Help / Advice needed - moving to Greenwich unexpectedly - daughter starting reception

[CaTyn]

Hi, we are relocating from the USA to Greenwich in August. It's all happening really fast, and while we are delighted (my husband's dream job, we used to live in Greenwich and love it), I am terrified! I have a daughter due to start reception in Sept and I have no school organised, nor any real idea how to go about it. I imagine at the private schools in Greenwich are fully booked up but would hope that there are places in the State schools. From reading reports the State schools look reasonable. We will be renting initially and I will be over in London on the 16th July to view properties. Any thoughts / hints / tips would be so much appreciated - we really weren't expecting this, thought she would be starting kindergarten here, and that we would move in mid-2013, but then we were overtaken by events. Thanks!

I would give the local council a call and speak to the Education Department about your situation and see what they suggest. However, you will probably need to find somewhere to live before you can put your DDs name down on any waiting lists. All of the good state schools are probably over-subscribed and there will be a waiting list. You may have more luck with getting into a private school though.

All the good state schools are likely to be oversubscribed already I'm afraid. I would phone the local authority and ask if / where they do have spaces. Otherwise Pointers and Blackheath girls (private) may be worth trying. If you can't find a place I would suggest renting somewhere very close to a school you like and hoping a place comes up, turnover is pretty high so you'd have a good chance I think.

Yes, give the L.E.A a ring-you need admissions dept. I would imagine all reception places will have been filled, but if you get your DC onto waiting lists, something may come up. My friend has kids at Meridian and is fairly pleased with it. I believe Halstow is well thought of too. Pointer school is plain weird in my opinion.