Renata Hamvas

Yes, Maz and Fushia, I have an update. The takeover of the one O clock club has been approved by Governors. Ivydale Children's Centre are currently restocking toys and equipment. They are also recruiting staff to run it. As they don't yet have the staff, it will be opening after the Half-term break on Tuesdays 10-12 and soon on Thursdays 1-3. Sessions will be gradually increased, by January they expect to be running their full timetable and will be having a party then. As well as the one O clock club sessions they will be running open access arts and crafts and mother and toddler music sessions. Additionally there will be sessions for children with special needs and their parents. Renata

Denmark Hill/Peckham Rye/Nunhead towards Dartford- Bexley Grammars or Dartford boys/girls towards Bromley-Newstead Woods & St Olav's Honor Oak Park/Forest Hill/ Herne Hill southbound towards Wilson's and Sutton Grammars some also travel very far by bus as buses are free. There are children doing this from the area daily, around 1 hour commute each way (think up to 7am to 4.30pm day, could your child cope at 11 with this with homework on top?). Other issues to consider- prep for highly competitive 11+ exams, peer group will be very scattered geographically, after school/weekend activities/ parent's evening etc. It's too late to apply for any of these schools for this year if your child hasn't sat the tests, they all tend to have exam entry dates in June/July with September exams. Renata

Extra Open Mornings/evening at Deptford Green I have been informed that Deptford Green are holding an event for prospective students on Thursday 18th October from 5pm to 7pm. This will be an informal ?activity/social? event with a range of activities (PE, Drama, Art, Mandarin) for the children to participate in and a chance to meet staff and see the school. The activities will run in half hour sessions from 5.00 to 5.30, 5.30 to 6.00, 6.00-6.30, 6.30-7.00. Chilren can participate in one or more sessions. Please email the school(by Tuesday 16th October) to let them know you are coming and what time you hope to attend. [email protected] They also have additional tours at 9.15am every morning between now and half term. These are not in the Lewisham Secondary booklet. Renata

Hi Prickle, in your case, the school has a sibling poicy so you shoudl get a place for your child in their elder sibling's school. In general, I would suggest that parents check this on a school by school basis as not all schools have a sibling policy. Firstly, make sure that you tick the sibling box, many parents each year forget and go through a stressful time waiting for a waiting list/appeal to come up trumps. I would suggest visiting and putting down a couple of other schools for a younger sibling. Yes, this means then taking a couple more banding tests, but it's probably probably not a bad experience to go and sit a test with a room full of strangers as oftern secondaries do their own tests at the September for banding (usually schools don't go just on SATs results) at a time when they don't know their peer group very well. Also, this could give your child a greater feeling of ownership in their school application, it they help decide on 2/3..... . Only a couple of weeks to go before forms must be in! Most open days are over. If you missed one for a school you are thinking to put down, it's always worth contacting the school to see if they are able/willing to let you visit. Renata Thanks, Otta

Hi Medley, I'm just trying to be realistic, I agree with Miss Mystra, I would just hope that the actual presence of the cycle Lane could be made more apparent to pedestrians and likewise that some the cyclists ( a minority of total though)wouldn't meander in an out of pedestrians in the pedestrian section. Renata

Hi all, I don't think it could be totally cycle/pedestrian separated as people get off buses and cross the road. It also gets very busy along that stretch, so I don't it would be feasible to make the pavement. I am going to highlight this thread to one of the Lane Councillors who is a keen cyclist (I used to be years ago but am not at the moment). Sounds nasty Duncan and you ended up forking out for someone's irresponsible behaviour. please do report any incidents. Renata

If anyone is interested, applications are currently invited for Cleaner, Greener, Safer funds. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200256/cleaner_greener_safer Renata

What I have raised is the cycle lane at the top of Rye Lane, it's straight and the paving slabs are slightly darker grey than the paving area. currenlty there is no line as such separating the two areas. Yes, they will always be shared to a certain extent as people cross the road and walk across the cyclists section. I have also seen cyclists cycle through the pedestrian area , weaving between pedestrians! Painting the area blue has been ruled out (that is a Boris bike thing), but maybe painted lines would help? Renata

I'm on the case, Renata

Tree surveys are periodically carried out and dead/dying trees felled/cut back. Renata

There is also a local provider of pre/afterschool care that pick-up /drop off at local primaries. They are called Palmtrees (rated "good" by Ofsted), and their number is 7732 0117 -just mentioning this as school afterschool clubs can be full! Renata

Also, if you live close to the Rye,walk across the park and take the 343 bus. Renata

Hi royalsam1981 I will raise it with council officers, Renata

Hi Fred Ricketts, if you are a resident of Scutari Road and have issues with the traffic calming measures on Scutari Road, please contact me on [email protected] Renata ps Scutari Rd is in Peckham Rye Ward.

P13 directly or Bus to Peckham Rye, Honor Oak Park or Forest Hill, then ELL to New Cross, then it is about 5 minutes walk from the school or bus to Peckham and another bus along the high road towards New Cross. It's very close to Haberdasher's Aske. Renata

Well said Carbonara! Put down your 6 schools, and try to put a couple which you have a very good chance of getting into. Schools that operate a randon allocation system (eg Kingsdale and Bacon's, later with catchment) it's a lottery system mainly depends on luck. Look at previous last place offered distances and be aware that these can shrink eg Charter, Walworth and Harris Boy's did last year, but could also go up too. No of siblings, SEN and where applicants live impacts on this. Do look at outside borough as well as in-borough schools. Look at transport links, eg very easy to get to Deptford Green (New Cross, mixed new build Lewisham school) by ELL/Overground from Honor Oak Park or Peckham Rye from December. Do remember all supplementary forms and that your child will need to sit the school's banding test if they have one. Eg boys who didn't sit the Harris banding test went to the end of the queue for places never mind how close they live to the school. If yor child is ill and can't make the assessment, communicate with the school as they usually have a second date for children in that situation. Be aware for selective schools such as Grammar's that more children pass the test than there are places, so a pass doesn't neccessary equate to a place. The same is true of some other types of selection by schools eg Kingsdale scholarship passes. I know that it is stressful and a difficult process to whittle down the list to six schools and to put them in order. It's all on-line for Southwark this year. Remember, staff at your child's primary, Liam White (school prefernce advisor)- [email protected] and yor local councillors can help you if you need it. Renata

Have you looked in Tommy's at the bottom of Rye Lane? Renata

Open days are still going on for another week or so, (some tonight ) click on the links above to find out when. Remember you can go cross borough boundaries and it's good to have 6 schools on your list as it's better to receive an offer from a low ranked choice than to be allocated a school. Renata

Most schools now have 6th forms. Renata

Actually later part of August and early Sept. Yes, I know, James some residents may have been away for part of the holiday period. I have had no complaints about the timing of the consultation. However, I have had positive response about the scheme itself. The consultation happened not because of councillors, but becuase of residents and what they said in the previous consultation about the Colyton Rd/Forest Hill Rd junction. Renata

The main has been repaired. Reinstatement should be finished by tomorrow afternoon, once the concrete has cured and sited cleared. Renata

Hi DJ, there are two separate scheme: Forest Hill Rd and East Dulwich Rd/Peckham Rye. Forest Hill Road will start around March 2013 (lower part) and go into 2013/14(upper part) East Dulwich Road/Peckham Rye, during this tax year once the OK has come back from TFL Both schemes are TFL funded rather than from core Council funding. Renata

If there are concerns about a dog/dog owner it may be worth metioning it to the Peckham Rye Parkie, Mark Newell. 07940743929 [email protected] Renata

2010, initial traffic count, then application for external funding and consultation. Now: final traffic counts and monitering before works begin on Forest Hill Road. I have't got the start date yet, but will post when I have. Keep me posted as to what you think once all the works are complete Brian. I've had some positive feedback from residents about the Scutari Road works from residents. Renata

I've had a response, Southwark are still waiting for the OK from TFL. The consultation has been done, so once this is received works can commence. The delay has been due to a backlog of items for TFL to deal with due to the Olympics. I was told the works on this junction would be done within the next six months (ie within this financial year). Once I have more specific information, I'll post again. Renata