Moving with Beeb relocation to Salford quays... Anyone else?

[topsmart]

Okay, here goes, I am initiating my first proper thread.

DP's job is moving from london to salford quays next year. We finally have a move date of march 2011 (after signing up in sept 2010...) So it's all suddenly real and I have to shift our lives and get a nursery then school for DD who turns 5 next academic yr.

MN has proved invaluable for my manc research on areas to look at, so I wanted to thank anyone who's given anyone else advice on here as I have poached it all!

Now I'm wondering who else might be moving up as I'm sure some of you must be - or already have done. And I need heartwarming tales of how easy it has been to settle in. Or how much you need a new friend to go for a large glass of wine with!

Iskra, I use the Ofsted website to find nuseries, as all have to be registered with them. You can then also read their latest inspection report. Have a look here: www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Inspection-reports/Early-years-and-childcare
Note this covers all early years providers, so the results will include state-run playgroups and the like. You can search by postcode.

Most school nurseries take children from 3 - how old is your DD iskra? If younger then you'll need a non-school nursery.

The method above is how I found DD's current nursery, so I've done the same for our manchester move - put together a list (love my spreadsheets) using the Ofsted site, narrowed down by reading the reports (and checking them out on googlemaps streetview!), then visited the shortlisted ones.

Which is what I did yesterday. And I have to say the first one was so bad that I nearly cried. The manager wasn't there, even though I'd booked an appointment and they knew I was coming up from London. The lady drafted in to show me round had really bad english, so I had to ask her to repeat everything and it got reaaaaaally awkward. And they had the 4 year olds in a basement with the blinds drawn!!
Luckily I then visited a second nursery - on Wilbraham Rd, funnily enough smallerclanger - which is lovely, and has space for DD when we need it. Thank gawd!

Apparently i'm looking too early for rentals, so I need to start doing that properly in early Feb.

So, smallerclanger you'll be in the same area as us! Wandered around the streets near beech road and chorlton green for ages yesterday, sighing to myself and wondering if we're making right decision in going for space (towards old trafford) over general loveliness (chorlton green).

Had a bit of a wobbly yesterday tbh. All felt very suddenly real. Was perusing art gallery leaflets and it dawned on me that they covered the time we'll be moving so i'll actually be able to visit the exhibitions. Wham! We're moving to Manchester! aaaggghhh

Sorry try this www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Inspection-reports/Early-years-and-childcare

Topsmart - you are a woman after my own heart with your spreadsheets

Each LEA will have a list of nurseries, Ofstead, and for school age children the BBC website has all the league tables. There's also The Good Schools Guide and The Times do atop 2000 schools list. Do bear in mind OFStead is a snapshot of a day (often well prepared for) although they do ad hoc inspections. Do as Topsmart did - compile a shortlist and visit.

So sorry to hear you wobbled yesterday, but you are so positive about this move and I really think that is a major battle won. It's a huge move but it does all come together. Come and wobble on here and we will support you all the way!

Relocation, Relocation tonight is in Manc. Not sure how helpful it will be to anyone though!

Watching it now! I wish we'd thought of contacting CH4. My girls love Kirstie & if she had found her house they wouldn't wait to move!!
Hmm, in Salford now, will see what they say.

Oh, and Topsmart, I wobble all the time! Currently realising that I've been pretending it might not happen, and ignoring this house. Now we have so little time to sort it out for sale. All my spare time this month is going to be spent clearing rubbish & painting & .....we are so behind. And I don't even have a spread-sheet yet!

Thanks guys! Cheered me right up :o
Will get on 4OD tonight - missed kirstie'n'phil as was catching up on Zen from last weekend. Was it good?

I'm wobbling all over the place. Must keep the faith that we'll all get there in the end! Am imagining coffee and cake in one of the nice cafes on Beech Rd in chorlton...

Wait till you see the Salford property, might take a peak at one like it ourselves, just for fun. Right, back to filling those black bin bags.

Which was the Salford property? Timperley one was nice.

I can be your Kirsty! I miss property porn, to the point I was looking in the local paper for houses for you MUmmyisamonster. Not that MIAM knows that!

I filled in the forms to do Location, but decided we probably would be suitable given its the opposition!

Do PM me if I can help at all.

OOh, I can sympathise with the wobbles. Just had an estate agent value our house, next it's the financial advisor, then it's major de-cluttering. MAJOR.

I'm watching last night's Relocation Relocation and wobbling a LOT. Mainly because Phil keeps on going on about what a major change it is, up-rooting and moving..blah, blah, blah. I KNOW it's a major change, stop going on about it!

I'm booking a skip tomorrow.

I'm off to have a lie down (and some gin).

Hi, if you're moving up but don't need to get to SQ with the BBC then as well as Trafford, I'd recommend the nicer areas of Stockport for schools. We used to live in Cheadle Hulme and both Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall have excellent primary schools. Heatons good too!

ooh, Fox, just seen your message! Where have you seen? I've been looking at Sale, Timperly and Urmston and there seems to be LOADs about. I must keep calm. If I bit it off in bite size chunks I think I'll feel better.

Thesecondcoming - good to know, thank you! Where are the good bits? Ta

I got lost in Stretford t'other day. It has some nice bits ... And some not sooooo nice bits! But, pah, same in any area of any city.

We looked at the Heatons and Bramhall. Some lovely houses. Bramhall a bit too coiffed for me though!

I'm a Canadian who moved to Manchester 5 years ago. I've lived in different parts: Withington in South Manchester as a postgrad; Salford briefly because that's where my partner was living at the time; and now as a Mum of a 3 year old in Sale for the past few years.

I've searched high and low for the perfect area (nice but not too posh, good schools and parks, good transport links, etc). I wouldn't say Sale is necessarily it, though it does have a number of plus points, like the tram and the schools. It could definitely do with more in the way of nice, independent coffee shops, like Chorlton and West Didsbury, but then again there are negative points to Chorlton and West Didsbury.

Anyway, I'm happy to tell you what I've learned over the past 5 years if anyone has any specific questions about Sale in particular or Trafford or South Manchester in general. There are some great deals on property on the moment - much better than when we were looking in 2007!!

Hi Fenner - thank you for joining. Moving is always a matter of compromise, and ticking as many boxes as you can. I don't think Sale will ever be trendy, but one or two independent shops have sprung up lately. You are right, the tram and the schools - two of the big, big boxes ticked. At least I can get down the high street to get the vital bits without being distracted! It has a Cafe Nero and a M&S if I'm feeling decadent .

God, I'm easily pleased me!

And Worthington and Ashton Parks are lovely. Have you seen the new pot painting/cupcake decorating emporium on Northenden road? I've been waiting for Sale to get places like this, and seems to finally be happening.

iskra
if stretford is busting your budget, have you thought about Prestwich? good schools, cheap property and a good commute into Salford. We moved here from South London 2.5 years ago and love it.

Fenner - that is dotcomgiftshop come to life. It always makes me happy

CharlotteBronteSaurus - thanks for that, I had a look at Prestwich on rightmove & we can definitely get more for our money. I'm drawn to south Manchester because that's where my mum is, & part of the move is for her to do babysitting! Without a car north Manc is a bit of a mission (she's in Didsbury).

Thanks in general for the pointers on nurseries everyone.

Very much enjoyed watching Phil & Kirsty - I thought that Chimney Pot Park development in Salford was v cleverly done.

Ok, so I've seen a house for sale in Brooklands. What's the area like? Please be honest!

Nice! Good school, on tram line. Good pub. You'd better link me! Some lovely properties.

Fox, I'm liking the pub bit ..

Have sent you a link
xx