Finding a place at Sevenoaks Prep school - has anyone moved mid-Private education?

[harrietpn]

Due to a change in family circumstances (within the past month) we are looking to move to Sevenoaks. DS is in Pre-Reception at a lovely South London Prep, moving into Reception this September. Ideally we would like to move to Sevenoaks within a year but don't want DS to have a huge daily commute into his current school.

What are my chances of being able to find a decent place for him in a local Prep? How would you go about this? Am emailing around but am sure I sound wonderfully naive... On top of this we also have our house to sell but that's a worry for another day... Has anyone moved Private Schools outside the usual entry points?

There are a number of good prep schools in Sevenoaks (mixed and single sex) and the surrounds inc Sevenoaks Prep (it's actually just outside Sevenoaks, so you would need to drive), Solefields and New Beacon in Sevenoaks - boys only, St Michael's and Russell House in Otford (a drive, mixed), Radnor House and Coombe Bank (again you would need to drive, mixed). There is movement within schools in the area as people do move in and out of the area quite a lot! I probably call as opposed to email to check availability and getting on their waiting lists if needed. As you would expect they have very different cultures!

I would think about where the school is in relation to where you're planning to live as the traffic can be challenging (but no where as bad a London!)