Renata Hamvas

Hi Sol, why didn't you use all six slots? The situation is, if you aren't successful at securing a place for your child at the schools you have applied to, the local authority will allocate your child a place at the closest school which has vacancies. It's always better for you to choose back up schools to fill your CAF form rather than the council. You will automatically be placed on the waiting list for any schools higher on the list than the one you have been offered. You can request to be added to the waiting list of any schools you didn't initially apply for. Southwark admissions tend to so the pretty quickly, Lewisham in past years have tended to wait a couple of weeks until they open waiting lists for new applicants. Waiting lists do move. Be warned that you can move down as well as up waiting list positions as late applicants are slotted into position according the the admissions criteria for an individual school. Waiting lists do move right up to September and beyond, so if you don't get your first choice wait as long as possible before buying a uniform. You do have right of appeal if you don't get allocated the school you wished for. The grounds of appeal are for example if you think the admissions criteria were wrongly applied eg distance incorrectly calculated or if your child has a special need which could only be met by one school and not the other local schools. All the Southwark secondary schools are outside LA control ie they are free schools/academies/voluntary aided. This means Southwark administers the admissions process but doesn't set the admission criteria for a school. These are different for individual schools within Southwark. Good luck everybody. I am around if anyone needs some assistance, there will also be drop in sessions run by Southwark for parents, I'll post the details when I have them. Renata

I have seen a gritter at work, they are really out there! This information was sent to Councillors. Measures to mitigate the bad weather Gritting ? We have two gritters with an additional spare available at all times ? We have pre-treated at the following times and dates: ? Monday 26th 20.00 all major routes with a 12gm/m2 spread rate) ? Tuesday 27th 20.00 all major routes (8gm spread rate) ? Wednesday 28th 07.00 all major routes (12gm spread rate) ? Every time we go out on all major routes, we cover 168km (93 miles) ? Tonnage of salt used in last 3 days = 40 tonnes just on road treatments Please note that at these significantly low temperatures the effectiveness of salt is severely retarded. Below -7 degrees it will have little or no effect in preventing ice formation, it just slows the process down. Detailed info and the Winter Service Policy & Plan can be found at the following link: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/street-care/gritting Pavement clearance We have 230 staff working between 06:00 and 18:00 to clear snow from pavements across the borough and grit around schools, transport hubs and shopping areas. We have 331 staff working between 08:00 and 16:00 to carry out pavement clearance on our housing estates. Renata

Yes, there have been gritters out and Dog Kennel Hill was done! I did observe gritting being done yesterday morning. Here is the information sent to Councillors about this. Measures to mitigate the bad weather Gritting ? We have two gritters with an additional spare available at all times ? We have pre-treated at the following times and dates: ? Monday 26th 20.00 all major routes with a 12gm/m2 spread rate) ? Tuesday 27th 20.00 all major routes (8gm spread rate) ? Wednesday 28th 07.00 all major routes (12gm spread rate) ? Every time we go out on all major routes, we cover 168km (93 miles) ? Tonnage of salt used in last 3 days = 40 tonnes just on road treatments Please note that at these significantly low temperatures the effectiveness of salt is severely retarded. Below -7 degrees it will have little or no effect in preventing ice formation, it just slows the process down. Detailed info and the Winter Service Policy & Plan can be found at the following link: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/street-care/gritting Pavement clearance We have 230 staff working between 06:00 and 18:00 to clear snow from pavements across the borough and grit around schools, transport hubs and shopping areas. We have 331 staff working between 08:00 and 16:00 to carry out pavement clearance on our housing estates. Renata

I would ring Ebay and see what they say. Failing that, usually mirrors can be removed and playgyms washed (mat in the machine and toys either in the machine in a pillowcase by hand.) Renata

Try the Bloomfield Centre. It's based at Guys, but is an independent dyslexia charity. They do assessments and provide specialist tutoring. http://www.blearning.biz/ Renata

Hi Sue, Thanks for updating us. I'm glad your garden waste has now been picked up. Renata

There are a couple of local classes on here: http://www.rwcworldwide.com/chess-for-children-south-east-london/ Renata

Hi Sue, myself or James could raise it today, but logic tells me we should wait until tomorrow and if your bags and still there than contact one of us! Renata

Thanks HelBel65

Hi Sue, did you manage to get this sorted out? Renata

Thanks Blah Blah for posting the report that was written by Vikki and I. One thing to add, any funds generated by hosting this event will go towards funding free events in Southwark Parks. All residents living near to the park (including all the Peckham Rye Councillors as we are local residents too!) should have/ are supposed to be receiving a letter from the organisers about the event. The free tickets are only for residents living very,very close to the event and those households will be notified of this by the organisers. There seems to be little detail so far about the Monday event. I plan to attend the meeting on Tuesday (mentioned by Mrs Y above, thanks) and this is one of the things I will be asking about. I would suggest that if you want to ask questions directly to We Are The Fair, do attend Tuesdays meeting. My email is [email protected] if you want to ask me any questions about the event, or with questions that you would like me to raise on Tuesday. Thanks Renata

Surrey Docks Farm. They have a function room you can book. Children can feed the animals and you can book donkey rides. Renata

Forest Hill Road from the boundary with LB Lewisham down to Dunstan's is being looked at. The junction with Brenchley Gardens is being looked at as is the crossing point outside St Francesca Cabrini Primary School. Plans are in the process of being drawn up and we are probably looking at around Juneish for consultation to open. Renata

The resurfacing of Underhill is due to happen later in the year. The reason it was delayed was not due to shortage of funds for this, they have already been earmarked for this, but rather there was an issue as to when this road could be fitted into the contractor's schedule. Renata

I think Ivydale does too

Good!

Inspection and temporary repairs of the holes are going to be done as will any statutory road marking eg give way signs ASAP. Underhill Road is scheduled for resurfacing in the 2018/2019 Capital Project carriageway resurfacing programme. Renata

Inspection and temporary repairs of the holes are going to be done as will any statutory road marking eg give way signs ASAP. Underhill Road is scheduled for resurfacing in the 2018/2019 Capital Project carraigeway resurfacing programme. Renata

Secondary schools tend to have a great variety of after school enrichment clubs (sports, study, drama etc) these take up 1-2 hours after school, also there are school libraries and local libraries. Year 7/8 tend to like to hang out with each other in the park, each others houses. Children seem to grow up a lot in the transition from primary to secondary. There are some activities for this age group, check the Southwark website for the up to date list. Renata

It ia supposed to be 20mph, but the average speed has been found to be 23mph . I will make enquiries on the current plans on how to deal with this and get back to you. Renata

Hi Tony, I don't know what has happened in this incident, but I do know that speeding on Forest Hill Road is being looked at. Renata

Council officers

It depends on where in East Dulwich you move to, but if you end up near near the northern half of the Peckham Rye common, the 78 is a fast and reliable bus route (goes to Liverpool street station).

Hi Nigello Since last week Southwark council parking enforcement officers are issuing ?80 Penalty Charge Notices to parked up car, bus, taxi and HGV drivers, who refuse to switch off their engines when asked. I'm not sure, however whether other boroughs are doing the same (I'm assuming by east central London you were elsewhere) Renata

As the older one is 10, would they be able to come home from school alone? This may make it easier to find someone who does one pick-up and then brings them back home and supervises both doing homework. Perhaps a sixth former could do this as secondary schools tend to start and finish earlier than primaries. Renata