We are giving a bit of consideration to changing the school of 5yo DD1 and the nursery of 2yo DD2. Mostly because they are just slightly too far away for our preference (1 mile and 2 mile, with 3 schools and 2 nurseries nearer, and we don't drive and both work/study) We do have help in the form of DHs parents, but want to be more independent, and we would like the girls to make friends who live nearby.
DD1s school is Catholic too (we aren't) so there is a bit of a clash there. We are kind of ok to go along with the praying etc, but it is making me in particular quite uneasy, especially the idea of them going to a catholic comp and possibly getting the abortion horror videos, homophobic petitions and so on that friends have reported. I know most catholics are perfectly reasonable people, but we are not catholics, and it just doesn't fit with our lifestyle or ideology. (The nearest thing to a hymn that we sing is The Red Flag 
) it being catholic also means that it has a much wider catchment area and so her classmates come from far afield.
However, it was the only school with a place, and I know that the entire town (of 12 primary schools, each single form) was 60 children oversubscribed for reception. Presumably these children are now somewhere though.
We are not desperately unhappy, just uneasy, although dd2s nursery is too difficult to get to (the walk is behind an industrial estate, on footpaths between a row of trees with a muddy river and walls/carparks, and is quite dark and muddy in winter, and is almost always deserted - it doesn't feel very safe)
Hoping to find a nursery that "feeds into" a school or school nursery so that the girls can be at the same place when they are old enough.
The school and nursery in themselves are lovely, btw. both have loads of green space, community feel, outstanding ofsted etc.
DD1 is very studious and a bit ...odd (it has been suggested that she may have mild aspergers - which is another reason why I would like her to go to a nearby school, so I could encourage friendships with the children on our estate) She doesn't have any close friends, but does think that every child she ever meets is her friend, despite them ignoring her. She is very advanced in reading, and quite advanced in everything else apart from handwriting, social/practical skills and actually doing stuff rather than obsessing over getting every detail 100% right. She hates mornings (tbf, so do I) so a shorter school run with less cold and rain and general noise and upsetting changes would be brill. The nearest school to us wouldn't even need us to cross a road, so she could ride her scooter or whatever.
DD2 is wild Totally different personality. Loves making noise, running about, trains, animals. Is very...demonstrative. If she is happy she will smother you in kisses and hugs, bring you random presents, chatter on endlessly. If she is upset, she will hit, tantrum, shout. I know all two year olds are like this (well, most) but she is a proper handful and needs lots going on to keep her content - many people have commented on this.
So...what questions do I need to ask, how do I do this, should I even be doing it, etc?