info about outskirts of London+ and looking for Good primary school

[Fabg]

Hello
We are a family of 4 (my son is 4,5 yo and my daughter is 3) , we are French but coming to London in april, but not as expats.
My husband job will be at charing cross but we are hoping to stay in the outskirts of london with easy commute for him.
First I would like to ask recommendations about a few areas that would be suitable: Blackheath/streatham/balham/earlsfield/wandsworth. in terms of family lifestyle/and general neighborhood - would you recommend these areas?
Also in terms of primary school (would consider bilingual french if any good in these areas / or good British public schools - private also but depending on price??) any ones you would recommend in these areas?
Also my son will turn 5 in June, can he join YEAR 1 in sept 2015? (the class and nominations are quite confusing at first!). my daughter turn 4 in Nov 2015, so I guess she would still be in nursery class for the year starting Sept? am I right?
Last, by curiosity, any French families in the above areas? I am happy to mingle with all nationalities of course but its always good to have some "peers" around.
Thank you for any advice.
Fabienne.

There is a new French bilingual free school in Bromley now, La Fontaine I think it is called.

No idea where it is or how it is but if you have to commute into London
Bromley is fairly good for it.

Your son would be going into Year 1, your daughter will have finished Nursery and be going into Reception. Unfortunately application deadline was the 15th Jan - and you would have needed a UK address to apply - so it may be tricky to get a school place for September and especially a YR AND a Y1 place in the same school. South London is hideously oversubscribed and the further out from the centre, the less mobility there is.

Are you renting or buying? If renting, then try and rent as close as possible to a school you like as some have tiny catchments. Once you get a place for one, then the other should move to the top of the waiting list as a sibling. It could take some time though.

Most of the private schools in London seem to have fees of about £4k/term and upwards for each child and many are selective entry by assessment at 3+ or 4+. The cheapest I know of is £2.6k a term.

Duh, sorry read it wrong - thought that your daughter had turned 4 last November. Yes, your daughter will still be in Nursery. This is really good as you can be there to apply for Reception next year.

Move as close as you can to your favourite school and then if she gets a Reception place you will be high up the waiting list for a place for your son. You may get lucky finding a place for him anyway, but if not then that may help.