Moving Back to Edinburgh as single parent

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Hi, I'm originally from Edinburgh and still have family there so visit a few times a year but I've never lived there with children. I have 3 primary age children and am in the process of separating from my H.

One of my options is to move back to Edinburgh so I can be closer to family and make a new start and at the same time have the familiarity.

I guess where do I start? I'll be renting accommodation and probably like everyone would like to do so near good schools. My eldest is nearly 11 so secondary schools have to be factored in too so feeder information would be great.

My mum is now in East Lothian but I don't need to be on the East side of the city. Ideally I'll work and use after school care or a childminder. I've not worked outside the home for 6 years but have office skills. I currently work from home as a complementary therapist but I won't have as many options to do that if I am renting and of course it takes time to build up a client base.

Any advice welcome re getting school places, settling the children, accommodation, jobs, keeping sane, whatever! Thanks

Schools - I'd start with the high schools that interest you and work back from there. You probably know that in Edinburgh some schools are quite full so if you want your kids to go to a specific school, move in to the catchment area. You can do out of catchment requests but a huge number are being refused.

Good schools (high schools - areas from memory but you can check the council website) - James Gillespie's (Marchmont/Grange/Blackford/Meadows catchment), Boroughmuir (Morningside, Bruntsfield,Tollcross, Polwarth, Buckstone, parts of commiston), Royal High (Barnton, Davidson's Mains, I think Clermiston too which is cheaper), Firrhill (Oxgangs and Colinton type areas), Balerno, Currie (Currie, Baberton, Juniper Green), Craigmount (Corstorphine, East Craigs and Roseburn)

I will doubtless have missed a few, but these are all decent high schools and generally the primaries which fall inside their catchments are pretty good too.

Childcare - there is a shortage especially of after school care. Our local primaries have after school clubs but they all have enormous waiting lists as e.g. a school with 400+ pupils has a 60 place after school club in an area where 2 working parents is the norm. So consider this carefully and look in to provision in the area.

The issue you may have is trying to get 3 kids in to one school if they are all still primary age when you get here. There is a bit of a baby boom and many Edinburgh primaries are full- especially in the P1-3 agegroup. Also a complicating factor is that you cannot apply for a school until you have an address in the city. I suggest you talk to the council education department as a priority and see what options there are on the east side of the city. School catchment
None of the great high schools mentioned above are in the area you are looking for. Portobello high is falling down and is going to be rebuilt but there are long delays in planning issues and it will be some years yet before it is solved.

She said she doesn't need to be on the east side...

I was in your position a few months back, recently single and wanting to move within a good catchment which isn't often affordable ! Was lucky and found a nice little place in trinity catchment where the primary and I believe secondary too have a very good reputation! It's popular but not completely over subscribed and the primary and secondary are practically next door to each other! As for working from home, I don't know if its the same with all tenancies but mine states its not allowed as does the house and contents insurance! I believe there are a lot of after school clubs in the trinity area too ! Hope this helps a little

Hi there, I'm so sorry I haven't replied to thank you all for your help. I'm new to mumsnet and didn't get alerted for replies like my 'mummy' website in Ireland where I live at the moment, so thought no one replied.

I don't need to be on the East side, I'm not geographically challenged, the schools and a nice area to settle in are my priorities. If I do move back it will already be a big change for the children so want to get it as right as I can.

The more I think about it the more excited I get although I know my H won't support it. It makes sense for him too for lots of reasons mainly as he works in financial services in London during the week whilst we are based in Dublin and he wants to move back to Dublin full time but can't as there are no jobs. He could as easy live in Scotland as Ireland if he wants a job and to see the children but as it's not his decision I know it will be a fight:(

Yes I didn't think I'd be able to work from home in a rented house but I hope with longer school hours in Scotland compared to Ireland I could go back to full time work and my mum has offered to mind the children after school since my original post so that's one headache taken care of if after school hard to get. I've never had family support so it will be great.

Anyway, it's all up in the air. Back to mediation soon so will see what happens.

Thanks again.