simonethebeaver

We are rat-free inside but obviously there are many outside. Nothing new, I know, but suddenly our cats are bringing a dead, smallish one inside every day. We can only assume there is at least one nest outside. It's fairly disgusting. Will this end as the rats get older, take on their student debt, buy Ikea starter packs and set off into the world, or is there any reason/benefit to getting K&O (to pre-empt the inevitable recommendation) to look for it in our garden?

Could I just add that as well as the, obviously fantastic milk bank, if anyone has been inspired by this to want to donate but for some technicality is unable to, then there is a website operating through Facebook called Human Milk for Human Babies (HM4HBUK) which enables women to donate directly to babies that wouldn't qualify for milk bank milk. My baby has benefited from milk from milk bank donors who accidentally used the wrong storage bags, had to use antibiotics, people who wanted to donate but left it too late etc.

Under the new inspection regime, it is very, very easy to get this grade. A friend is chair of governors at a primary that has been forced into being an academy after 'failing' its Ofsted on one single progression issue. If even one incidence of that occurs, in any single group, even one small enough that it's effectively one child failing to progress, then the entire school receives this grade.

Another Aneto lover here. Also had truly lovely service with my baby at the chocolate shop/cafe.

I'm only using G&T as shorthand although at least one school seems to use the term still, from what we've seen so far. We are looking forward to seeing him be stretched AND find out he is not the cleverest child ever made - both will be equally good for him, I hope. As I said, there are other factors, but I am feeling increasingly assured that we'll be able to find the right place for him. Luckily, he's not a genius!

It's a complicated situation which I don't really want to go into but grammars aren't really an option. I've had some very interesting PMs so thank you. I do feel reassured that he will be more stretched than at primary (thank goodness) but we do need to know whether there are schools that are particularly well known for good G&T programmes and there seems to be no way to find out, so maybe there aren't any differences.

Which school is your child at, EDMummy? The pastoral side is extremely important to us too (see my thread on Deptford Green) but for complicated reasons beyond just stealth boasting, we would like to know which schools are viewed as being best with G&T kids. We've asked on every tour so far, and will continue to do so, but what they tell you about what they do, and what actually happens, might not really match up!

Yes, but that's just stats. What sort of G&T programmes are out there?

We share your confusion! If anyone knows which schools might really stretch a G&T child, who is in danger of under-performing for lack of stimulus, I'd love to hear.

Depends on day/time obviously! But go via Honor Oak, then Crofton Park Road, Manwood Road, brings you out near Catford Bridge. Rarely any traffic until you get to Catford. You have to get out from a side street but it's a box junction and enough buses to make it pretty easy to get out.

Don't go via Blackheath. A2 via Catford, avoiding S circular as much as possible (Crofton Park/Ladywell cut throughs). Bluewater's food outlets have really improved recently. Last trips have had Jamie's Italian, Byron and Wahaca. All chains obviously but a darn sight better than La Tasca, which used to be the standard of restaurant there.

Hurray! My finest moment was when bad planning had left me on a tube at rush hour with a hungry baby. She was at the distractable age and pulled off suddenly, leaving me giving an eyeful to a row of embarrassed young commuting men. Not as bad as a friend, with a similar experience but a faster letdown, who sprayed everyone opposite with milk!

I have fed on a bus, train, tube, plane. I've fed in a police station, in a church, in a school, at work, at a funeral, in hospital waiting rooms... (Both my children are frequent feeders!) I have never once had a negative reaction, and often had approving comments. You will be fine.

I'd love to know more about the G&T programme. They invited parents to book individual tours any time so we're going to do that (look and learn, Harris Crystal Palace, with your one hellish open evening) but obviously good to hear from other parents. There was one very passionate parent who spoke during the presentation at the school, which was a nice touch.

Yes, went in March this year. It's on their website. http://www.deptfordgreen.lewisham.sch.uk/?PageID=93 We were very surprised too after looking round.

I'm another that just goes to Bluewater. I've got there in just over 30 minutes on a good day, the parking is free (unlike Bromley) and it has pretty much everything, including three department stores. Not to say that central London doesn't feel like a more interesting shopping trip, but the trip in and out is quite wearing with small children.

We went to the open evening tonight and really liked the ethos of the school and the staff we met. We were impressed with the small group teaching too. Reading up on it afterwards, I see it's in Special Measures, which may well be a good thing right now. I remember parents on here with kids that ended up there last year and the year before. Does anyone have a parent's perspective on Deptford Green to share?

I would be very grateful if anyone with experience of submitting an application under the exceptional social/medical criteria for secondary school admission could PM me. We are embarking on this and would really like to hear how it went for others.

We love the toddler swimming lessons at JAGS on a Saturday morning but I think you've just missed the sign up date.

Worth noting that the world hasn't gone entirely mad. The Honor Oak shed has been reduced from 350k to 325k to 300k in the space of two days.

We had a great experience with Bromley Blinds, although not for plantation shutters. They do make them though.

I would get the 63/363 to Elephant as it's much, much quicker.

7th Camberwell meets at St Stephen's Church hall on College Road on Thursdays.

I just had a quick look on Rightmove and am staggered at the prices. A house we looked at last February that was on for 600k but wasn't selling, and was overpriced in our opinion, is about to come back on the market at 750k. This sort of thing is lunacy and does make me feel pretty scared about where we're all heading.

A lot of Ofsted is paperwork and box ticking. There's so much more to a school than that. I'd rather my kids went to a Good school (I gather they're no longer allowed to be Satisfactory without being turned into academies) that felt warm and fun and caring than an Outstanding one where that wasn't the case.