Moving schools - timeline is so tight and I'm worried!

[OfUselessBooks]

We are moving to an entirely new area. I have a year 1 child and another due to start in 2021.

When we started the process our favourite school has some spaces...we bought a house in the right area. But they only hold the spaces open for 6 weeks, so we can't apply yet as we havent got a moving date. So my first worry is that the spaces will have filled by the time we apply.

We also have to apply for my 4 year old soon. And so to get a sibling space we have to have moved by the end of the year.

Things seem to be moving slowly! Searches are taking 6-8 weeks (we're 2 weeks in) and our chain's surveys will take place in the 1st week in October.

What are the chances of it all falling into place? Is anyone else stressing about schools? And what do we do if we get allocated a different school for our eldest...do we go for the same school for our little one or stick to the local one? I am feeling so anxious about it all!

I really feel your pain, in a really similar position, a year 1 and a new starter in September 21. Ive spent the year stressing about it as time ticked by with Covid and wondering if we were going to find a house in time for it all. We are lucky enough to have found somewhere now that if fingers crossed it goes through, we won't have to move schools but if not, it's such a unique house we won't find anything else the right size in this area and will have missed the deadline and we will be a bit screwed having to do two in year applications for a different school. Wish we could have started the whole process earlier.
So no answers but solidarity!

Is there only one decent school? Your children could start at whatever school you can get and be on the waiting list for your preferred one.

You're very lucky they hold a place for that long. The county I'm in don't let you apply until a month before you move, and it takes them 20 working days (so a month...) to offer a place. We move next week and we still don't have a school place, it's a bloody nightmare.

I hope it all pans out for you, moving is so stressful.

I know it's an expensive option, but could you rent somewhere close to your new house now for 6 months? Even just somewhere small? It's very tight and sounds like there's a good chance things might not fall into place.

We are in a similar position, DD starts school in 2021 & we are relocating. Our chain is complete & fairly short, 4 people. Our buyers are cash. Couple divorcing at the top. The survey on our house is a week on Monday, our mortgage is in .. we are about two weeks in.

We are aiming for December if nothing goes wrong.. 😬🙏🏼 Our agent thinks straight forward moves are averaging 12-16 weeks..

It’s stressful. School apps close in Jan. We’d have to consider rental I think or we’d be screwed!

How’s your chain? Anything that looks a bit nerve wracking? Keep chasing. I email the solicitor & estate agents every Monday for an update. They probably hate me. But I don’t care. 😂

Thanks for the replies. @Bol87 we have a very short chain. Our buyers are first time buyers and our seller is divorcing and going into rental. So as good as it can be really! I am slightly anxious about the searches as we have no room to manoeuvre on price, as we wouldn't be able to afford our new property if they lowered their offer. But they will be anxious too as they are saving a hefty amount of stamp duty so won't want to start again.

We can't rent unfortunately - we will both be unemployed and our savings will be dwindling month my month once we move. We could potentially move in with family for a short while if things get desperate for schools. I'd rather avoid it of we could as we're moving a long way and it could be quite chaotic, but will have to. Our searches should be done in around 3-4 weeks so at least then we might have a date! It's not being able to do anything that makes it harder.

I really want to avoid moving them as well if possible. The move will be so disruptive for my 6 year old and I don't want to have to deal with the uncertainty of waiting for a space in another school. There are two or three good ones, but we bought thr house close to the one we liked the best.

You should be able to apply from any address though. I used to work as a relocation agent and if the school had places you could apply in most cases (some LEAs might be different) . It’s where there is a waiting list where proximity is important