Monkey

Thank you all for your answers. And good luck with everything, Tomskip.

Reading the Charter thread, I realised that there had been a petition from Goodrich parents to get Charter 2 to include the Goodrich catchment within their catchment. Sadly, this has not worked out. So my question is, where do Goodrich children go to secondary schools at the moment? Am I right in thinking that it's mostly Harris (boys and girls), Harris academy at Peckham and Kingsdale? Any other likely options? Thanks!

you're doing well, hoolanoona. My friends moved before their kids even reached primary school! I don't understand it. We're one bus ride away from the national gallery, royal festival hall and other museums and venues, go to see children's theatre every month etc etc... I really don't know what's not to like! Sorry, no experience of being a teen in London. All I know is that I grew up in provincial France and would not inflict this on my daughter. As soon as I could, I packed my bags and came to London. My neighbour's kid goes to Kingsdale, very nice lad, doing well, doesn't seem stressed... If my daughter grows up to be like him, I'll be happy!

I think Aptamil is Milupa in France but not sure how widely available it is. Take yourself to a pharmacy with a bottle of Aptamil and explain your predicament. French pharmacists are the most helpful in the world (fact!)

I have not seen any news on this... Does anybody know if Harris Girls has changed its admissions policy or not?

Julia Donaldson's Songbirds. They stop at level 6 though. Perfect for reception. If your daughter is already over level 6, I find that the biff, chip and kipper at level 6 + can be good. The earlier ones are boring! My daughter also loves the Cat in the Hat reading books ( if I ran the horse show etc...)

Great care on delivery ward. Post natal ward pretty awful, especially at night: lots of staff not wanting to do any work. But it was end of August so perhaps more agency staff than usual. Paediatricians lovely though. I understand post natal ward has changed a lot and partners can stay overnight, which would have been a great help for me.

Hi Lauren, You do have a long list of requirements! To reassure you on some of your worries, my daughter is in year 1 at Goodrich and she's not learning any foreign languages. I am also not aware of any primary schools taking the kids swimming other than in year 4 when it is required by the curriculum. Goodrich does have lots of activities but it's an established school, with huge premises. Rome was not built in a day. If you don't like what you saw, you need to hope for a place at Fairlawn or go private. It could well be that private is the answer for you. Good luck.

I recently saw someone taking the pips off a melon slice with his hand which was covered in a plastic bag... That was on one of the platforms at Peckham Rye. But he took all his rubbish with him.

We read just before going to bed. I am lucky my husband works from home now so when I get home at around 6.30pm, my daughter has eaten, has had her bath and done her homework. Don't know how we'd cope otherwise. Completely agree that it's a lot to ask from the children at such a young age (and their parents).

I think that's pretty standard. My daughter also reads with her teacher once a week. It's all time allows but is not enough. She also often chooses books from the wrong box or forgets to change them. So last year, in reception, I bought the entire songbirds collection from Julia Donaldson, which does not contain any words that are not fully decodable. The stories are also much more entertaining than the ones we used to get at reception. Her progress from the moment I started her on those has been incredible. When we were finished with them, I took a subscription to the reading chest, which costs ?16 a month and helps me ensure we always have plenty of books suited to her level at home. We read every evening and when we have time at the weekend. Hope this helps a bit!

I welcome your recommendations! We missed the Velveteen Rabbit unfortunately but will try to see this one if we can.

Thank you. Yes, we do use the wall clock but I want her to be able to manipulate the hands. She seems to learn better when she can handle things. I must say I am finding this whole learning the time thing a bit of a drag. Give me phonics any time! Thank you again, I'll look out for the wooden clocks and the flash cards.

Blimey, that's pretty poor. My daughter's never lost anything apart from some gloves that were not labelled. She's not great at looking after her things so I can only imagine that it's because labelled clothes are returned directly to her classroom. I'd be furious if she lost one coat, never mind two!

Morning Forum, Mini Monkey is learning to read the time. What's the best learning clock out there? Thanks!

Check out the Goldiblocks construction games.

It all depends on your circumstances, I guess. For us, the breakfast and after school clubs are life savers. I would not go to another school if it did not offer those. But that's just us and our lives! We are at Goodrich and the number of after school activities on offer is quite impressive (drama, dancing, etc...) I don't know if it's because of our size, but it might well be. It means I only have to take her to two activities at the weekend. The rest is done at school during the week. As far as being overwhelmed is concerned, it depends on your child and how the school manages things. My daughter has had no trouble whatsoever. I have found the older kids to be ever so kind to her, from letting her win at races to teaching her the art of loom bands. It's lovely to see her in the morning shouting big hellos to kids of all ages. Personally I'd go for whatever's more practical. Again, that's just me.

I know - it's these constant lists that are getting to me!

I think we are perhaps all in danger of over thinking this a wee bit too much? It's just primary school. In my school, Dd often has to wait her turn, sometimes (often?) other children take priority, she does encounter "enormous" children and is great friend with them, the head does not stand in the very same place at the very same time everyday as he is busy running an enormous, multi cultural, vibrant school. And guess what, she's happy, I am happy, and yes she can read and count despite me not chatting to the head every day! I know it's a stressful time for new parents but please don't feed the angst. It's a nice area, the schools are ok. The kids will be all right.

Welcome to our school community. I have pm'd you!

Does anyone know of an ironing service where people collect and drop off? Thanks!

Yep. And there was me looking forward to a week off work! Now properly ill and hoping I can reclaim back some days...

Hi James, Is there a way to end the dropped kerb madness on Dunstans Road? I never saw the planning application for the latest one. Must have been pinned to a lamp post. It is majorly inconvenient for people who do not own their front garden as there soon won't be anywhere to park; is potentially dangerous, what with all the children going to school and cars reversing out of their front garden; and makes things quite hard for people with pushchairs. Thank you.

Thank you. Just been on LL and people in shops mentioned that everyone seemed ill at the mo. Hope you feel better soon!

Anyone else with a dry (ish) cough without the other usual symptoms (runny nose, sore throat)? Daughter and hubby have had it and now it's my turn. Reason I am asking is that we're wondering if it's really a virus or whether it could be something in our home. unlikely but hubby is worried since discovering some mould in his study.