Whether you’re moving on your own or you’re moving with your family, there are several steps involved in the moving process. Aside from doing the paperwork and preparing your belongings for the move, you also need to look for useful information about the location you’re moving into. If you are relocating with school-age children, you will also need to look for schools for them.
If you’re moving to a new city far from your current residence, you will need to transfer the kids to a school that is closer to your new home. Finding the right school for your kids may be challenging since you are not familiar with the place and there are lots of things to consider to ensure that your children will get a quality education.Â
Once you have locked in a moving date with your trusted professional removalist, you can start or continue planning the other details of your move. This includes doing the paperwork, doing additional research about the location, and looking into schools and other programs they offer. If you’re looking for a new school, here’s how to find the best schools near your area:
Identify the needs of your children
To make sure that your child is getting a quality education, you need to understand what they need to get the best learning experiences. Even if the school has the best reputation in the area, your children might have a hard time adjusting if the learning environment is not suitable to their needs. When possible, spend some time with your kids to gauge their needs. Ask yourself if it’s better to send them to a small or large school, which schools offer extracurricular activities that are relevant to your children’s interest, and if they offer programs that are tailor-fitted to gifted learning or special needs.Â
Get a list of the top schools near you
Go online, and ask your friends or neighbours to get a list of the top schools near your new home. If you worked with a real estate agent or company to help you find a property, consider asking them if they can provide you with other useful information about the city you’re moving into.Â
Research thoroughly
Once you have a list of the best schools in the area, you can start looking for more details online. Visit the school’s website to find out what subjects and extracurricular activities they offer. Although the interests and needs of children may vary, knowing the history and culture of the school will help you decide if this is the right school for your child. You also need to check the school’s accreditations and qualifications of their teachers.
Check reviews and recommendations
Aside from visiting the schools’ websites and social media accounts, look for reviews provided by parents (who enrolled their children in these schools) and former students of the school. Whilst these reviews are subjective, reading can help narrow down your choices.
Whilst online reviews are easily available, word-of-mouth recommendation is often more reliable and trustworthy. Ask your neighbours or locals who recently moved to the city for recommendations. If you know someone who has been living in the city for a while or is in close proximity to some of the schools on your list, you can also ask for their input as additional references.
Visit the schools
Make time to visit the schools on your list. This will allow you to get a better feel of what the school environment is like on a daily basis. It is also an opportunity to meet the teachers and inspect the school’s facilities and infrastructure. Check the quality of the classrooms and other learning resources, and observe if the campus is clean and well-maintained. Whilst going around, observe if proper safety measures are in place to keep your children safe in case emergencies occur. See if they have security personnel, fire alarms, sprinklers, and emergency evacuation plans.
You might also want to consider taking your children with you when you visit. This way, you can include their input in making informed decisions in choosing the right school for them.
Consider the cost
Aside from the needs of your children, you must also consider your needs and the needs of the family. As you already know, sending your children to school also costs money since you will be paying for their tuition, allowances, and projects. When choosing a school, you also need to consider available resources and options you can explore to lessen the expenses without necessarily compromising on the quality of education they get.
Check ease of transport
The school’s location is another factor that you need to consider, especially if you and your children will be commuting. You need to make sure that the school is easily accessible from your location and that the commute is not too long or inconvenient. Before making any final decisions, check the distance between your home and the school, as well as available methods of transportation.
