crescent

thanks for all those ideas... good to have some inspiration :o)

I'm feeling uninspired... My daughter wanted a TJ mini gym,(Crystal Palace) party for her 4th birthday like her brother a couple years ago. I called up today - and it turns out it 'stopped operating' a couple months ago... The only alternatives I can think of are Gambados, Little Rascals (Bellingham), or Beckenham spa's soft play. I think she and her friends are still a bit little for painting pottery etc... Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks so much!

Hi - yr post made me smile in sympathy as we were in same position 4 years ago - but in 2-bed flat in Penge rather than lovely ED. :o) I wanted to move to Becks as all my NCT pals were in Becks,I spent hal primary schools all lovely. But we found (in 2006, may have changed) we didn't get much house for yr money: 3 bedrooms around Balgowan school were ?320-340K and we ended up moving to Sydenham Hill area (edge of Lewisham and Southwark). We had been looking round the Balgowan school area, as I had 2 friends round there at the time: they now have 3 children at the school. It is very good, very active PTA and high-powered mums, and my friends are very pleased with the school. It has 3 form entry as someone else mentions. The catchment is tiny at the moment: similar situation to Heber and Goodrich in ED. Another lovely school is Clare House, on the Shortlands side of Beckenham, but only one-form entry. And if you're catholic, you're sorted, as long as you attend St Edmunds starting now: St Mary's has a great reputation. At the time, with our 2 yr olds and bumps, all we thought about was primary schools. Now, rather tragically, with our 6 yr olds, school chat is now all about secondary schools: and Becks is surprising not well served: Cator Park Girls or kelsey boys. (I don't know why? Does everyone just go private?) The Langely boys and girls schools are excellent, but new expensive developments nearby have made them very hard to get into. 4 sets of friends have moved from Becks to West Wickham or Hayes in the past couple of years , as they have both lovely primary schools, and very good comps. Can you tell my beckenham friends talk about this a lot? Hope this brain-dump has helped- good luck with the move, and baby #2.

know a mum who goes and she really rates them!

Hi Greenkin, you mention that Eliot Bank went up to 3 classes this year to cope with demand. I was just checking: are you referring to this past academic year (08-09) or what will happen for the upcoming year 09-10? (Have 2nd child starting there this September, so quite interested to know what's happening there!) Many thanks.

I'd recommend moving a wee wee bit further away, and get more for yr money in... Sydenham! I live just off Sydenham Hill (forest hill end), so about a 10 min walk from the Horniman, 8 min walk from Sydenham Hill station (12 min to Victoria) and my kids go to Eliot Bank school. I am one street into Southwark, and Eliot Bank is a Lewisham school, Outstanding in all areas of OFSTED and a lovely lovely school. Just thought I'd throw it into the mix. :o) Good luck!