moving to hanwell with a 3year old

[wrenbird]

Hi all,
We are planning to move to hanwell from the harlesden (where we rent a 2bed so need more space). We have a 3year old and I'm pregnant due in jan. I've been spoilt with lots of baby toddlers stuff where we live and I'm really nervous of moving into a new area and starting all over again. But we really want to set up a family home, have more space and a garden. The price of houses has led us to want to move further afield, but also my husband loves the idea of being closer to nature - bunny park/river brent etc... seems like a good compromise. We've found a nice place in the mayfield ward, off greenford avenue. For my job i travel around london. I see mayfield primary has a good Ofsted report. Being in mayfield would we not be in with a chance to get into hobbayne - how do the catchment areas work? Also,i'm really interested in nurseries as my 3 year will be ready to go when we move (with the free 15hrs) - are there good options. The house we have seen is really nice, perfect for a growing family and in budget. i guess I'm just been nervous making a change even though I know its totally the right move. Also local parks?
Sorry lots of questions. Any tips, advice, greatly appreciated.
TIA

Hello

I am a Perivale girl myself but I have asked around. Hopefully, someone will be able to help.

Best wishes
Ealing Editor

Mayfield is a lovely small school. I am in catchment fur both there and Hobbayne and both are fantastic. My daughter goes to Hobbayne but only because it is nearer. Both are equally good and I haven't met a parent - or child who is unhappy with either.

Hanwell is a fantastic area to bring up children and ultra friendly so you will be very happy here! As an area it just keeps getting better.

Join Hanwell Friends and Ealing 135 groups on Facebook too!

Hello, we moved to Greenford (just a little bit up the road from Hanwell) with our baby girl last year and are getting to know the area. I love the Bunny Park and also spend lots of time around various parts of Hanwell/Ealing as there is so much going on for children. I definitely second the suggestion of joining Ealing 135 and the local branch of NCT for lots of info about activities for children. I've also heard good things about Mayfield Primary school as we looked at the same area before we moved. Good luck!

I've just finished 11 years of my children at Mayfield. It's certainly a lovely small school at the moment, but is about to expand by 50%, so size will no longer be its defining characteristic if comparing it to Hobbayne. The current head will remain and I think it will continue to be a fabulous school, very strong at vertical integration where every child is known by name to all of the staff and to most of the other kids. I would expect a lot of the small-school ethos and atmosphere to be carried on into the expanded school and that will be a very good thing.

This year's year 6 sats results were brilliant with nearly 10% level 6s - and this is a school with above average numbers of kids for whom English is not their first language. I've always believed the true worth of a primary is how they deal with kids in the more challenging older years and Mayfield excels.

We're not and never have been in the Mayfield catchment (much closer to Hobbayne). Th has never been an issue (and we're not the only ones in our road), but I don't know how stringently catchment is applied nowadays. Brentside Primary could also be a consideration for you - I hear good things, but I have no personal experience of it.

Absolutely no shortage of green spaces around here and well provisioned parks. Hanwell generally is very child-centered, very friendly and full of families.

If you're on Facebook, ask to join the Hanwell Friends group - it will give you good sense of the local community beyond just the child-centered groups like 135. There are always lots of discussions about nurseries on there. Your local options would include Sticky Fingers and Jolly Tots about which posters are always very positive.

Good luck and don't worry!

Hiya,

We're in greenford, I can't be much help with schools although were also considering mayfield (we're just the other side of the river from it) but if you were looking for someone to meet up with/play dates I also have a 3yo and another due beginning of feb