sbain

I'd also be interested.

Hi, Here is a link to the Southwark local offer (http://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/) which outlines services available to children with special needs in the borough. If you haven't already you could ask your pediatrician to refer you to KIDS (portage) they support the families of children with disabilities in the borough and help with placement at nursery. We've found them really helpful. Although ultimately for many reasons we decided to opt out of nursery and my son (who has some fairly complex special needs) is at home with either me or his nanny. We are currently going through the EHCP process for my son which tbh is a fairly annoying and inadequate process but there you go. PM me if you would like more info. SBain.

we also talk about the best and worst thing about today, like MrsBoris (worryingly I often get playtime was the best thing and learning was the worst). I also ask what made you laugh today? What silly thing happened today? and if he seems in bad form "Did anything happen to make you sad today?"

Dulwich Picture Gallery?

Totally agree with tomskip. Definitely worth doing and makes a huge difference.

Babbo is fab (although its been ages since I was there) http://www.babbonyc.com/menu/dinner/ pricey though. Plus now that it is in London maybe less special. I also really like http://www.gramercytavern.com/

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/15/vegan-tea-party-raspberry-cookies-chocolate-cake-ruby-tandoh I make the chocolate cake here for my dairyfree son and we all love it.

Whatever about the name - the food and drinks are fab. We went last Wednesday and really enjoyed it. We also particularly enjoyed the german sauvignon blanc and a delicious sparkling desert wine. Chloe seems to really know her wines. All of the food was delicious and interesting - the duck in particular was fab. Perhaps not the place to bring the kids - but for a fun, tasty night out I'll definitely be back.

We stayed at Runnymede-on-thames - it was fab. Really great with the kids, there is a playground and a swimming pool on the grounds and the restaurant is very child-friendly. http://www.runnymedehotel.com/rooms/staying_with_kids/

Not sure that I'm that keen on escaping winter but if I could live anywhere for 2 months it would be Japan.

Hi James, I have a feeling the wheelchair accessible roundabout is no longer there following the installation of the new playground equipment.But I'm not 100% sure as my son is small enough that he dosn't yet need wheelchair accessible equipment. Also to be honest while the accessible roundabout and wheelchair swing in dulwich park are great and to be applauded, they are very much the disabled equipment in a mainstream playground. An inclusive playground would be great. One where children of all abilities could play together. The best inclusive playgrounds around here I find are the sand park by the horniman triangle (playing in the sand is a big winner with both of my boys) and the sound garden at the horniman (which again allows them to play together (albeit for a relatively short period of time).

It would be amazing ot be able to build an accessible playground for East Dulwich/Peckham. My son is disabled and the only pieces of equipment he can really use at Goose Green or Peckham Rye are the toddler swings and the tyre swing (and the toddler swings will be too small for him fairly soon). There are some great (if v elaborate ideas here http://www.special-education-degree.net/30-most-impressive-accessible-and-inclusive-playgrounds/) and for ideas closer to home the Thames Valley Adventure Playground is fab (http://www.tvap.co.uk/).

I'm clearly going to come across as v irritating but, the accessible changing rooms are intended for people with disabilities as I understand it not families. I have to bring my "buggy" in because my nearly 3 year old is unable to walk or stand by himself and I need to be able to pop him safely in his buggy rather than on the wet floor while I get changed after hydrotherapy (he could and would fall off the benches if I left him on them without holding him). We occasionally end up missing out on the begining of hydrotherapy as parents with young children are using the rooms which are clearly marked as for the use of those with disabilities. And before anyone asks, no having a typically developing younger child is not in any way the same as having a disabled nearly 3 year old. Recently my lovely nanny had a very unfortunate encouter with one of the staff in Dulwich who wouldn't let her bring the buggy into the changing room. It is unclear to me what we are expected to do, either leave him on a bench where he will fall and hurt himself or leave him on the floor where he will get wet.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/02/02/roald-dahl-measles-letter-viral_n_6594344.html In case you need more reasons to vacinate - read Roald Dahl's letter about his daughter who died after contracting measles then vacinate your children.

If you are looking for a private OT there are 2 good ones that I know of around South London. We use Kiki's clinic and have found the OT we see there to be excellent. I would highly recommend her. However my sons difficulties aren't specifically related to SPD. (http://www.kikisclinic.com/therapies/sensory-integration/). While we have no personal experience, friends have recommended http://www.otforkids.co.uk/index.html specifically for sensory integration therapy. We do also see the OTs at Sunshine House and have a great experience of them.

I too would be interested - my son is 4.

You could also try Duck Egg and/or Vintage Pretty on North Cross Road.

How about a smart trike - my son got one for his first b-day and loved it? Or a toy buggy and doll/teddy to push around (again something my son loved at that age)?

Hi, I have a 2 year old son with special needs (he has global developmental delay and is developmentally at around the level of a 9 month old). I am begining to think about his EHC plan and his education. I am finding the prospect of choosing schools/nurseries for a child with special needs much much more difficult than for my typically developing child. So any personal experiences of schools and/or nurseries in the area would be really appreciated! Does anyone have a child with additional needs? Did your child attend nursery? Which nursery did you choose? How was it? Did you feel your child was welcomed there? Likewise if your child is school age which school did you choose and why? Do you feel your child is well supported in their school? Please PM me if you would prefer not to post on an open forum. Thanks a Million, SBain

Yes - the local offer site is appalling, full of broken links and spelling mistakes. It also doesn?t really give any information whatsoever. Hopefully though it will improve over time. My son who has special needs is currently pre-school age and to be honest the whole idea of sending him to school terrifies me. I have no idea how/if it will work, which school will be able to support him etc. However the services provided by Southwark for preschool children with disabilities are actually pretty good. The vast majority of the people we work with at Sunshine House are wonderful, committed professionals who seem to really care about my son. They also try hard to provide as much support for us as they can - we get weekly hydrotherapy, a weekly physio led group, invaluable support from our KIDS/portage worker. So its definitely not all bad.

Not sure if you have already seen this - the southwark local offer http://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/

Hi All, Do Magic Moments have a website? (A quick google has suggested not) or a way to get in touch to talk about the prospect of my son going? Sbain

We used to love going to posh restaurants before the kids - my slightly more recent London faves are Hibiscus (for a fab if pricey tasting menu), The Square (for amazing food), Hutong/Hunan (for chinese - Hutong seems posher and has the views but I think the food at Hunan is better), Dinner by Heston (I loved it, my husband less so), St. John (nose to tail eating - so only if offal dosn't put you off). If you want to be within easy distance of ED Chez Bruce is great as is Hutong. I also really like Little Social (haven't been to Pollen street social though), I also really liked Nopi (if you go check out the loos). I guess the only issue might be reservations. If your going to a show and like fish - I really like J Sheekey. (I am making myself jealous - we haven't been out anywhere "nice" without the kids in ages!)

Another vote for a duvet around the "mattress" bit - seemed to really help our son settle in a travel cot.

If you are just looking for a quick trip to the playground - Goose Green playground is a big favourite with my nearly 4 year old. I go shopping on the lane and bribe him to be good with the prospect of a trip to the playground. The other place that my two love is the "sand park" across the road from the Horniman Museum. (Not sure if anyone else calls it the sandpark - we do because it has a lovely big sand pit that my 1 year old loves.) The other cool "park" that hasn't been mentioned yet is Dulwich Woods - no playground or anything like that - but lovely for the kids to wander around in (assuming they are mobile buggies don't tend to do very well.