House move with R & Y1 kids

[thelittlepeanut]

Not confirmed yet, but there is a very high probability that we need to move from Herts to North London in the coming months (around April/May). Currently have a DC1 in Reception going into Y1, and a DC2 due to start R in Sept. DC1 is super settled at a truly lovely school, and I have no concerns that DC1 would follow suit - so I am full of stress and anxiety at the prospect of a move.

I’ve been looking at schools in our new local area and all the “good” schools are oversubscribed. These are also all the local schools that are within walking distance of our new home. The schools with availability are short drives away, which at peak times would be chaos as roads are gridlock during rush hour. Aside from obviously wanting the best for my kids and them getting into a nice, good school - I’m also stressed at the prospect of them potentially going to different schools due to availability and having to manage 2 commutes. We don’t have anything confirmed yet, so have had to apply for R place for DC2 at our current address, missing the Sept 26 intake deadline. Which means 2 sets of in-year applications.

I’m not sure on the point of this post exactly, wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or can offer some words of advice/reassurance.

TIA

Sorry no experience but teacher. I think it will be tricky to get two kids into early year groups in good schools that are over subscribed, as you say. I'd imagine you'll have to play the long game and do your best and wait for the spaces at the school you want. That may mean two drop offs for a while but schools will be accommodating as they will realise you don't have a choice e.g. pick up one child late every day. My advice would be to choose a school where they have the biggest intake e.g. three form entry or larger as they will have the most movement. Also buy second hand uniform / unbranded until you are sure it's where you want them to be.

First... check to see if the place you ate moving to has a later deadline for moving into the area. Some do... but its probably February at the latest. Howrver, if you move in the next few months she will be on the constantly moving lists... and maybe at tge top of them.

Waiting lists are held in order of priority not time on list, so you could be near the top of the lists. Also, many people decide not to live a child who is settled at one school... so it could not be as bad as you think.

Unfortunately In Year Admissions are horrible. Its a complete lottery. Did it twice for two children... one of whom gotta place straight away both times. The other... the first time it took 2 months (and am Appeal). The second time... we moved in the day another child left so as a sibling (as DD2 had already been offered a place) she leapfrogged the whole waiting list.

You are not moving very far. Is it a vital move?

@pinksquash13 that’s really helpful - thank you!
@TheNightingalesStarling I think it’s the luck of the draw that makes it so stressful - as you won’t know where thy end up until you get allocated a school and it could be anywhere! How was your DD that had to move twice?
@OhDear111 well this is the thing that I’m trying to argue with DH - I don’t think it’s vital and it’s completely the wrong time now (I had tried to get the moved confirmed before Christmas ahead of application deadline) but we don’t see eye to eye on the matter.

DH is in the Army... they attended 5 Primary schools between them in 3 countries!

If the school is more than 2 miles away they are supposed to help with transport but I believe in London they can just use the free bus passes for children as "help".

Agree it isn’t a long distance, I would try and avoid moving at all costs. Into London from outside is quite a step. I wouldn’t honestly uproot the kids from their school unless essential. Do you feel comfortable giving any more background as it seems a bit of an odd life choice to be making from what you’ve said!

How set are you on moving to that specific location? There are a lot of great primary schools in London which are under-subscribed. Would you consider moving to a slightly different area?

Also worth noting that even in the oversubscribed schools there can be a lot of movement due to families moving out of London or children not taking up their places for whatever reason.

I’ve had to do in year transfers twice and it’s quite stressful. First time it went fairly smoothly because local school did come up with a place 2 weeks after application and dd2 wasn’t compulsory school age yet anyway. Second time got a place locally (150m away) for dd1 and got offered 2.4 miles away for dd2, but no transport available so I went to appeal, the appeal person had the cheek to suggest my mother should do the second drop (who lived a 4 hour drive away) as neither school had breakfast club provision and started at the same time, I didn’t drive - I put in a formal complaint after loosing the appeal about the frankly sexist comment that my mother (not their father, not their grandfather) should help bearing in mind she worked full time as the main breadwinner etc. got an apology for that and 3 weeks later a place, the fact we lived so close put us at position 1 and a 3 form intake means more probability of a place

Have you considered staying put and commuting to work?