unfortunately. I was so hopeful and excited and feel quite deflated now. Also really regretting getting a taxi there as I feel I've put myself at risk for no reason at all and my health anxiety is getting the best of me despite taking every available precaution.
Will just have to keep looking and stay positive and thanks so much for asking Cherry, was really nice of you .

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You can take bit of time now to find 'the one'. Hopefully it helped you rule a few things out and refine your list a bit more. Hope the city ' felt right'.