School place, AIBU?

[Nord]

I have four DC. My middle two are still at primary school (Y2 and Y4). It's a great school (oversubscribed) and they're very happy there.

We moved to a more affordable area a year ago so aren't in the catchment area anymore. I considered moving them but they have had a lot of disruption (2 house moves, parents divorcing) over the past 4 years and desperately wanted to stay at the school. My Y2 son has selective mutism and has only just started to come out of his shell with lots of help from school.

I now have a new baby. My Y2 son will be in Y6 when the baby is due to start school but the baby likely won't get into the school... Do I move them both now or later? What would you do?

I'd leave them, put youngest in a primary near your local secondary (if its close and you're fairly definite of getting a place)

I would leave them where they are for now. So much can change between now and when your youngest starts in Reception. I personally wouldn't look into moving schools and unsettling the middle two based on an unknown regarding the youngest.

Also, please bear in mind hat Reception is still the Early Years setting. Depending on when your youngest was born, compulsory school age may not be reached until the start of Yr1. If this is the case, I wouldn't worry about lateness at all. Schools are there to help, not dictate. Yes there are horror stories each year about children being sent to schools across town from their siblings, but most of the time accommodations are made to make things as smooth as possible. We are not in catchment area for DS1s school, but it is the school I will be applying for for the DTs to start in September. If they don't get in, I'll have to think of something else while they go on a waiting list. I've decided to not stress about it and if they sit get in I can homeschool for a year and then look at our situation again as they approach Yr1.