Accommodation and schools desperate help

[Mummy2b83]

Hi were moving to Southend on Sea and it's awful timing as it will be Xmas period, I will be 36 weeks pregnant and have 2 other little ones. I can't just pop down to Southend from Leeds as we have no childcare. So I'm desperately trying to understand schools, areas etc. Were budgeting 1200 for rent but good 3 beds seem to be more like 1300. Tbh it's the school catchment which is priority as we will be looking to buy in the long term. Any help would be so so appreciated as I don't know how I will get down to Southend to see anything.

Hi there. I hope you have a smooth move.
Schools wise, Leigh schools are good. West Leigh is very popular which means you have to live close to get in reception.

Eastwood has good schools and housing is slightly cheaper than Leigh, but I think there's less availability of family housing.

You've not said how old your children are but it's probably a good idea to call the council to see which schools have spaces.

Just had a quick look on Rightmove and there's not a lot.

You could try this one ; www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-62888048.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-56704795.html

Thanks gallic, I feel we have narrowed it down to Raleigh so looking at reception year there.so far down hall, wyburns, our lady ransom,and hockey primary have availability but not sure what would Be the best

I don't know Rayleigh so well.

Our DC arent at school yet so no experience of Rayleigh primaries (although I can recommend a nursery ;)) but as a town it's fab and having bought here recently we found we could get more for our money than a lot of towns nearby.

That said with a lottery win and a husband who didn't need to travel into London on the train for work I'd move to Leigh like a shot. There's a reason they say it's the happiest place to live in Britain!

Good luck with the move.

Thankyou no lottery win here either so we will just need to rent then buy but even so rents are so much higher.

Rents have shot up over the last year or two.
My neighbour moved out recently and put his house on the market. We thought he was chancing his arm asking for £1100 a month and £950 was much more likely. Turns out we were wrong and it was rented within a couple of weeks.

How did you get on, OP?

Hopefully you're enjoying life in Southend with a new baby :)