Moving to the area - best way to manage primary school timeline

[Pred02]

Hi,

We are thinking of moving from SE5 to SE22 and have a 3 year old (summer baby) who is due to start reception at primary school in Sept 2025. We would like to move to SE22 however given the fact we need to sell and buy a place while still applying by Jan 15, 2025 we are trying to figure out the best timeline for the move. 

One option is to put our place on the market, sell and move into rented accommodations in SE22 near one of the primaries. The challenge would be commuting to nursery until Sept 2025 (which is near Peckham), moving twice and also if we move to the catchment of primary school we may not find a house we like nearby and would need to commute further out.

The second option is to put our current address by Jan 15 (our closest catchment is Lyndhurst) and then once we move to the house area (which will hopefully be before Sept 2025) we work through the transfer/waitlist options. Not sure where that would leave us with schools.

We obviously want to get our daughter into a good state primary and minimise the impact.

Just wanted to get people's thoughts in terms of the two different approaches for the move.

Thanks

[Jules-and-Boo]

Have you chosen a primary school you want to attend? Have you checked out their criteria and furthest distance? 
What are your second and third choices? Siblings always get priority so even if you live nearby it’s not guaranteed that you will get a place at your first choice.

I’d pick somewhere to live in between my top three and rent or buy according to your personal decisions 

[echo]

Lyndhurst School was seen as a good school, what’s changed?

 There is a huge birth crash going on, so significantly less children looking for school places.  I was shocked to see  the esteemed Dulwich Hamlet’s huge advert strapped to their railings, even they have spaces in their Infants school.

My recommendation would be to gather up to date information.  Email your favourite schools and ask how many spaces/intake  they had in this years reception class.   Go to school fetes, speak to teachers, parents. 
 

It’s true schools don’t like changes after kids start in reception, but plenty do switch schools.  
 

good luck