When do you think is the time to consider moving for my child's education?

[hermitzero]

I'm living in a rural area where there are few shops and facilities. I find my life here is quite dull. I grew up in a big city. When I compare the two environments, I'd say a big city would be more stimulating than a rural area for children in many ways including education. My baby will be born this August. It's early to think about moving to a bigger town or city but I would like to make a plan for it so that I can save money and find the best area where we can buy a house within our budget.

Here's my question. When do you think I should move to a bigger town for my child's education?

Any advice would be appreciated.

I'd move as soon as you can. Check when your child will be eligible to start in Reception class, the application process starts the year before. Read up on the council school admissions info before you choose a house. Some councils use catchment areas, some use distance. Some use feeder schools, some don't. Do your homework and don't believe what estate agents, or home owners tell you about schools.

It sounds like you really want to move for yourself. That's fine! Do it as soon as you can. You don't have to justify it by reference to your child's needs.

@unlimiteddilutingjuice
Excuse me if I sound like that I am using my baby to justify my decision but I can confidently say that you are wrong that you assumed that I used my baby as an excuse for my moving. I am fine with living in the area where I am living. My baby will be born this August. I tried to search some nurseries available and then I realised that there were few options and if this is the same for school, I don't think this is a good environment for my baby's education.

You probably want to be in your new place at least by the time your child is 2.5-3 I'd say. Given they are an August birthday, they will be starting reception at just 4 unless you decide to defer, which is becoming more common for summer born children. You need to fill in the application form by January (when they will be 3.5), so that gives you a little bit of time to get to know the area. Look really carefully at the LEA booklets about applying for primary to see what the catchments are and whether the house you get is in the right area, don't believe estate agents!

If you can move a bit earlier and DC can stay nursery in your new area, you'll meet parents who can give you the low down about schools. For example the school my DC attend has a good rather than outstanding Ofsted rating, but we are much happier with the more relaxed ethos than at some of the outstanding local primaries.

We moved to our current house when DD1 was 2.5 and Dd2 was a baby and it worked out very well, although we were extremely lucky to get into the school we wanted as would not have been in catchment any other year.

One thing you need to consider is how competitive it is to get into the local schools. We live rurally, and DD got in to her first choice schools (only choice for secondary) because school places weren't as competitive as they are in more densely populated areas.

I have often read on here how hard it is to get into schools in London and other big cities.

You need to start your plan now. Look up schools and catchment areas. Look at housing. Then start the process. A move can take up to a year from thinking to moving. As the stamp duty holiday is just finishing it may slow down the property market, so might take longer to find your buyer.

Looking at it from a slightly different angle, we moved to our new area whilst I was still pregnant. I joined NCT classes and it has been lovely to go through the birth, early days, baby classes, nursery and school choices etc together. I found the support invaluable. Sure some have gone their own way and are no longer in my life (other than as Facebook friends), but it meant that we could bounce off each other. It also meant that we could get a feel for the local schools from the word on the street over a longer period of time.

I don’t think there’s a mad rush to actually move for schools. You just need to be at your new address in time for applications. Unless you want a church school and need to have x years of regular worship at the attached church to get a place.

hermitzero
I was responding to your comment "I find my life here is quite dull"
Believe it or not I was intending to be supportive. I think it's quite common, as a new Mum, to feel like the babies needs are the only thing that matters.
It's not true. You matter too. If you find the area dull, move. Do what makes you happy. You don't have to wait until your child "needs" it.

If you want your child to go to school nursery then you normally need to apply by the Christmas before they are 3, so you will need to be the new house by then.

So many people I know do it the other way and deliberately move to the country when they have children. Cities were "for them" and their work and enjoyment but they wanted fields and streams and a quieter life for children. I agree, and we did that too.

I'd research schools properly in your area first as well as what activities are around for children. Research towns and cities as well.

My children learnt to dam streams, climb trees, light fires etc in forest school. They like the space of more rural living. They have done regular day trips to London for the theatre or museums, and often we stay over. Best of both Worlds.

Educationally, they have done absolutely brilliantly. No issues there at all.

We’re doing the move ourselves right now.

We are currently living rurally and our children are now 5 and 7 which is the right time for us.

I think it’s been the opposite for us in that we moved to the countryside for us and the towns/cities would be for our children.

We could happily live in our bubble but our children would have no real community or friendship groups out of school. They don’t. The families who live closer together socialise amongst themselves, not meaning to exclude us but they simply don’t know us.

We are always driving and perhaps that would be ok with one child but with three children it’s only to get harder to please everyone.

In hindsight I wish I’d moved when my children were babies because I missed the boat with mummy friends. I made a couple but I had to try and work really hard to meet up with them and I always had to make the effort because it was me who lived far away.

Even 7 years on many other mums are still bonded to those who they became mothers with.

Make sure to enrol in an NT class. Those kind of classes are where you’ll make your best mummy friends going through the same thing as you.

If you’re outdoor minded you can find that anywhere. Even outdoor mums tend to live in towns because that’s where it’s affordable.

Have you actually checked the quality of your local schools? They might be excellent. If they are not, then I agree, you want to be settled in time for reception.