When to start searching for your child’s schools?

So you have just celebrated the birth of your little one. There will be at least another three years more to go before he or she starts attending nursery. But the search for the best education starts right now, not 2-3 years later as you might think. You never thought that it would take so soon right? You are wrong for you need to plan early for your child’s education. So below is a list of timelines for when you should start seeking out the best places of education as your child grows.

Religious schools
This is the first school that you should seek for your child. Ideally, your search should start not long after the birth of your child. Once you have found the right school, your child would soon need to find faith too. This usually means attending church, followed by a baptism certificate. Most of the time, the coffee and flower rotas will be required too.

UK independent schools
The search for independent schools starts a year or two before entering the school. This can be quite a difficult thing to do if you aren’t staying near the school that you prefer. Some resort to shifting in order to have an address near the school to get better chance of securing a place. However, this doesn’t guarantee your child a spot, of course. Also, take note that prices of property around a popular school are higher. Decide if the shift and the price are worth it. Even if you do live close to your preferred school, always have an alternative choice of school if you are somehow unable to get a place.

UK boarding school
For this, you will need to start hunting for the right UK boarding school at least 1 - 2 years before the date of enrolment. The schools which are more in demand will require early registration but the others run on a first-come-first serve basis as long as the child fulfils the entry requirements. It is advisable to enquire at non-boarding schools in the event that your child isn’t able to cope with boarding school life or simply doesn’t want to attend one. It is also important that he or she feels comfortable with the surroundings there. It isn’t easy to be schooled at a boarding school, therefore make sure that your child is able to adapt to new surroundings.

UK universities
Unfortunately, this isn’t really within our control as strict requirements need to be fulfilled in order to gain entry. It isn’t as easy as choosing the one you want and moving to get a place. However, it helps to know which university you want and then work towards it.