P1 places in Edinburgh/mid year entry

[Lorelaithe1st]

My DH has started a new job in Edinburgh and we’re hoping to move nearby soon (still have a house to sell in a v slow market in the NE so could be a few months).

My DS is starting P1 this year and I’m getting stressed about moving to Edinburgh and not being able to find a school place for him mid-year. Is it as difficult to find a school place as I keep reading?

We’re looking to buy in either north west or east areas like Corstorphine, Portobello, Silverknowes or possibly even Musselburgh or Colinton if we can’t find the right house elsewhere. DH works in Leith but location is flexible.

I’ve emailed the council but not had a response, there isn’t much they can do until we have an address though. Does anyone else have experience moving part way through a school year and how difficult was it to find a school?

Thank you!!

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20256/schoolplaces/1267/decisionssonschoollplaces/2

This tells you where there are current spaces for August in P1.

There's a lot of pressure on P1 places as it's a ratio of 1 teacher to 20 pupils.

Just a thought- but when is your DC's birthday? If it's a January or February date (2015) then you can defer to next year, if that helps?

Thanks for linking that list. I’d already seen that and there’s only 1 school listed in the areas we’ve been looking

He is a January birthday but we’ve already deferred so he has to start this year. Fingers crossed we can find something at the time.

I believe the schools keep places for children who move into the area. My daughters school was full (with a waiting list for out of catchment places) but two children have joined her class since moving into the area.

There is a lot of movement in the run-up to P1; lists change all the time.

Some of the children in my DC's school moved in the few weeks running up to school & still got a place.

Would you consider renting, so that you could move in to catchment (and therefore start the process) sooner?

Can’t help on current situation but we moved 2 years ago mid year and there were P1 places for children in catchment in four of the schools that we checked with

Thanks for the advice and Bouncebacker that’s really helpful to know. We may rent but have a big hairy dog so not sure many landlords would be keen! Hopefully we’ll find something quickly when we can start the move.