Moving house, by choice, with dc at primary school?

[HenryTheHorseDancesTheWaltz]

I have one dc (5) at school and a second (2), not at school.

I am a SAHP at the moment, sort of by accident, due to redundancy.

I would like to start retraining and get back to work next year. We live a longish commute from London, but a move either closer to London, a few miles east or a few miles west, would make the commute to London really quick.

Dh works on the outskirts of London, but drives, so moving west would make his commute longer. He could take the train, but this would be longer again.

We are in a small house and I would like more space. Dh isn't fussed. If we moved east, we would probably need to sacrifice some space and go smaller still or similar size. If we moved west we would be able to afford a bigger place. I would be happy with either. If we move east, his commute would be significantly shorter, as would mine, but we could afford less space and possibly not as nice an area.

The main worry I have is moving primary schools with dc1, who is just starting to settle there.

Is it madness to consider it? FWIW, I would like to move and have never been 100% happy in this area, but now dc1 is at school, do I have to suck it up and stay, plus do the longer commute? I won't be able to drive to work, so will be looking for something I can take the train to.

I think it's much better to move now when DC is only 5. At that age friendships change very quickly so he'll be able to settle into a new school. I would choose the area for it's long term suitability. Commutes for you and DH primary and secondary schools etc.

Thanks, that's useful advice.

Once you have children moving is always better sooner (when they are younger) rather than later, because the older they are the more serious the academic and social implications and the less time they have to rebuild them. I think the hardest is when they get to secondary school so I would be considering secondarily school options in that area too.

Thanks both.

I feel bad asking dc1 to move again, so soon after starting school. We will have to have a think. Dh isn't keen on moving at all, even if it makes his commute better and / or we can afford a bigger place. So it really is just me who wants to move.