6 Weeks Pregnant - Should I Be Looking at Schools?

[WestLondonMummyToBe]

In West London. I’m thinking particularly of Pembridge Hall and Wetherby. Don’t you need to register from birth? Are there others I should know about like this?

Short answer - no!

When do people - in this area specifically - recommend starting looking?

I’m in NW London and would start looking after 20 week scan. Much easier to go to open days when pregnant than with baby! (Very aware that most of MN will think that’s madness.)

I’d be making sure you have a nursery place confirmed. We were in an area with long waiting lists for the best nurseries and when we found out we were having DT’s, getting two places was stressful.

No

Thank you @IcarusFlies . I was thinking the same about it being much easier to look whilst pregnant than with a baby.

I’m looking at them being with a nanny at home until the 3ish then an interested in Little Wetherby Nursery.

I would look at nurseries for a place and schools to see if I needed to move home before they start school. Yes I am one that moved to get into school catchment area, loads of reasons behind it that I do t want to
Bore everyone with.

I'm not from that area and haven't heard of those schools.
However, in general if they are private nurseries and schools then look around and get names down ASAP.
If they are state schools then check catchment area and move into it if you need to but there is no list to get on at this point it is only created when applications open for a particular intake.

Having just been through this not long ago…

Falkner House accept registrations up until one year old. Glendower should be registered as close to birth as possible. Thomas’ you can’t register until age 1. Ken Prep registration is up until a year before entry. Eaton House is non-selective and places assigned to you at registration.

I would suggest doing your research now, asking any friends you have with kids at school for their advice, think about good commutes etc. Visiting can come when you are further along

As others have said - don’t forget about securing the nursery spot! This can often be much harder than the schools!

We looked around schools when ds was about 2 or 3 years old. It's better to bring the child with you if possible as then you can gauge how much they like the school and can voice their opinion. Also you get to see how the school staff engage with your child- do they ask them questions, seem friendly etc.

Nursery - Yes
School - No

You have no idea where you will live in 3 years.

Some of these schools if you wait to bring the child at 2, you will have missed the registration window. And many ask you to visit without the child. Also…the idea that a 2 yr olds opinion would be factored in to your choice is a little bonkers to me - but hey, why not!

Also, Thomas’ - ask to get on the mailing list so they can advise you when registration opens (3 years before the year of entry). The registration list usually closes on the same day it opens so you need to be on it if you want that as an option

Actually scrap that? 6 weeks?

I wouldn't even buy a pram that early on.

I'm not sure why a pp found it hard to look round with a baby. It's very normal when looking at nurseries and school places to just carry your baby around with you. Stick them in a sling and you're good. There's pretty much always someone on primary open days with a baby as, unsurprisingly, 3 or 4 year olds often have younger siblings.

I feel like if you want to have a look around to inform your thinking then why not. My son's prep school does admission at 3 in order of how many days there were between date of birth and date of registration, so that was useful to know! (I got him on the list at 3 weeks). But barring extreme examples like that, you mostly shouldn't have to do anything so soon.

@ChelseaLDN Thanks. Glendower, Faulkner House and KP are all schools I’m interested in.

*Falker even. Would be a good start if I spelled it right.

No - too early. Wait til you're well past 12 weeks and then book a tour of the nursery.

Loads of people answering here for normal state primaries - in which case starting to think about it during pregnancy is indeed bonkers - but some of these London pre-preps do require signing up before birth or immediately after. I called Wetherby when my DS was 8 weeks old and she just laughed at me (because I was too late )

It is way too early. No

I just googled Wetherby and it's at birth

Way too early at 6 weeks imo. I'd go later in pregnancy so you can put the baby's name down as soon as they are born. But I didn't buy anything till after 20 week scan and then it was only a babygrow. I was too worried about something being picked up at the scan (but maybe was a bit over-anxious tbf)

Broadhurst in NW London were fully booked when i called and this was before be birth,

Yes I heard about this one. Isn’t 12 weeks too late there?

No, unless you're going to look around a much more diverse set of schools. You have years. I wouldn't prejudge the kind of parent you want to be (or the kind of child you'll get).