Monkey

I just sent my views to Harris. "Consultation" closes on 31 January. Hurry up people!

Yeah, to be honest it reflects the state of education at the moment. I don't think Harris is any worse, sadly.

Agree about costume - that's ott. Mind you, schools are just the same: "please come dressed as a pirate tomorrow".

Just received the Harris Girls' newsletter. No mention about the consultation!

I agree intexasatthemoment!

minder Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Totally agree with you Bellenden. Would be > interesting to see how Ofsted view this under the > EYFS for a 3 year old? All depends on the activities proposed. You can draw snowflakes, count them, build a snowman from different shapes, talk about winter... I can easily think of one activity a day. A themed week does not mean everything will be related to Frozen (hopefully!) The kids would tune out. My daughter learnt to write thanks to Disney Princesses. The teacher would print a different image every day for her. She went from being a reluctant writer to a pretty fluent one in three weeks. And a friend did a really successful maths lesson recently using Frozen characters. Having said that, force feeding Frozen on a three year old who might not have seen it might be a bit too much. Maybe it'd be more appropriate for the older kids.

Killjoy 😜 ! We love frozen! Great score and interesting princesses. I think a week is perhaps a bit too much though. And hopefully they'll cater for the boys too.

Eos dancing. Really lovely teachers!

Don't they get enough money to the detriment of other local schools to do what the hell they want with?

I know Kes, I was just thinking about this. They know where to find us when it comes to sending us the brochures but they kept the consultation very quiet.

Thanks Kes for bringing this to our attention. I will fill in the form.

Well, that did not last long! Hope the new head is more committed to ED than the previous head was to the school.

These brainless idiots are unable to run trains this morning.

Thank you all for the advice on alternative routes!

Ok well I explored other options and I can't seem to make it work: can't leave the office at 5.00pm in Moorgate and be at school to pick up for 6.00pm (something I have done for years without any problems!). I looked into going to Peckham Rye via Farringdon or via Surrey Quays and the timing is too tight when leaving at 5.00pm. Any other ideas? I am not wedded to using Peckham rye. I could potentially use Forest Hill/Denmark Hill... - anywhere where buses are good.

Sadly it's going to be more like 30mns or more this morning. Signalling problems at lb, surprise, surprise! Currently held outside south bermondsey where the train will most probably terminate... Happy new year!

Some years ago, I had picked it up from the school's office.

Childminders can often be cheaper than nurseries. Also try and have a late summer born who will start school a year ahead of a September born :-) this has saved us lots! Childcare vouchers help to some extent. And if you can compress your hours, that would save you a lot too. sorry, no magic solution. It's hard. You'll get very good at saving money in other areas (Sainsbury's basics range is a life saver!)

I am too cheap to use any and it's starting to show. Same age as you LouieM! So watching this thread with interest...

I spent ?100 this year and that's after outsourcing the expensive presents to the grandparents. All in all, there will be about 13 presents under the tree, which is ridiculous, really. The most expensive one is a jigsaw map of the world which cost ?40. Looking at it now, one Barbie item would have even enough (there will be three all in all)I remember being over the moon when I got Barbie's gym in the 80's and that was my main present.

Just a note to say we are loving Christmas Stories by Michael Morpurgo. Outstanding book, magical stories, beautiful illustrations. Thank you for recommending.

Agree re: sugary dessert. This has always annoyed me from nursery to date (year 1). I don't think this is to do with free school meals though, just school meals! Not sure what to do about it.

My daughter loved the Melissa and Doug See and Spell Classic Wooden Puzzle. she was really interested in handling letters so we also got lots of foam letters for her to stick on paper.

Cazbee, I would say The House on Exeter Street (all about helping others, being together) or the Grinch who stole Christmas (he steals all the presents but Christmas still comes).

Must have been very scary. Poor shop owners/staff!