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Original poster

Downsizing to move closer to the school

15 replies

oytugyhyguu · 07/10/2023 08:57

My kids are young (4 & 7) and I’m trying to figure out there needs as they get older. We currently live in a spacious suburban house with a big garden in a great area on a safe street where the kids can play outside without having to worry. On the flip side, there is no public transport, it’s far from the school (not the same school the kids go to on the street we live in) and we have to use the car to go anywhere. We are considering moving closer to the school which is in the city. This would mean we have to downsize considerably. We could still have a house with a bedroom for each child and a small garden and it’s still a safe area although not safe enough for the kids to be let out on there own whilst still young. Our commute to the school would be cut down to half the time (currently 2.5 hours round trip to 1 hour) and the kids will be able to use public transportation to get to school/clubs when they are older and will generally be less reliant on us if they want to do anything. We also don’t do any after school play dates or clubs at the moment as the commute takes up so much time. Has anyone done anything similar? I see people usually size up rather than size down as the kids get older so I’m not sure if we will end up regretting our decision. My husband and I work from home so work location is not a factor if that makes a difference at all. Any advise would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 07/10/2023 08:59

t’s far from the school (not the same school the kids go to on the street we live in)

Cant they go to the local school and walk?

QuillBill · 07/10/2023 09:00

I would definitely move. A two and a half hour school run a day is not something I would want to do.

We moved so that our DD's could walk to secondary because otherwise they wouldn't have been able to to the after school extra curricular stuff.

GoodVibesHere · 07/10/2023 09:09

I would absolutely do this. Will you move close to the secondary school? Mine are teens and trust me life is so much easier if they can walk to school and nearby activities, coffee shops, and public transport to cinema or town etc. Bear in mind that in secondary they will have a massive backpack with books for each subject and a laptop which is heavy to carry, they will be coming and going constantly. You will all enjoy life so much more if you are closer to school and local amenities.

Having a bigger house is not what it's cut out to be, the more space you have the more you'll fill it with stuff. Bigger house equals more cleaning and more maintenance.

Cookerhood · 07/10/2023 09:10

2.5 hours twice a day? What kind of educational wonder is the school? The children must be exhausted.

clary · 07/10/2023 11:06

You have a 2.5 hour round trip to school? Even if that is the total over two school runs, that's ridiculous. You drive for 3/4 hour each way to school?

Sorry but there is no way I would even do that. How do you manage your working day around that? Are you very rural or why is the school so far away? If I drove that far to primary school, depending which way I went, I would go past literally dozens of perfectly good primary schools.

Anyway I would try to find a school the DC can walk to - say a 15-20 minute walk is ideal. Surely that must be an option? Can they not attend the local school you mention?

But yes if it meant moving to be nearer school, then I would absolutely do that. The value of that independence when they reach year 5/6 and then secondary is immense IMHO - to them and to you!

Original poster
oytugyhyguu · 07/10/2023 13:03

Thanks for all replies. Due to special needs, our local school isn’t an option. Our DC is finally happy and excelling at his school so a school move is not something we would consider.

OP posts:
Original poster
oytugyhyguu · 07/10/2023 13:05

Yes, the school is all the way up to to secondary so we will be there till they finish with school.

OP posts:
DisforDarkChocolate · 07/10/2023 13:09

I'd move. I'd be looking for a house that had the potential to add space if possible. We live in a small town, for the first time one of my children could walk to school and activities and it saves so much time. He could see friends easily, go to the shop by himself when he was older, we feel like part of a community.

belladonna22 · 07/10/2023 13:21

I would move. We haven't downsized, but we did consider moving to a bigger home a couple of years ago but decided we loved our location too much (family-friendly zone 3 London, 2 minute walk to high street, train station and buses). We could move further out for more space, but then I feel like we'd spend our whole life in the car. Right now pretty much everything is walkable or accessible by public transport, so frankly we don't need a big home as we are usually out and about! I'd do what makes your day to day life as easy as possible.

TeenDivided · 07/10/2023 13:58

With your update of SN I would move.
Before the update I was thinking change schools.

clary · 07/10/2023 14:23

Ah apologies @oytugyhyguu didn't realise it was a special school. So Yy since they will be there for several years, and moving schools is not feasible, I would deffo move. Do they not qualify for free transport in the meantime?

TryAgainWithFeeling · 07/10/2023 14:25

Given DC will be there for secondary too then yes I’d definitely move, even if it means downsizing.

LIZS · 07/10/2023 14:27

Would it not make sense to move much closer than an hour's commute, if you are uprooting?

Shinyandnew1 · 07/10/2023 14:46

oytugyhyguu · 07/10/2023 13:05

Yes, the school is all the way up to to secondary so we will be there till they finish with school.

Are both your DC at the same special school?

HobnobsChoice · 07/10/2023 15:01

If this is the only school that can meet your childrens needs are you not eligible for home to school transport? It would still be a long journey but it wouldn't mean all the driving for you. Have you talked to the LA about this

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