move closer to school?

flyingmamma

my eldest dd has got a place at a top primary school,due to the fact i went,anyway because she has got in my youngest 2 kids will get a place.....we are looking at 11 years of someone in the household attending and i was thinking of moving within walking distance. we live 2.1 miles away currently. is this mad? we do need more space but the area has ugly expensive houses!

balletshoes

if your children's places at the school are definite, why move, unless the 2 mile journey is a very time-consuming or arduous one?

In your situation, I'd sit tight for a couple of years until you've thought about which secondary school you might want to send them to, and if you're going to move, move to benefit their chances of getting into the secondary school of your choice.

Janepig

If you can drive, and therefore do pick ups and drop offs by car then why would you move? We live just over a mile from DD/DS's school (the nearest school for them is around the corner from the house), I drop them off on the way to work and pick them up on the way home. There's many more parents at the school who live alot further away than I do. Luckily there's a large car park next to the school!

Balletshoes makes an excellent point about secondary school. Although we are quite a distance away from DD/DS's current school, we are a stone's throw away from the secondary school they'll be going to, so in five years time they'll both be taking about five minutes to walk themselves to school.

Jx

Sezzagirl

One of my criteria when we moved was that we were in walking distance of the school
It was a nightmare trying to battle through the traffic around our school in the morning and finding a parking space was horrendous. I found that it just made me start the day all stressed and uptight

Contrast that to a stroll up to the school. We were extra lucky as there was an old railway walk we could use so no traffic at all. We had time to talk and the exercise in the morning I think is good for the children - better than being in a car everyday anyway

As the children got older they could learn some independence by walking part of the way on their own ready for setting off to senior school

If moving is a practical option, and if you need more space you might think about moving anyway, I would say think seriously about moving nearer to the school

flyingmamma

thanks i have checked out a house which is 5 to 10 min walk.....no big roads to cross to school.when my youngest is in pre school i will be dropping off at 2 different times and picking up at 3 times! thats 20 miles a day..... was thinking about petrol costs and if the extra in mortgage payments was justifiable. to be honest secondary schools dont worry me, there are good bus routes to the town and the best boys school in the county would be a 15 min walk.i walked to school and love the thought of strolling to school with the kids but in reality i will be rushing to work in the town so will probably end up driving.im going to check out mortgage options and see if we might be able to move. appreciate the feed back

jackyann

I would consider a move, but take your time.
I always think it helpful to be within easy walking distance of primary school. You may not see it now, as your eldest is still young; but later as she makes friends, it is so much better if they can walk to each others' houses. You can also encourage independence by walking together, then allowing her to walk the last part alone, or walk to school with friends. I think being part of the community is really good for self-esteem.

However, no need to rush, as ballet shoes says, secondary school may be an issue. As you go to & from the school, or pick up/ drop off at local friends, you will get a much better feel for the area. You can even look at a house that catches your eye without necessarily taking it further.
You can also get a valuation on your house any time, just so you know where you stand.

torbrex

Well I think you would be mad to move if your only reason is to get your kids closer to their school.
I may be well out of touch with modern thinking but I lived over a mile from primary school and over 2 miles from the first secondary (it fell down) and 3 miles from the second and I walked to school or jumped on a bus if I was late or lazy.
It certainly taught me independence from an early age and also how to fiddle my bus money

Dunroamin

2.1 miles is walking distance!

balletshoes

We live within easy walking distance of both primary and secondary school, and the kids can walk themselves into and out of school from the time they are around 8 years old (school rules). However, when my child and one of her friends started doing it with their parents' permission (after many dry runs with an adult), you would have thought, from listening to other kids (who in turn had been listening to their parents) that we were the most cruel, most neglectful parents who ever lived :eek::rotfl:!

zzzLazyDaisy

Dunroamin wrote: »

2.1 miles is walking distance!

Do you have any idea how slowly young primary school children walk?

Yes it is walking distance for an adult. It may also be walking distance for an adult with children and plenty of time.

It is unlikely to be walking distance for a mother who has to take children to two different schools, walk home, pick the car up, and then get to work on time!

peachyprice

flyingmamma wrote: »

but in reality i will be rushing to work in the town so will probably end up driving.

Is there really much point in selling up a taking on a bigger mortgage to be nearer school when you're going to end up driving anyway?