Norfolkvillas

Hi Lou, I've been to Domes and Sani's on my list for future hols. Domes is way smaller, so less facilities / dining options / more intimate boutique feel. Sani is a big, big resort, but Porto Sani Village looks pretty tastefully done. At Domes most rooms have their own pool which isn't the case at PSV I don't think. Both pretty similar transfer times. I guess I would say scale is the key differentiator. Hope this helps!

Hello again, I'm thrilled to be adding my name to the list of those who have accepted places at the new Harris Primary! At the risk of sounding like a crazy-lady, we've turned down our place at our nearest, well-regarded, apparently-soon-to-be-rated-outstanding-by-Ofsted community school, because we've been so, so impressed by what Harris is offering. I spent over an hour quizzing the new head yesterday (poor bloke) and came away feeling even more positive. I really can't believe how lucky we are to have this opportunity. I am definitely up for summer picnics to intro the kids, and I also thought it might be nice to organise a parents get-together one evening - as Mariamadeit suggests, it would be good to be able to start recognising each other before term starts? If you're interested, PM me with your email address and I'll send an email round to find a date that suits all. When trying to make my decision, I wrote down a list of pros and cons for Harris and for my other option - I thought if others are trying to make a similar decision, I'd post my Harris pros and cons here - obviously, these are my own personal take on what I've found out, but just in case it's helpful... PROS More teachers per class than LEA school - 2.5 vs 2 Including head, 6 full time teaching staff for 60 pupils in the first year - 1:10 ratio! Hiring only experienced and fully qualified teaching staff was one of the conditions on which the head accepted the job Much more parent feedback than LEA - two or three parents evenings a year, plus progress reports every half term, plus regular drop in sessions Specialist subject teaching in years 5 and 6 In the longer term, pathways like Harris Westminster collaboration, and the Harris Experience and Experience Advanced sound like an amazing motivator, for kids and staff alike Passionate and ambitious head who sees EY education as an absolute priority The head has a focus on, and a previous specialism in, behaviour - zero-tolerance to bullying, well-versed in encouraging kindness and respect Head thinks teachers should eat with kids at lunchtime, and intends to be in the playground himself at breaktime Robin Bosher has set up the structure and appointed a primary leadership team who seem dead set on continuing his legacy Layers of experienced management (Fiona Kelly) above the head to support and crosscheck Specialist primary education advisors on hand eg Siobhan Adams Federation takes care of the boring stuff allowing head to focus on teaching and children, plus has access to economies of scale, freeing up budget for teaching / enrichment etc Federation seems well-placed to attract the best teachers with lots of progression opportunities Exciting opportunities from the collegiate structure - eg language provision across several schools Federation-wide events eg Sports Day (this year poss to happen at Olympic stadium) and Battle of the Brains Motivated-sounding parents on the forum have accepted places and head very open to PTA collaboration New school under scrutiny - it will not be allowed to fail Will be in purpose-built building to latest standards - no small class rooms or echoey high ceilings A low-stress settling in as it will be such an intimate context, with half days in the first week Headteachers and teachers comments on mumsnet say that the first intake of a new school is an unmissable opportunity CONS Unproven school, taking all of the above on trust Have only met head and management, won't get to meet teachers til June Much wider catchment this year than LEA so school chums not quite as immediately local Sir Robin Bosher gone to Ofsted

Hi all Thanks so much again for taking the time to post and PM. It has really been invaluable to have your insights. Mr Voller's approach seems to have a 'marmite' aspect to it - parents seem to be hugely supportive of it or hugely not. Without being able to make my own impression, this leaves me with a 50% chance of falling into the latter category, which feels like quite a gamble. I saw the newsletter in which they announced they would be rated outstanding at their next Ofsted (unsure of how they know this in advance but anyway) which is fantastic news for the school and I know must have involved lots of hard work and focus. I'll keep thinking - deadline just a couple of sleepless nights away now....

Thank you all for your replies and PMs so far - I'm really grateful for all this feedback. Growlybear, that's a reassuring testimonial (albeit contradictory to other opinions I've heard) but I'm just vexed that I wasn't given the chance to see this for myself. DaveR, I'm particularly interested in the mission you've described him as having outlined when he started; he sounds like a man with a plan. But outlining a plan once and once only is fine if you're working on a finite project with a fixed set of stakeholders. A school is by definition going to have an ever-evolving set of stakeholders as a new cohort joins (and leaves) each year. Surely, if he has such a set vision and course of action, as you make it sound like he has, then I should be able to find out what that is (in order to evaluate whether it's for us or not) as you had a chance to. Otta, I find it alarming that getting 5 mins with the class teacher should be difficult, and that's considered normal. But maybe I'm just an idealistic new primary parent with unrealistic expectations! All further opinions very welcome - Medusa, yes please do PM. Thanks, wise forumites!

A reception place at Goodrich has been offered to me, and because it was one of my preferences, Southwark automatically deems it accepted unless I tell them otherwise. I've also been offered a place from Harris, so need to make a decision this weekend. From the schools that I saw ahead of applying, one of my take outs was how influential the head is on the direction and culture of their school. So I was disappointed that the head wasn't present at the Goodrich tour I went on in December, and my request for a meeting in Jan was turned down on the basis that I didn't have a place. I asked again for a meeting when I had been given a place and have again been turned down. They have told me I'll get to meet him after my place has been accepted (even though it already is technically accepted). A friend has a child in reception there and has never met him, other than to see him speak at a school event. When she requested a meeting about an issue, she was given an appointment with one of the deputy heads. Am I wrong to find all this vaguely alarming? Is it unrealistic of me to expect to get to meet the head of my child's potential school ahead of accepting a place? What if I wanted to talk to him once my child has started there - is he much more accessible once you're inside the Goodrich ecosystem?

We're still in decision-making mode, but if we go for Harris, we will definitely be up for summer meet-ups ahead of term starting!

I'm lucky enough to have a place at Harris and also our second choice on the CAF. Someone asked me this evening which I'd choose if I had to choose right now, and the answer was Harris. Although I have the option to go for a very well regarded community school, like Mariamadeit above, I really love the idea of my son being one of just 60 kids, and having the opportunity to be part of something new. I like the idea of a purpose-built building, I'm not phased by the idea of a temporary site, I liked that the head was super-enthusiastic, seemed ambitious for the school and keen to work collaboratively with parents.... I'm lucky to have a choice I know (and I'll be releasing one of the places back into the system, for someone else to take up, asap), and if we decide on Harris this will be another set of parents committed to making the new school a success.

I'm doing a mummy day with my 4 year old soon and we're doing his favourite thing - going on the cable cars at Greenwich (which is just one adult Oyster fare per way), then pizza lunch afterwards. I also like the hopscotch and urban explorer newsletters, and the other one I get is Little Bird which gives discounts off events etc

Same as Indiana (*waves*) - no complaints about NannyPAYE and they pricematched a cheaper service.

I was also going to recommend Nafplio, as it sounds like it ticks all your boxes - easy drive from Athens, picturesque town, interesting history in the area, plus gorgeous unspoilt coastline all around. Not sure if accom in your budget in Aug exists - maybe look at owners direct or air bnb?

Another family roomer (Pebbles) recommended John Small to us, and we've been using him loads over the last few months. I've been very pleased with his work (and I'm quite hard to please!). Very reasonably priced, competent, respectful and pleasant to have around. We started using him for small stuff, but are increasingly using him for bigger jobs. His number is 07535 487 828 I am reconciled to the fact that my other half is incapable of anything practical!

Don't suppose your two year old is almost three? We found Eurax cream gave miraculous relief for hours at a stretch but it's indicated from age 3 and up.

Hiya, we have a live-in nanny and it works brilliantly. I'll PM you.

Hola, could one of the companies that deliver UK baby stuff abroad be useful? Order all your Hipp stuff to arrive at your Oz destination to see you through your stay and return journey, and then you only need to worry about enough for your outbound trip? http://www.traveltotsuk.com/destinations.php http://www.kids-away.com/index.asp There are a bunch of them - these are just a couple from my google search. I don't think it's a cheap option but if baby supplies in Oz are as expensive as some of the above posters are saying, then it might actually work out to be much of a muchness.

Yes, this distance based on first round offers. I suspect it was my next door but one neighbour in fact. Completely unscientifically, I am expecting Goodrich catchment to be slightly bigger this year, as they bulged a while back and I think last year and the year before would have borne the brunt of a higher number of places going to siblings.

More thoughts on this thread from a neighbouring forum too http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/mums/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=44173

We're around the corner, further down Friern, and have applied this year. I think I'm right in saying though that it will be a different landscape by the time your 18 mth old is applying: last year new schools opened on the Herne hill side of dulwich and I think one the other side of nun head. This year, new Harris primary, next year new hamlet school on Bellenden and I think another Harris, plus isn't there some big expansion of ivydale planned? As others have said, prob not worth thinking about until closer to the time...

I had this on Friern this evening

I use NannyPAYE.co.uk who price matched payefornannies.co.uk and I pay ?125 inc VAT a year. I previously used Taxing Nannies who were more expensive but seemed very knowledgeable about tax for nannyshares. I was very happy with them, and was grateful for the guidance in a quite complicated nannyshare set up, but when our share ended and we switched to a more straightforward employment arrangement with our own nanny I couldn't really justify spending double. I've been very happy with NannyPAYE for our very standard sole charge nanny tax needs.

Thankfully, the worst of my suffering was confined to my two pregnancies, but it drove me utterly up the wall, so commiserations. The thing that made a massive difference for me was taking iron supplements - the ones called Gentle Iron - really helped with RLS and no negative side effects. Maybe worth a try if you haven't already....

Eek, now I'm worried - If I'm in Southwark, but putting a Lewisham school as one of my choices, does that mean I have to get a copy of my son's birth certificate to Catford ahead of the 15th Jan deadline??? I've completed all of the online form, just shy of clicking submit, and nowhere has it told me I need to do this...

Hey Belle, we just used him for our recent 4th bday and it was ?130 for an hour's show on a Fri (not sure if midweek prices are different). In actual fact the show was probably slightly over an hour and he didn't charge extra for set up time etc. We thought he was great, and his pricing does seem to be standard. If you're really having 30 kids, then it seems like a small price to pay for keeping them all out of trouble for an hour!

We have two monitors but I went for same brand, different version - I think ours are BT100 and BT150 - my thinking was that the basic functionality would be familiar but they're different enough not to mix them up - one has a screen showing temp, the other doesn't. No interference and they sit right next to each other in the kitchen, and I would second what others have said above - make it easy on yourself and your eldest by hanging onto as many familiar routines as you can ahead of a period of big change.

Hi Undiscovered, I found the Brother Max large weaning pots genius and are big enough for even preschooler portions. I bought a tonne of them and am in fact going to list them for sale (for cheap) on the forum this weekend so PM me if you're interested and I can drop them over as you're only round the corner!

My daughter had a (self-diagnosed as took 6m to get Kings appt) cows milk protein intolerance. They do "build up", so the fact that your baby didn't react to formula straight away correlates with my experiences. I would say that if your baby isn't in in distress then try not to worry too much. My daughter was screaming in pain at every feed and it was more than apparent that something was amiss. As she's not in much distress, trying Hipp sounds like a good idea, and see how you go. Both my children went through a dreadful rashy stage at about that age and it passed for both. I'm also a big fan of Udo infant probiotic for general health, not sure about its specific properties for skin complaints...