Tips For Starting A New School

If you’ve followed our top tips for parents looking to prioritise play, you’ll have enjoyed a summer of fun It will help support your children settle in and start a new routine and overcome those first day nerves. Our tips for starting a new school are a must-read for parents of children starting at a different school and will also help ease the transition for those who are moving up a year.

How to find schools near me?

We understand that parents or those planning on starting a family, want to live near good schools and we take this into account when choosing where to build. On our larger developments we also include plans to build new schools. Wondering how to find schools? Follow these top tips.

1. The local education authority will publish details of state-funded schools on its website. There’s usually a separate section for each phase of education – primary and secondary schools – along with admission criteria and how to apply, either via the council or the school itself.
2. If you’re moving to a Redrow home, we include a ‘schools checker’ on our development webpages. Start your Redrow journey to finding your new home. The sales team will also know about schools in the area and have received feedback from other customers, or friends and neighbours if they live nearby.
3. When you’re choosing a school, it’s important to visit. Most schools have open days and may also offer private tours to parents.
4. Read the school’s most recent Ofsted report, accessible via the school or government website. The GOV.UK website features a handy school finder with links to Ofsted reports. You can also use it to compare the academic performance of schools and save a list of your preferred schools just like favouriting homes in My Redrow.
5. Ofsted Parent View gives an insight into what parents think about a school. You should also talk to parents or ask in local community Facebook groups to find out what people think about a school. Other helpful resources include The Good Schools Guide website and The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide.

How to apply for a school place

Children start school at the age of four, but you’ll need to apply for a primary school place a year before they can start school. If they’re due to start school in September 2025 then you’ll need to start thinking about applying for a school place now. As a general rule, your child will be three or just turned four when you apply for a school place. Applications for primary school places for September 2025 must be submitted by January 2025.

For secondary school places, the application process opens in September and closes at the end of October.

Councils will send out offers of secondary school places in March and primary school places in April.

Some people will move house for school places and to be in the catchment area of their preferred school. Can you use a different address for a school application? No – you’ll need to use the child’s permanent address at the time of application and provide proof of address.

What happens if you move to a new home during the process of applying for a school place? You’ll need to provide the admissions authority with proof of the new address. There are ways to speed up the process of moving home quickly.

Moving house during the school year

You may be wondering “do my children have to move schools if I move house?” When your new home is still within the catchment area of their existing school they won’t have to move schools. But if you’re moving further afield, you should apply for a school place near your new home.

The process of applying for a school place is different if you’re moving to a new home and school during the academic year.

1. Check for vacancies with your local education authority and/or preferred school
2. Schools often have a different policy on joining partway through the academic year
3. You’ll need to apply (to the school or local authority) at least six weeks before your child is set to start at the new school.
4. Remember, however keen you are to get everything sorted and arranged, moving day can change, so it may be wise to keep your child enrolled in their current school until everything is certain.

We’ve put together a couple of easy to follow guides to a sustainable house move and an ultimate guide to moving house full of tips and advice for moving day and beyond.

How do I find out my school catchment area?

A school catchment area is the geographical area that will decide whether your child can attend a certain school. It’s generally based on proximity but can change depending on the number of those applying.

Other factors taken into consideration when applying for a school place include siblings already at the school, a child’s faith (if it’s a religious school), and any medical or social needs.

At Redrow we choose where we build based on the existing local amenities, including good schools. Some of our larger developments also include new schools to help ensure neighbourhoods continue to thrive as the community grows. For example, new primary schools feature at Amington Garden Village in Staffordshire and at Woodford Garden Village in Cheshire.

If you want to know how to find a private school, the Independent Schools Council lists all private schools with a full profile and contact details. Once you are interested in a school, you’ll need to contact it directly to arrange a visit. Ask questions about its suitability for your child, check its achievements record, and get information about fees.

If your child has special educational needs, ask the local authority for a list of SEN schools, and look at the Local Offer, which has information on education, health, and social care services available for children with SEN .

How to prepare for a new school?

Moving to a new school can be stressful, but doing your homework and preparing properly can make starting a new school easier – for both children and parents. A good first day will help create a good first week and so on.

1. Talk about other successful firsts with your children, so they can look positively towards this fresh start.
2. Talk about the new school, its plusses such as clubs or sports teams they might want to join, the new friends they will make, while encouraging them to discuss concerns they have so you can address them.
3. Do a trial run to the school to put them at ease about getting there.
4. If you have new neighbours with children at the school, invite them for a play date or informal get together so your child can make friends in advance and learn more about the school.

What to do before starting school?

1. If your child is starting in the reception class, make sure they’re school ready including being able to cope with being away from their parents and have some independence around their personal care.
2. Read books about starting school together. Show your child pictures from your school days.
3. Create a routine so your child knows what’s expected of them on school days. If they have plenty of time to get ready in the mornings, they’re less likely to feel rushed or stressed.
4. Plan who will drop off your child or children and who will pick them up from school. Make sure your child knows who to expect to collect them. Check what measures the school has in place so that only those authorised to can collect your child.
5. Arrange wraparound care if you work full time. Many schools offer breakfast and after school clubs, or you may want to look into having a childminder if a family member can’t help with the school run.
6. Join the school community by following the school on social media, joining parents’ groups on Facebook or WhatsApp .

What should I do at the start of a new school year?

1. Ensure you have a complete uniform including shoes and PE kit and that they fit. The school should be able to provide a full checklist, including preferred suppliers and any rules around things like the style of school shoes required.
2. Invest in school supplies such as stationery – pencil case with pens, pencils, eraser, sharpeners and maths set, etc and you have any textbooks needed for academic success.
3. Buy a rucksack or school bag so that homework and PE kit and other essentials can easily be carried.
4. Set up a dedicated work / study space at home, where your child will feel relaxed and comfortable, and enjoy doing their homework. Check out our guide to flexible study space ideas and how to create the ideal dual purpose space for co-working, homework and more.
5. In every Redrow home ultra-fast fibre to the premises (FTTP) comes as standard, which is great as many schools now set homework online.

How to start a new school year?

Preparing for a new school emotionally is vital, but so too is preparing practically.

1. A week or two before term starts, develop a bedtime routine with set times so that they get a good night’s sleep. This could include a bath or shower, followed by reading either alone or with a parent.
2. Make sure everything that’s needed is obtained well in advance and organised before the big day arrives. Having five days of uniform, including socks and underwear, ready for the week ahead will help mornings get mornings off to a smooth start. 
3. Check the school website for any newsletters or updates in case of changes to rules or staggered start times for different age groups at the start of term.

How do you prepare for a new school?

1. Look at the school’s website together and talk about the pictures.
2. Acknowledge that it’s a big step, but make it fun and exciting.
3. Attend settling in sessions before your child starts primary school or transition days if they’re moving up to secondary school.
4. Encourage your child to ask questions or for help if they’re uncertain about anything.

For advice on moving house with children make sure you read our guide. When it comes to interior inspiration, follow our top tips for children's bedroom ideas that will grow with them.