FionaC

I have stick on labels https://www.able-labels.co.uk/stick-on-name-labels/ so quick and easy to attach and never had any problems with them coming off. Clothes, bags, water bottles, random household items requested by school - everything get labelled!!

I couldn't find it online on Friday and the project manager was on leave. I'll chase it up next week because all the council consultations are supposed to go online here https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/ Cllr Fiona Colley Nunhead Ward

Plans are progressing for Peckham Rye Park to have a properly fantastic playground, a great new building for the Playroom and decent football changing rooms. If you're around tomorrow pop over to the Adventure Playground between 12-5pm to see the latest plans and give your views. http://www.peckhamryepark.org/new-events/2016/7/9/playground-consultation

I'm sorry if it seems unclear, coming on this forum was an attempt to be open about what is going on in terms of primary place planning in Nunhead. There certainly wasn't meant to be a "world of difference" between my post and the head's. We have a need for places in the area, we have a site for places in the area, we would like Ivydale to provide the places on the site. The council has had some initial discussions with the head and governors which have been positive. There will be further discussions between the school and the council in September. Most tangibly the council has agreed it will find the money needed to provide the additional places on the site. As Renata said in the opening post everything is at an early stage. I'm optimistic and actively seeking to do everything I can to ensure we get the extra places we need and to do it in a way that local parents are happy with.

James - Buggie has answered for me! We have a site we can use for very much need additional primary places right by an existing popular heavily oversubscribed community primary school. So the obvious thing to was to approach Ivydale to see if they were interested rather than seeking a new provider.

I really don't like to get into rows on internet forums, but James, I do wish you'd check your facts before posting a load of nonsense on here. In 2009/10 under the previous administration the plans for Bredinghurst (now Newlands) to have a new buildings on the other end of the site (on Rye Road) were well advanced and agreed (in PFI contracts!) and the remainder of the site was earmarked for disposal. Perhaps you are confusing Bredinghurst with Highshore or Tuke special schools. Since then the new buildings for Bredinghurst/Newlands have been built and the school has moved in, vacating the other half of the site. It is this vacant site that we are now proposing for the expansion of Ivydale School. We're not proposing to move Newlands, no multimillion pound buildings will be rebuilt, no public money has been wasted. At this stage the Head and governors have agreed in principle to the expansion of Ivydale and the head has written to parents. This will all be subject to much more detailed discussions, but with the end of term next week I don't expect this will get going till September. Fiona Cllr Fiona Colley Nunhead Ward Cabinet Member for Regeneration

As Renata has said the difficulty with trying to expand Hollydale is finding space to do it. In fact because of the limited space, a couple of years ago the school wanted to get smaller (from 1 1/2 forms of entry to 1 form of entry), but this wasn't possible given the high level of demand for places. The council will be continuing to speak to Hollydale's head and governors as we persue the primary investment strategy. Purely speculation, but perhaps the expansion of Ivydale would mean Hollydale could go down in size after all. I could certainly imagine that whilst some parents would prefer the "super school" 4FE Ivydale and others a more intimate 1 FE Hollydale - they'd be very different with different pros and cons. Anyway, we'll have to see what Hollydale's head and governors views are. Mae - on the timing of Ivydale's expansion, whilst the new buildings definitely won't be ready till Sept 16, we are going to be working closely with the school to see if there is any way to start the expansion for reception classes any earlier in '14 or '15 within the existing buildings and sites, but we'll have to see as I know the school is already very tight for space. NunheadMum - I'm also keen to work through the implications of the expansion of the Ivydale on the community feel of the school. It's one of the issues I'll be discussing with the Head when I meet her in September. My feeling is that there must be some creative way of making the split sites a virtue and creating a smaller school feel within what will be a large primary. Fiona Cllr Fiona Colley Nunhead Ward

Some further information about the proposed Ivydale expansion - here's the letter that's gone to parents. Fiona Cllr Fiona Colley Nunhead Ward Dear Parents and Carers, At last night?s governing body meeting, the local authority invited the school to consider its proposal to expand to become a four form entry school split over two sites ? the current school and the former Bredinghurst School site on Inverton Road. The local authority has initially proposed that this expansion would take place in September 2016. The governing body agreed in principle to enter discussions with the local authority. Expanding the school offers many exciting opportunities for all pupils, staff, parents and the local community. There is the potential to improve the learning environment as well as to offer the Ivydale experience to more local children. As you know, there has been a significant increase in the number of reception-aged pupils in the area, and this proposal would enable us to better serve their needs. The capital investment and greater amount of space would also enable us to create a truly inspirational school. The proposals are at very early stages, and there is much work to do over the next academic year to develop and agree what the new expanded school could look like. I would like to assure you that no formal commitments are being entered into at this stage ? I, with the governing body, have committed only to working with the local authority to develop proposals. These discussions will begin next term and will, in time involve parents, carers and the local community. I will of course keep you informed as they progress. Many thanks for your continued support. Sincerely, Helen Ingham Headteacher

The programme for the One O'Clock Club is on the Children's Centre website http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/100011/transport_and_streets/677/transport_events_and_news Not sure if they are open in half term (I fear they may not be) but you could give them a call - number on this page of the website http://www.ivydale.southwark.sch.uk/childrenscentre.asp

Elli - great see you at 9.30 Pippa - I did think it looked a bit too easy for some (quite enough for me though) Fiona

Is anyone up for going tomorrow? My back's feeling quite a lot better and I could really do with getting off the sofa or I'm going to pile on the weight between now the little one arriving!

Sorry I didn't make it today - suffering from back ache this week. Hopefully it'll get better and I'll be back next week, otherwise I'll see you after the little one has arrived!

Thanks for the useful feedback. I'll raise it with the senior staff and Cabinet member and let you know what they say. If the hours can't be changed (I'm conscious that we are v close to April now) would it make any more sense if the session that's mainly for older children was on an afternoon so the littler children's session could be Friday morning? Fiona

Just got an update from the Library Teams. From the beginning of April the new times will be... Baby and Toddlers and Baby Rhymetime Sessions Every Monday, Baby and Toddlers Session 2pm to 3pm Every Friday, Baby Rhymetime 11am to 11.30am Regards Fiona

Hi there I've been looking into this matter. Unfortunately the council is having to reduce the library opening hours from 1 April because of all the government funding cuts. Unlike many other councils Southwark is keeping all its libraries open (this is very good news for Nunhead as at one stage it was being suggested that 3 small/medium sized libraries including Nunhead could be closed), but unfortunately to save money we are having to reduce the opening hours. I think this is still a pretty good result overall as hopefully in time finances will improve and we'll be able to increase the hours again - if it had closed I think it would have been lost forever! The council has chosen to go with 2-7pm on most weekdays because the busiest time for Nunhead Library is after 3pm when many families visit after primary school. With regard to the baby and toddler sessions, I'm told these will continue, but are going to be rearranged for different time/day during the week. I'm waiting for confirmation of the new time. Kind regards Fiona Cllr Fiona Colley Nunhead Ward