Best place for primary school reviews (around Reading)?

[Crankleberry]

I have a 2.5 year old and looking to move (god help me with these mortgage rates) soon-ish. Given DC’s age I obviously want to move somewhere in catchment of a good primary school but as I’m not from the area I have no local knowledge. Googling just brings up paid for review sites; are these necessary? Obviously I can look up ofsted reports but don’t want to go just that as my ‘outstanding’ schools growing up were anything but. I’m looking at Reading and surround areas (Twyford, Earley etc). Needs to be close to a train to get into Paddington and I’d rather greener space than central town. Only likely to be able to afford a small flat at the £200k mark too so that is severely limiting :( Thank you for any help!

Plenty of areas around Reading with good schools, each offering slightly different options. The Tilehurst side is cheaper, but still has train station to Paddington with some quick trains in the morning.

Caversham has good access to Reading station, but more expensive because of access to the station.

Twyford is more expensive due to Elizabeth line, Woodley is close, Twyford can be used as a station or Reading.

Reading buses generally offer a good service around the Reading area.

Local Facebook groups might be a good start.

Thanks so much @Takeachance18 for those pointers, that’s super helpful! I’d been looking at Twyford cos of the train but good to know Woolley is an option too. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply!

I would second Woodley, green spaces and nice shopping centre, comes under Wokingham Council which historically tends to have a reputation for better schools than Reading. No train station but buses to Reading, Earley and Wokingham (and probably Twyford?).

I live in Wokingham and get the train from Twyford to Paddington on a regular basis - if you're on the Twyford/Hurst side of Wokingham it's less than 10 minutes drive to the station; and you're not paying a premium (or more of a premium) to go through Reading on the train.

In terms of primary schools there's Emmbrook Infants and Juniors, All Saints, St Nicholas in Hurst all on that side.

If you're looking for green space but easy to get to a station, Woodley, Twyford/Hurst or the north of Wokingham is your best bet really - but a lot depends on budget.