Moving: Cardiff to Somerset- looking for good schools

[Plums85]

I’m originally from Torbay, Devon and have lived in Cardiff for 16 years now. Since lockdown my husband and I have been working from home and started to pine for the countryside. We have a daughter who turns 4 next August and will be starting nursery school, plus another on way at Christmas.
Trying to work out when to move, but also where to move! Originally looked rural within 30 mins commute to Exeter but it is so expensive. Have started looking further out as Somerset has some amazing countryside and it looks like we will get more for our money.
Can anyone recommend a village/rural area to live, which is close enough to local town that has lots going on where I could meet other mums and put down roots?

Would love to be able to jump into car and get to larger town/ city anything big, but have local shops in village close by for milk etc.

We are also moving as we are not in a great catchment currently, so would have to be in catchment of a good primary/secondary

Sorry I realise this is a big ask, but really have no clue where to even start looking at the moment.

My husband likes the look of Chard, or Cheddar currently. He may have to commute to Cardiff once/twice a week.

Thanks so much in advance,

Plums

@Atalune

NOT chard, Bridgwater, highbridge, Glastonbury, ilchester or street

Corfe, North Curry, Monkton Elm. There are afew nice villages around the edges of Taunton and it’s a pleasant market town with shops, restaurants ect with good schools.

Langport, which on the river small town or large village. Good schools and lots of little villages around like Kingsbury Episcopi, high ham.

Other places to look at
Ilminster
Somerton
Montacute
Hinton St George
Crewkerne- well maybe the villages around

The little villages which are so pretty though are all connected in part by lots of little lanes. So This might be off putting or stressful! O

Not chard, but then you say Ilminster or Crewkerne 🙄