Please help - Moving to Birmingham with 2 small children, one with special needs

[vicky2007]

Im a single mum looking to move out from London to Birmingham since I just can’t simply afford anymore renting in London.

Im looking to rent 2 bedroom flat for us. I have an almost 2 years old and 9 years old with global development delay, speech and communication difficulties and learning disability who is currently being investigated for possible autism diagnosis. He has an EHCP plan in place, currently attending state school so ideally Im looking for place with good schools especially for SEN children.

So far the place I have been looking at is Selly Oak in south west Birmingham.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!x

Erdington may be worth a look? I haven't had a great sleep so may be reading this wrong, but if you are looking for a SEN specific school, the pines is worth a look. for your younger dc, there are several nurseries including seesaws day nursery and several primary schools too. all the best x

Theres a couple of schools near the QE hospital, Watermill and (I think it’s St Mary’s CofE? But could be wrong) that have medical/SEN category in their admissions criteria so may be worth a look and see what they can offer.

Green meadow (addressed as Selly oak but is more woeley castle/shenley fields) has a lot of SEN children and does well by them that’s might be worth a look too?

If you need them, there are also a couple of special schools towards Northfield but I don’t know enough about them. Think it’s Victoria school but I think it’s more for severe SEN.

Selly Oak covers quite a range of housing.
Make sure you don't end up in the middle of the student housing. there is one part of Selly Oak where 99% of the housing is let to students. However, as long as it isn't there, then Selly Oak is fine. Good transport into City (or, indeed out to the Lickey Hills, or round the Outer Circle - can get most places from Selly Oak.

Where you are, will affect which schools, obviously - Raddlebarn, St Edwards, St Mary's, Watermill, Northfield Manor (is a Selly Oak Postcode, despite the Northfield name), Tivertonor, round the edges you have all the Weoley Castle schools (some of which also have a B29 postcode).
There are a plethora of Nurseries, you don't need to worry about that.
You might want to be thinking more about secondary schools as it won't be that long before your 9 year old moves.

Echoing a pp about making sure you’re not in a heavily student area. PM me the street if you’d like and I can give you an idea.

Hi, am a single mother of 3 children and am thinking of moving to Birmingham birkdale close birmingham b29 7se from London, on a homeswap, could anyone please advice me on the area as I don't know much about it, e.g is it a rough area, is there primary/secondary schools near by, and also any shops, I would really much appreciate it, thank you 😊

It is nice.
I'd call that Stirchley, which is what they would call an 'up and coming area'.
If you look at the map, the other side of the canal is Bournville which is much sought after, and people who can't quite afford Bournville buy in Stirchley.

The other side of Raddlebarn Road is where a lot of student housing is.
Raddlebarn School would probably be your nearest but you are close to Stirchley school, Tiverton, and not that far from Cotteridge - all of which are fine.
I am less sure of secondary but you have a while to go before then.

There is a big Morrisons on the corner of the Pershore Road (A441) and there are plenty of regular buses along there to take you in to the City Centre.

The 'High Street' in Stirchley does look really run down but there is a lot of new house building going on and it will probably be a lot better in the next few years.