HELP, DD starts school next year - we are thinking about moving to Devon but not quite ready yet - help us decide please!

[eviz]

I am really hoping to get some replies from this as I am in turmoil!

DP & I are from opposite ends of the country - we have been living in the North East for last 10 years. DD1 is 2.7, DD2 8 months old, I am just finishing maternity leave.

I am overwhelmingly driven to bring them both up in Devon not the NE. DP is not keen but says he will if I really want us to.

I had really fond memories of growing up in Cornwall and don't feel any love for the NE, whatsoever.

DD1 will go to school in Sept '10 (she is 3 in July - feels way too young)

I am starting to panic about the thought of them going to school in the NE, because I feel once she starts we'll be stuck here until she's 11 then we can move her into a Devon secondary school.

But we are not ready to move yet, the housing market is awful, DP is facing possible redundancy, I am just about to finish maternity leave and may have to become the main breadwinner - and am not ready/confident to look for jobs in Devon yet.

I moved primary schools twice, and had 3 secondary schools (including 1 move across the country after 1st year at secondary) - I want to avoid this for my daughters.

Would really appreciate hearing others opinions/experiences. DP is v. laid back about it and in no rush to move, so discussions are not going well!

xx

Something that occured to me reading your post- it isn't going to have a great affect on their education to move schools at primary/prep level so you don't really have to stay until your DD is 11.

Ooh, thanks - and have you really gone to Devon?

Option 2 would be to move in time for DD2 to start school, which would be 2012. But wouldn't this be unsettling for DD1, leaving friends etc (whereas she's too young to really understand at the moment)

I am starting to think I'm getting it all out of proportion - the NE is beautiful, but since having DC it has really made me yearn to go home.

Tbh - moving kids at primary age is not the end of the world. I am a forces wife and my girls now board but they have had many many moves between them. One move is not going to be awful not detrimental. I can see the logic in your thinking but its ONE move ONCE and kids are very very adaptable.

Also even in a through primary school. Yr 3 is the start of juniors as it was in my day or keystage 2. That is a very good cut off point or even better if your child was/is at a seperate infant school. Many kids change at 7 (end of year 2). Alot from our primary went to prep school and another lot will filter out at the end of year 3.

If you do move, keep it a positive adventure for the kids. Yep they will miss their friends whenever you move them BUT honest honest honest within a couple of weeks at the new school they will have almost forgotten about them. Dont dwell on the one last week at your childs old school an one first day they will be the new kids in the class - look at the fuller picture and dont get so hung up on 2 short and quick incidents and think about what the different lifestyle as whole will entail.

Yes, I've really gone to Devon . I came here to go to Uni in Exeter and never left.

I think children are more open to making new friends than adults especially if they are still young. It's when you hit the teenage years I think it would become more of a challenge!