bawdy-nan

I saw the Waiting for Godot at the the Cockpit last night and it was superb. http://thecockpit.org.uk/show/waiting_for_godot_0 Fabulous performances from Peter Marinker and Kenneth Colley (Accordion Man in Pennies from Heaven, no less) as Vladimir and Estragon and a game changing performance by Joe Cushley as Pozzo. Can't recommend this highly enough - its on until 29th and tickets are (I think) ?15 ...

I hope it goes well. I assume you're not intending that the babies paint cups etc - are they now hiring it out as an event space (its a lovely space and very light)?

Well, yes, I would agree with that, but this is a consultation document and on page 32 it cites examples of (lightly) segregated routes in London as well as Copenhagen as examples of best practice. It is true, however, that the best practice examples aren't referred to in the examples of what might happen in Southwark. ie not concrete examples of segregated cycle lanes etc.

This, for example, is quite radical, I think: "Car ownership and use has continued to decrease in Southwark. The dramatic fall in motor traffic levels in the last decade provides the opportunity to reallocate road space to cycling, including along the Principal Road Network, and walking. TfL's analysis of cycling potential in Southwark showed that 47 per cent of trips made by motorised vehicles could be cycled. Reallocate road space: There is an opportunity to reallocate parts of the carriageway to cycling. This will involve some difficult decisions but we will be mindful of congestion impacts, particularly for buses. This should not have an impact on the walking network and any improvements to the cycling network will need to take into account pedestrian use, and the dual need to create a cohesive, direct, safe, attractive, comfortable and easy to navigate walking environment.

I read it and was quite excited by it ... what am i missing? Maybe its that the aspirational tone doesn't add up to practical benefits?

Massive support for a new secondary might suggest that, locally, people want co-ed, even with seperate classes. I bet if they mixed harris girls and boys - making an upper and lower school there would be better uptake.

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/oct/17/bikes-cars-cyclists-clever-protest-riga-latvia?CMP=twt_gu Not sure we'd all fit "in the grid" but we might, at least, get a bit of room

I'm not at all clear about the validity of the zoning for housing issue, but it is something that James has consistently raised over a long period and no-one from the Labour group, at councillor, or MP level has addressed - one for Helen Hayes (prospective Tess replacement)? Tessa? Renata? If they think this is a red-herring I'd like to hear why. If not, I'd like to hear ideas from them about how to progress.

Doh! more fool me for thinking that was a genuine question.. tricksy. edhistory Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Beryl Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > As someone new to the thread - and having read > all > > of it - can someone please tell me who is James > > Barber? And how much are Harris paying him? > > On 27 February 2014 Beryl Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > I also note that during these threads there > have > > been many calls for a public meeting ie. one > > larger than can be accommodated at Mr Barber's > > house. I would support that call now that > things > > have progressed - an open meeting for full and > > frank discussion of the issues would surely be > > timely? I know Mr Barber is keen to postpone > this > > until after the application but surely the > > application will represent the views of the > > steering group and not necessarily reflect any > > consensus?

Beryl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > As someone new to the thread - and having read all > of it - can someone please tell me who is James > Barber? And how much are Harris paying him? James Barber is as local Lib Dem councillor who has been campaigning and galvanising support for new schools in the area (as well as a lot of other schemes and plans). He was instrumental is generating support for the new secondary school campaign helping to bring together local parents who now coordinate the campaign independently of James. I have no political or other affiliations with James Barber but he has, I think, proven himself to be an extraordinarily active representative of the local community - working very hard for the people he represents. I don't really understand his advocacy of Harris, but, on this forum he has explained it as arising from the fact that, initially, they were the only people who would partner up to push for more schools. On this issue, the need for another Harris primary in ED, especially when it will compromise the much needed secondary school and health centre, I wholeheartedly disagree with him.

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > At Planning Sub-committee A last night I helped > ensure that the DCPS planning application we were > deciding has a requirement for them to develope a > protocol with local police so that they will > assist the local police in enforcing local traffic > rules with parents. That is will be reviewed by > council officials after 6 mothnsand 18 months to > ensure things have improved. > Clearly evidence that a small mintority are > abusing the local police and residents asking them > politely to behave reasonably. > Thank you for this, by the way Is there any chance, I wonder, of trying to get a cycle path allocated on one of the pavements along there .... the head of DCP seemed keen and interested when I suggested it to him... and he's involved in some kind of cycling committee himself ... I realise that this is out of your physical "domain" of course

You can download a list of most common 100 and 200 words and work on them with your child but they are at school every day ... maybe you could leave the school work to school and do broader "educational" stuff at home - reading, letting them play, do their own projects, bake, cook, build things, plan walks and follow maps, watch newsround and talk about the world, go camping etc etc etc all of which are valid educational activities and probably more fun and more useful than poring over extra textbook learning in that they're not usually offered in a school context. You probably do all of this already. For what its worth I think school stuff belongs at school.

James, I think one of the problems here is that people who signed the original petition for a new primary school don't believe that they were being asked to sign for up for TWO Harris schools. You wrote: "But that would be selling out on the 250+ supporters of two Harris primary schools" Whether you intend to or not the impression that you're giving of one of fudge and obfuscation on this matter and it has a bit of a stinky feel about it.

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Oooh. 4x4s and Private schools I'm doing great in > my Chippy Lefty bingo card today. Can we have some > steretypes on the ethnicity and gender of of those > most likley to speed in 8 year old plus BMWs and > not use their indicatsors in everyone's completley > anecdotal experience please? What a bizarre response. Yes, it might be anecdotal in that I have seen it happen but it is also a situation (very dangerous behaviour by parents dropping off their children in large cars) acknowledged by the Head of DCPS and, from what I understand, he's working very hard to try and address it. I know that they have a warden right outside the school gates but their presence, welcome as it is, doesn't seem to deter the determined drivers of MASSIVE vehicles This kind of thing is a problem for all schools but especially ones where the children are younger and come from further away because they tend to be driven. This is the case with private schools. The problem is further exacerbated by Hunts Slip Road being an obvious "safe route" for cycling to Kingsdale School and, because that is a secondary,and the public transport is shockingly bad, is more likely to have pupils cycling. If you doubt it, you could go and take a look yourself. Or maybe you just want to wait until there is an accident?

I;d second the hypnobirthing thing. I didn't train in it but did do classes with Janet Balaskas which seemed to focus on the same ideas: relaxation, release etc - I still use techniques I learned during birth prep whenever I feel physically threatened (ie at the dentist etc)

I didn't have textbooks at primary ... but that was 30+ years ago.

Apropos of not very much really, this free school system is a load of old rubbish really. Instead of planning for need its all petitions and wrangling and loudest, best placed voices winning. Rubbish.

Re pain relief and home birth you can have things like entonox, tens and a pool. For me, that was easily enough (didn't use the gas). I realise, of course, that this makes me lucky rather than anything else. But I think a lot of it was to do with feeling relaxed and undistracted, being able to move about as I wanted, limited and easy monitoring, being able to adjust temperature etc as I wanted, feeling private. Your second birth is likely to be quicker I think. My second was about 3 hours from onset of identifiable contractions. My first was longer though, again luckily, a lot of it seemed to happen without my noticing or thinking it was just Braxton Hicks - so it was about 7 hours from onset of identifiable contractions. I know, of course, that this isn't the case for everyone and I have heard, of course, stories of awful home births (though actually have heard many more stories of awful hospital births). Good luck whatever you decide.

This is an even worse problem on Hunts Slip Road when the cyclists are mostly children and teenagers on their way to Kingsdale. The quantity and extraordinary driving behaviour of the large 4x4s dropping off at Dulwich College is breathtaking. They double park, pull out without any warning, park on double yellows and zig zags - it really is shocking, especially considering that they are parents dropping off their children and the cyclists whose lives they are putting in danger are also children. I know that terrible parent parking / driving near school gates is a problem for all schools but this is exacerbated, I suppose, by the fact that the school attracts pupils from a huge distance and also by the ludicrous size of the vehicles. I am absolutely convinced that there will be a terrible injury in this road. The two, wide, rough tracks on either side of this road are crying out to be made into cycle paths.

have you thought about a home birth? Sounds like your first was a pretty protracted and exhausting experience so maybe that's not what you would consider, but I had both of mine at home and, in terms of privacy and feeling relaxed, it was great.

Very interesting reading - assessment criteria ... https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/343538/free-school-applications-criteria-for-assessment-mainstream-and-16-to-19.pdf

Is it the case that DfE has to respond to demonstrated need - I thought that they didn't need to (mad though that is).

I looked into homeschooling when it looked like mainstream wasn't going to work for one of mine and Education Otherwise is great. Great stories and ideas and advice. (Happy to give details off forum - via PM - if you want more info) In the end we persevered with mainstream and I'm very glad we did. I understand your concerns but I think the primary schools are, for the most part, fabulous. I haven't found the "results" focus too strong at all but have found my children stimulated in all kinds of ways I wouldn't and couldn't have expected. I think that for them school represents something very important beyond "learning" - its their world and means that they have experience of being in the world beyond my domain and influence and they like that - they're becoming mini-citizens rather than just family members. Of course, there are all kinds of ways you can foster that in a home school environment but there is a lot to be said for school and a child's desire to be part of the bigger picture.

Michael Croft, the person after whom the theatre is named was an extraordinary person whose theatrical work at Alleyns had impact well beyond the school http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Croft Which is to say I can see exactly why the school felt that a really very good theatre named after him was a good idea. Would be good to see something of his spirit extended to its use however ...

Mostly, I find James Barber to be a pretty excellent councillor and one that makes a huge effort for the area and the people he represents. I am very impressed by him and very grateful for his efforts but I do disagree with him on this issue.