New to the schooling thing

[BrightSparkles]

DD1 is due to start school in 2014. The schools we like are all out of area though. How far ahead should I be looking to try and get her into one of these schools? Do i ring the school and ask to see someone? I have no idea - i don't even know where to start!!
Can someone please send me on the right path?"?

[Ambersky]

Ring now! I put DD1 on the list for our prefered school where we used to live when she was about 1.. luckily we moved and love the local state school, but i dont think you can research to early, especially if you are out of area and they wont be obliged to take you.

[BrightSparkles]

Yeah. I knew that weren't obliged to take her, there are about 4 or 5 out of area schools that i would prefer over the one we are zoned for.

Can I asked to go through the school and see what they are offering etc?

[LuluHB]

We put their names down just over a year before DD1 was due to start and 2 years for DD2. It would have been sooner, but we only just moved to the area (far away from where we used to be). DD1 only just got in because of a last minute cancellation.

Definitely ask for a tour of the school, and ask them what programmes they have as well as other stuff such as sports, music and art programmes, community based programmes, bullying policy etc. You're interviewing them as much as they are you.