Edinburgh area schools/preschools.

[randomsabreuse]

Might be moving from England to Edinburgh area after New Year (If DH gets a job he has a final interview for). Have a late summer 4yo DC currently in reception who will obviously not be in age for P1!

Are there any pre schools that are quite "schooly" as DC is loving school and would be horrible if at home, especially as I have DC2 age 10m...

Location not certain as yet but would assume west/southwest and suburban/ accessible rural rather than central given DH's job. Ideally commutable to central Edinburgh so I have a chance to go back to work too!

How do school/preschool admissions work - all I know is it is usually catchment based.

Private is very unlikely...

Any areas to avoid? Or just not bother looking at because you need to pay £500k for a tiny flat - we need off street parking due to DH's jobs - on call from home 1 in 4...

Thanks!

We moved England to Scotland with a late summer 4 year old. He started school nursery - what I called preschool down south - this term. It’s free and he does 3hours 10 mins a day. Tends to be mornings or afternoons are available.

He loves it - I wouldn’t have said it’s school like particularly but he loves it and I was going to start him the following year at CSA if still in england so if works for us!

Thanks! Issue is my 4yo has done a year of school nursery (in the same classroom as reception) and will have done a term of reception by the time we move... so is used to and happy in a school environment- however August born so not just missing the Scottish cut off...

They did a fair amount of basic phonics and maths last year in nursery

I’m sure he’ll also enjoy just playing for a bit longer too though! He’s only been there a few weeks but as far as I know there won’t be formal teaching.

I’m probably not best placed to advise as DS would have been a nightmare if he was in school at the moment so I’m just hugely relieved!

I can’t help location wise as we are rather central but as far as school admissions you go to where is nearest I believe. You can ask to go somewhere else and if there’s space you can. I think!

What's your budget likely to be OP and what do you need and we can maybe suggest some options?

I honestly wouldn't worry about the "step back" that you might think it is tbh. It's been a while since my two were nursery age, but as far as I know, although it's play based, nursery will offer a range of activities based on what the child wants to do and will support children keen to be reading and writing although obviously not in a formal way.

To give a bit of context, My DSs are July and August birthdays so started school at age 5 after 2 years of nursery. Neither could read or write before school as although they sat with us being read to a lot, they weren't that bothered about doing it themselves and we didn't push them. However, both learned very quickly when they started school and had a reading age of 8 by age 6 and of 15 by the time they were 11. Both are now at University.

I don't think your DS will get bored by the return to a less formal setting but should be ready to hit the ground running in P1. Many children will be reading or writing to a basic level and many will pick it up quickly anyway.

I hope the move goes well.

Budget is probably about 250k depending what we get for current house - but will almost certainly be renting initially given switch from English to Scottish systems makes potential chain impractical. Definitely west side - and looking at right move Linlithgow is unaffordable!

I'm only worried at the moment because we have obvious disappointment school isn't every day (Saturday and Sunday!!!) Despite the fact she's an overtired mess at home.

Thanks!

It's not so much the "activities" as the environment I think - current nursery/reception is very free flow between the two years but they have uniform, some time sitting on the mat being taught and PE/ forest school once a week. DC very much enjoys the environment (And I really don't want to have to label everything!!!)

It sounds like a primary school with its own nursery would suit - in many of these there will be lots of opportunities throughout the year to play alongside P1 classes. All nurseries (linked to schools or otherwise) should be offering outdoor opportunities, a PE programme and will offer some sitting on the mat time, especially for those children who are due to start P1 next session. There won't be any formal teaching as such, but if your child is keen to learn about sounds or mark-making or numbers he should be supported in that. Best to visit some settings once you know where you'll be living, visit school websites, look at Inspection reports etc.

I'll have a think about area etc later as just off to work. However, ime most nurseries will have an available uniform of sweatshirt/poloshirt though it's generally not compulsory.

We've got a bit of flexibility on area - DH will have a base but won't necessarily need to go in most days - mostly straight on to client premises. Looks like South of the river round to the Pentland Hills would be best, probably ok to go as far out as Livingston and Linlithgow although budget might be a thing.

How much over does offers over mean?!

Although we'll be renting initially I'd prefer to be in more or less the right place long term to minimise school changes!

I'd be looking then in an area where things in your budget are on the market now and in enough quantity to have a choice otherwise you risk renting somewhere where houses only come up infrequently.

You'd be able to get a decent 3 bed detached in a nice area in Penicuik (be a 1960s brick built wimpey type mostly) since DC are young and high school is a while away, then from my admittedly older knowledge, I'd target around Mauricewood primary.

High school wise, Penicuik high schools are reasonable. Better high schools in your overall target area would be Balerno, Firrhill, Boroughmuir.

To the west, Kirknewton is nice but property doesn't come up that often.

Quite a lot of new build come up in Broxburn and Uphall and the estates are perfectly fine too though the villages/towns themselves would have been seen as moderately rough in the past. A lot of places have quite a sizable influx of new builds and these change the demographics of these places quite a bit.

Offers over will vary depending on when and where, but if your maximum is £250k, I'd be looking about the £220-225k at most so allowing 10-15% over but obviously check with your solicitor prior to making offers or back search house on zoopla etc to see what they were marketed at compared to how much they went for. You'll need to have a better idea of where you want by then though.

Thanks! It's just such a big area it's handy to narrow down without visiting everywhere! At the moment we're in a 30s ex council house in the supposedly "rough" part of a rural market town so Edinburgh will be a shock- especially for DH as I lived in London and Birmingham before we met...

Main reason for renting is the switch from English to Scottish conveyancing doesn't really work without a gap!

We managed the direct England to Scotland sale/purchase. It was the first time our Scottish solicitor had ever exchanged and completed the same day and it was hugely stressful all round. I was fully expecting it to all fall apart and our furniture to need to find storage when it was half way up the M6. It all worked out, but I would not recommend it!

random It's hard to pitch on here as a lot of posters are quite wealthy and would turn their nose up!

You'll be able to get something in a nice area for that budget given what your expectations are :)

If you go on ESPC, you can search by high school catchment, I know that may not be a consideration now or ever if you relocate home again, but houses in the catchment of a decent school in your budget should be in a decent area.

There are quite a few Edinburgh folks around on here so I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice. I grew up in South & west Edinburgh but obviously many many years ago and I lived in the area and surrounds until DC were toddlers. They are now adult so my knowledge might be a bit old.

@Wax

We're realists of the privately educated professional with no chance of doing the same for our kids variety...

If it comes off DC1's accent will be amazing - she already mixes English Public School with full on Black Country - so you always know where she picked up a phrase!

I don't mean to be negative but I would contact the council ASAP and see if you are likely to get a place, especially if she would only be in the nursery for a few months before restarting school in August. Everywhere in Edinburgh seems stuffed to the rafters.

Will be contacting as soon as we have an offer... but would assume we need an actual address. If we have to suck up paying short term we can...

We moved too late to apply properly and then it was school holidays. DS started a week after term started. We were stuck too as we didn’t know where we’d end up. We originally imagined dunfermline and then ended up in an expensive part of Edinburgh!

It was super nerve wracking as it was right over the summer holidays and not one person could advise us - we had to wait until the day before term started to speak to anyone!

We can never afford to buy a house anyway so we’re just wasting on money on rent to live in a nice place for a bit.

Good luck!

With the 1140 hours being extended, quite a few nurseries have mixed nursery/Forrest kindergarten, which may be an option. You spend half the day in nursery and the other session in Forrest kindergarten.

I know Cramond do this model along with Ratho. I think Clermiston might too.

Lots of the places people are mentioning won't be at all different to your market town.. outside of the Edinburgh city area it get quite rural quite fast. Inside Edinburgh is getting more and more unaffordable. I don't know about Midlothian but much of Edinburgh city council nurseries are doing forest school now. They are also enrolling out 30 free hours for all all over the City

You could go further west Polmont/Falkirk/Larbert are more affordable with good train links to Edinburgh.

Issue with west is DH's job - he would be on call in the arc I have identified and needs to be in the right area (medical so time to arrive is important). I want the easy commute to give me career options in the City. Typical balancing act!

I'd be looking at East Calder, Broxburn, Kirkliston, Ratho or Kirknewton with those requirements and budget. Schools all decent and really just on the outskirts of Edinburgh with Livingston (great for shopping) 10 mins away and Glasgow 40mins away.
Very commutable to Edinburgh although there is the usual rush hour traffic.

Great thanks - feeling like this could just work!!!

Agree with all the above, also look at areas just on the outskirts of Edinburgh in your chosen "arc". There will be places in Colinton Mains, Fairmilehead even parts of Longstone/Redhall that might fit the bill, not sure if the likes of Juniper Green might be in budget? Have a look to see what you like and come back with any properties you identify and I'm sure we can maybe give some specific feedback :)

Winchburgh is a lovely little place too, very commutable and significantly cheaper, as is bilston , Loanhead, lasswade