Moving to Cambridge - signing up for nurseries/schools?

[louisehs]

Hello, we are a Danish family relocating to Cambridge in September 2014 (to work at the university). Our children will be 2 years and four months and 5 years at that time. I wonder if we have to sign them up for nursery /school already now, and whether you have any recommendations? Obviously we don't know where exactly we will be staying - but somewhere close to the centre of the city. Thank you!

hi for school starting septeber after you are 4 you apply the year before
if you are both working you will need day care - which could either be a private nursery or childminder - comes pretty expensive in Cambridge - especaily - you could put get on some waiting list for some nurseries I guess

If you are looking at state schools unfortunately you can't apply for a place until you have a proof of address

Hi there
We just relocated from Switzerland yesterday in order for our children to start the Autumn term school. Mine are 4 and 2 also, soon to be 5 and 3. We actually started the process quite late in February and I suspect we got lucky. My eldest is going to St Johns College school which is private and my second starts at the Pat-a-cake nursery which is next door.

If you are going down the state school system, you may want to move earlier to secure an address, in order to secure a school, but if you are going private you can apply for the place earlier and then look for a house. Good Luck! We have been here a day so far and it's lovely!

Places in Cambridge for all schools are over subscribed. You will very much struggle to get a place in any school unless you apply through the normal systems. I work in education and can tell you that there are very little school places in north Cambridge schools in most years right now!