Many of us chose the location of our home – and therefore, our lives – based on its vicinity to work or how it fits our working lifestyle. Whether the property grants an easy commute to the office, or expands our job opportunities, is often the key consideration when signing a rental agreement or making that big property purchase.
Sadly, not so many consider the needs of our children when searching for a new city or town to call home. But we’re here to do just that today; if you’re thinking of moving and are on the search for a new city, here are 7 important things to consider.
SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS
The most important consideration first – schools. When searching for a new city for your family to call home, it’s a wise idea to look at catchment areas of primary and secondary schools, and to consider the quality of educational institutions in the area to ensure that they’re suited to your child’s unique needs.
Similar to a product or service, schools can also have reviews on their website, from both parents and students. Finding the best secondary school in UK doesn’t have to involve visiting them all in person (that, of course, would take you a lifetime) but rather, assessing their status online via reviews.
Alternatively, you can also supplement what you read online about a certain school from their Ofsted reports. You can also take a look at their exam results and performance data, all of which tell you about a school’s teaching quality.
Perhaps your child needs extra help at school? This is when a face-to-face visit might be more appropriate, as establishing an interpersonal connection between school staff and individual pupils is so important in such instances.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & CLUBS
Consider the extracurricular activities provided by any schools you’re considering, too. After all, the value of school doesn’t only lie in the classroom; life skills can be learnt, too, in after school programmes and clubs.
Well-performing schools understand that these activities can help supplement the learning of your children and promote personal development. Book clubs, debate teams, internships, sports teams and so much more will help your children develop their interests and possible professions for the future. Accordingly, make sure your child’s new school offers as wide a range of extracurricular activity as possible.
LOOK TO THE FUTURE, NOT JUST THE NOW
Sure, village life with the kids might feel idyllic when they are little – but what about when they’re older? Though the old saying suggests that a ‘happy wife’ equals a ‘happy life’, we think that ‘happy teens, full beans’ might be more appropriate. And nope, we couldn’t think of a better rhyme than that.
So, when considering a new home for your family, don’t only focus on their current needs, but also think about how their wants and desires will change over time. Perhaps a town or city with amenities and activities abundant might suit your family better later down the line?
DOES THE NEW LOCATION SUIT YOUR KID’S LIFESTYLE?
Are your children outdoorsy types who love the countryside? Or do they love water sports? Or, perhaps your children are older, and developing a penchant for high-end restaurants and places with a thriving nightlife? It’s important to be happy in your home due to what lies not only within its walls but also within walking distance; do check how well your children’s immediate leisure interests will be catered for when you’re narrowing down your shortlist of potential properties.
LIBRARIES
Despite the endless possibilities that the internet provides (or maybe, because of them), libraries can still play an integral part in every child’s life. As Libraries Connected explain, “Libraries are an open door for every child to uncounted opportunities – to have fun, to learn, to discover and to share. They are fundamental to reading, learning, to exploring their identity, and to participating in a society that increasingly values knowledge and depends upon being able to find and use information.”
As such, it’s important that you check that the new city or town that you’re considering has a library, which you can do right here, on the UK’s Public Library Directory.
TRAFFIC & POLLUTION
Though efficient transport links are a massive bonus, high levels of traffic noise certainly aren’t. Rather than using your ears to assess if your intended new neighbourhood suffers from traffic noise (levels diverge massively according to the time of day, so it’s not a reliable way to check), you can use the ‘England Noise Viewer’ service from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which lets you enter your postcode to check noise levels in the area.
Similarly, you can check the pollution levels of the area you’re considering moving to, by using the Government’s Air Information Resource. Again, simply enter your postcode and see both today’s levels and a forecast for future levels, on a scale of 1-10.
INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN IN THE MOVING PROCESS
Last but not least, it’s important that you include your children in the decision making process when considering a new place for your family to live. Whilst they’re certainly not going to actually make the final decision, it’s important to have them believe their opinion matters on where you might move to.
Draw up a shortlist of possible locations, with pros and cons listed, and gather the family around the table to discuss. Involving everyone in the process at this stage can help bring the family closer together, and will make the move all the more harmonious when it finally happens.