trevnsarah

Our experience to date has been positive, we have 2 children nearly 4 and 6 and they have taken to the new person in the house warmly. We used an agency which provided security initially with paper work/checks etc and also when our first au pair had to go home (E Europe) urgently to care for a sick relative helped us find a replacement speedily and at no extra charge. The agency helped us set our and the au pair's expectations and also provided some support in the first few weeks. We found (via EDF and a facebook group) there are LOTS of au pairs in the Dulwich area and once they've got their own peers to socialise with they have a nice balance of being in the home/with children and going out and about/trips into central London/park/coffee/pub/primark! Happy to elaborate more via PM.

We have written a couple of drafts so far: our daughter started earlier this year and has done 1 1/2 terms of 5, there are a number of things we are unhappy with - the morning hours are challenging with no time for settling in & a drop off at another school required at 9am, no full day in preparation for longer school days in reception, the lack of 'consultation' or alternatives to the 5 morning/afternoon pw and finally the letter about longstanding personnel changes that came out on Friday. My elder child thrived but I was already concerned younger child would out grow the nursery setting and not get the full growth/simulation she requires over 5 terms and half days only raises this more. Keen to hear more from parents in a similar situation.

We're also in Forest Hill and we helped facilitate introductions for our au pairs (now on a 2nd) via EDF posting like this one, we just provided an initial screening rather then sending her into the cyber wilds in a language she wasn't 100% in, once done we encouraged them to contact directly. From what I can tell there is a broad range of girls (not come across any male au pairs yet...) from a variety of countries (mostly european) and as @womanofdulwich says it is better for their English practice to have a wider network than just their native language. They tend to he respectful of each others situations, knowledge share and introduce each other into the wider network, our previous aupair gave an email handover of contacts/friends to our current girl when she had to return due to family ill health. Re English schools our au pair has just started a course in Lewisham, we gave her a long list to check out that fitted her requirements, but I will also tell her to check out the Fb groups Like any 'mum' skill never sure if I'm getting it 100% right all the time but as an 'au pair mum' but have decided to take the role as a facilitator rather that organise their lives to the nth degree. Please feel free to message back once your au pair is in place.

Our new au pair has just started with us, and will be looking to meet other au pairs in the area. she is fro Czech republic. Please send us a PM if you know of anyone, or are an au pair looking to meet other au pairs. Cheers!

We've been going to Swanage 2 or 3 times a year. It is great in that it's just that little bit further to get to, so doesn't feel like London-on-Sea. Great campsites, especially Woodyhyde and Downshay. Woodyhyde has the steam train running along its edge, so is great for the kids, and Downshay you can walk to the steam train station and get in to Swanage or Corfe. Steam train runs late in to the evening, too, so you don't need the car! Stunning views of Corfe Castle from Downshay. Tom's Field is great, but not easy to get on as it's mentioned in Cool Camping. Loads to keep kids entertained and Studland beach offers shallow, safe water to swim. Fabulous walks all around the place. If you go early enough, recommend the chain ferry across from Sandbanks to Purbeck. Better than the drive around from Poole. Feel free to PM if you want any other recommendations. We know the area like the back of our hand!

we had a small hedgehog in the garden of our old place on tewkesbury lodge estate back in march (husband saw a much bigger one on liphook cresent the previous summer). Saw a couple of buzzards a few weeks back and always curious why there arent more birds of prey (buzzards etc) given the amount of vermin etc