When do you look at primary schools?

[alibobble]

have a tiny person of 14 weeks but just moved to new area. Before leaving was advised by a friend to check out the schools etc. Said it seemed awfully early! Nearest school is AMAZING with great ofstead report etc and aparently a waiting list. Think I'm in the catchement area but feel rediculous even considering all these things. When do you have to start sorting things to make sure dd gets into there as is a great school? Hope I don't sound like a crazy person!

Is it a State School if so "Waiting Lists" are irrelevant apart from to get sent the application info and invitation to Open Days at the appropriate time - usually about a year before due to start. They will have specific criteria as to how places are allocated if they get more applications than places available (siblings, Special Needs, proximity to school, sometimes Religion etc) , which you may want to be aware of now but could change in the meantime.

Private school - we looked when DD was a year old, and had her name down on two waiting lists at that age (no fee). We phoned in advance and made appointments with each school. We went to a formal Ope Day of a couple too.

State school - no waiting lists round here. You fill in an application form the year before they are due to start and hand it in by the deadline set by your LEA - this varies with each LEA. We went to visit the local state school in the September before DD was due to start. No special day, just turned up ad asked to look round.