Moving to a different area - please tell me it won't be a nigthmare to find school places!!

[basementbear]

We currently live in central London, the DCs go to a fantastic state primary but we are very short of space and the secondary schools here are rubbish, so we are planning the big move out to the suburbs/Kent borders in the next year or so.

Obviously, we can't apply for schools till we have a new address but I am just mystified as to how I am going to get places for my 2 DCs (5 and 7) at the same school. Any advice from anyone who has done this most appreciated!! Do the education authority have to offer me a school within a certain distance, or could we end up having to trek miles to whichever school they offer? Do we stand more chance of getting into a private school (last resort)? Will I end up having to home educate them til they get places? Help!!

I moved back to the UK from overseas at the end last year and had to find a place for my DD in Year 1. I researched the schools on the internet and contacted them directly. Once you have done this the LEA doesn't get involved until you have been refused a place.

The other way of doing it is contacting the LEA before you apply to any schools and get them to give you the names of the schools with places available.

In hindsight I would have done it the second way but I had no idea where to start and so contacted the schools myself. Good luck

Thanks! I have been looking at schools in the areas we are thinking about but haven't actually contacted any of them, although I did ring the LEA yesterday and they are sending me info. I know that some seem to offer priority to children coming into the area but not sure if that is only at the initial Reception intake. It also seems unfair to me that for example the info for Bexley (where we are thinking of moving to) says you can apply for a Reception place even if you live out of the area, yet if I am moving into the area half way through their primary years I have to have an actual address in the area before I can apply