Coach Beth

And one of favorite Virginia Woolf books is Orlando! Loved the movie too! Personally, I like short, simple boys names - Tom, Sam, Ollie, Elliot, Ben, Jake I have a cousin from the south in the US called Charlton. The name Dakota has a certain ring to it.

I also want to thank the NCT teachers for the work they do - I know they aren't paid alot particularly for all the preparation they do and I found my NCT teacher very supportive of whatever kind of birth we were planning on. I also felt great support afterwards when I had the 'baby blues' and my NCT teacher listened to me without any judgement what-so-ever I never felt any pressure to conform to a certain birth expectation by anyone in the NCT. I think that as women we can be really hard on ourselves and then by extension on others for the choices we make in terms of whether we have kids or not and then, what kind of birth we choose. Compassion for ourselves first, then compassion for others. And, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your baby littlemoo.

I had my friend Sue, my partner Dave, his grown up son from a previous relationship who was a medical student at the time (now a doctor!) and his grown up son's girlfriend (also a medical student now a doctor!) I figured I wouldn't really care who saw what, that I would be too far gone to give a darn and it would help his grown up son feel a part of things, bond with his brother more and also, medical students need to witness a birth so I thought it would help there! However, I had my son almost 7 years ago now!

I echo what Mrs.lotte has said about the excellent teaching/academic standards and the brilliant music & art department. (the music teacher is a professional musician and the full-time art teacher trained for four years at art school both in the UK and in Vienna) The Head and senior leadership team have raised standards dramatically. It's a great diverse community school and I love that my son has made such a diverse group of friends and I've gotton to know such a great group of parents - last night pub outing after the PTA meeting was the usual fun informal social event. In addition, I am so glad there is an abundance of male teachers as positive role models for my son - not the norm in many primary schools.

Don't know the details - best to contact the schools directly for accurate information.

Sorry but my son's school (Goose Green) will definately be open as most teachers and the head aren't striking(although the nursery, one year 3 & one year 4 class will not be running due to those teachers going on strike).

Hi again - if anyone else has a boy aged 5 - 10 come along on Tuesday to check the class out as there are still some places!

Try Catherine Grimaldi - she runs lovely parties for 3-6 year olds! http://www.catherinegrimaldi.co.uk/parties.html

Yes, cameras and signs would be good! In the US/Canada, they have signs with kids holding adults hands near places where children cross - I have no idea if that would help here though. I wonder if people just get accustomed to signs and just ignore them in the end. In terms of crossing use, there are a number of families (like me!) whose children go to Goose Green School who live in the Oglander Road/Copleston Road/Oxenford Street area who most definately use the crossing which is now a Puffin Crossing. It's really the most straightforward way to the school if you are living in this area and I know a number of people who have reported 'near miss' incidents with cars zooming through the lights when children were on their way to and from the school.

It's so terrible that a child can't even cross the road when they have the green man. A year ago, my partner was at the crossing near Goose Green school. The green man appeared. He and our son (aged 5 at the time) just set foot on the crossing when my partner caught sight SPEEDING round the corner (i.e. going towards Lordship Lane) towards them. He grabbed my son by the coat and pulled him back. While I appreciate many people dislike the changes at this crossing, I personally am VERY relieved the council did something and that cars are now forced to slow down at a crossing which is used by young children every day. I feel it's much safer now (although I always totally wait and try to look the drivers in the eye before crossing - this probably pisses drivers off who just want me and my son to cross quickly but tough) I have no idea why this would make people speed up down Grove Vale - total pointless impatience. And I too have noticed many drivers jumping those lights near the station - people seems to speed down that hill towards the crossing. Couldn't the council take the lead on a public information/safety campaign in this area?

Yes, if you choose schools that are too far away and then there are no places there (i.e. because all the places have been taken by people who live closer), the council is under absolutely no obligation to give your child a place (and they can't give you a place anyway since all the places will have been taken!) at any of the schools on your list. What they will do is simply allocate your child at a school which does have places - and as mrs.lotte says, this could be anywhere.

Personally, I don't actually think the situation with state school is that bad in that I don't buy into the belief that there are just one or two schools in the area that are worth getting into! I think we are fortunate to have a number of decent primary schools. HOWEVER, I think most schools in ED are VERY oversubscribed however. And some schools are more popular than others - that is true! If you want to go to Heber - forget it unless you live close. But that doesn't necessarily mean you won't be sending your child to a good school if it isn't the school that isn't the most popular!! Good schools that I rate include Bessemer Grange School and Goose Green Primary (Sats results at 82% combined is one of the highest in ED btw) Don't just go on popular opinion - visit the schools you are within walking distance to and use your own judgement. Is the Headteacher dynamic and pushing change or do they seem like they are coasting? What does the curriculam map of the school look like? Is there a music teacher or art teacher based at the school on a full or part-time basis? (if music or art is important to you for instance) What were last years SATS results of the year 6 classes? What reading scheme does the school use? How is pupils progress monitored and tracked? Good luck!

Agree with BeccaL - most state schools have been over-subscribed the last few years with extra buldge classes having gone into four local schools last year to meet the extra demand. Which means there won't be buldge classes next year at many local schools (except I guess probably DKH?) making the situation even more acute. So really, you won't have that much choice next year and will need to consider what schools you are closest to and check them out. You can also search this forum with the names of schools you are considering as there have been lots of discussions about primary schools in East Dulwich in the past. Or you can post asking for feedback about particular schools. It's difficult to respond to your question otherwise really. (although I obvisously feel my son's school in in the top 5!)

Hi there, ?100 is pretty much the minimum for hiring a private entertainer to come to your house or venue near you to lead a private party. As was mentioned above, when hiring a entertainer we are asking them to give up at least one hour travel time, preparation time and then the time to actually deliver the party/entertainment. And to do this on a weekend as well - frankly, it won't be worth someone's while to come out and lead a party on a Saturday for a fiver a head (I'm also self-employed so I know how much of your own time you spend on things like this - it's alot!) I've hired entertainers for my child's 4th and 5th birthdays and both charged more than ?100. For me it was worth it because personally, I'm absolutely pants at leading all those group kids activities and also sorting out all the food and sorting parents out with cups of tea at the same time (I'm definately not a domestic godess - more like a domestic disaster!) You can also use a venue like Jags sports centre where you can have a football party where a football coach leads a group of kids in football games - cost is in the region of ?185 for one hour of activity and then one hour in another room where can have tables, food etc (you bring your own food) But, there are some great ideas above - and if it's just a small group and you are good at this stuff they will have a great time!

I do agree with ED mummy - I can't see this being an issue to vote on and it certaintly wasn't in my mind as like other posters, I think people on decent incomes should contribute to things like this. HOWEVER I do know that unfortunately, there are a significant minority of parents who provide very inadequate packed lunches (i.e. a bag of crisps and a juice/fizzy drinks) for their children - despite exhortation from schools not to! A broad brush approach where all kids get a hot meal will at least ensure that children whose parents either can't afford a hot lunch or whose parents who aren't bothered enough to provide children with a proper packed lunch will balk at them getting a free school meal. Like the other posters, although I am not wealthy, I feel that I can afford school dinner. Schools always need donations of craft supplies, plants, bulbs, gardening equipment (see my plea for bulbs and rakes above) and I do tend to donate things like this to the school so the extra cash will probably find it's way back to the school in another form. I will always donate my time - and I think the more of us who can volunteer to help out reading in schools or any other way the better!! But I am very concerned that children who do not have the advantages that my child does get a school lunch. I see the menu at my child's school and I never see chips as an option actually - I think the portion sizes are on th small side but I think the nutritional values are good - better than what I would provide in a packed lunch I think! And, since we now have a kitchen at Goose Green and will have a cook on-site (as opposed to a catering company bringing meals in which is the reality for most schools in the area and has been for Goose Green too) I think the quality will go up. I'm sure this is the case for other schools. My two cents worth!

I think, on balance it is a good thing. As the orginial article that I posted a link to here points out, feeding children healthy food in schools increases good behaviour and achievement. Providing free school meals for all will mean that parents will not be able to choose the packed lunch option - and children will be more likely to join their peers and eat a healthy lunch (rather than ask for a packed lunch option). Ideally, if parents who have a reasonable household income could contribute in some way that would be good - but I also think that the costs of administering this might cost as much as simply providing the school meals to all.

This article appeared in the South London Press - about Tidemill Primary which has become an academy - doesn't seem like becoming an academy has made the school more accountable to parents then! http://www.crystalpalace-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=40663&headline=Well+look+after+your+child+for+20+a+day

We're going to create some raised beds and planters for vegetable growing - probably near the nursery play area round the back of the school. It's surprising what you can grow in a small space using planters, tubs and grow bags! We also had a donation a few weeks ago of a cold frame from someone on the forum which was great (actually we are in need of both adult and child sized rakes in good condition for the gardening club so if someone has one they'd like to donate please PM me) If you see along the Grove Vale fence, you can see our wild-life garden area, it's surprising how much diverse plant life is there. In a few years as the plants grow up the fence, it should be a lovely 'green fence' which will improve the whole area.

What happenend at Goose Green Primary School is that last year, the school decided to take over the service (which had been provided by Southwark on the school premises) and directly runs the after-school club (i.e. they directly employ the after-school staff and directly manage the club). The Head and the Governors decided to maintain the cost at the same price as before as they worked out that they could break even on the club if they ran it themselves with the same cost to the parents. It's working well - and it's great to have the same staff who ran the club before run it via the school. It's also great that the fees have stayed the same!! (a big sigh of relief from me!)

Yes, a big thank-you James! Fingers crossed we will get this funding from the Capital Growth funding programme - really exciting to be getting the vegetable garden up and running at the school!

Thanks for the information Renata!

Just read this article in today's Guardian and thought it raised many interesting points. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/oct/24/jamie-oliver-school-meals-progress-undone I know that my son's school (Goose Green Primary) is already implementing some of his recommendations including using capital funding to install a school kitchen where school meals will be prepared on-site by a school cook (kitchen should finally be ready by the end of November!) and developing a multi-purpose space in the school annexe for cooking lessons for all students. The PTA has also been seeking funding to support a gardening club at the school and getting a vegetable garden up and running. But it seems that there is lots schools can do and I'm wondering what others schools do around food? I heard that Dog Kennell Hill recently had an apple day and encouraged people to bring in apples to press which sounded fab!

We pay our babysitter ?6 an hour - she is a teenager of a friend, very good!

My story is that I entered school more academically 'advanced' i.e. I could read and in the 70's they thought it was a good idea for advanced kids to skip a grade! Worse thing ever - I was then a whole year younger than classmates, very insecure, found it hard to settle. Although I was quite bright according to all those standarised tests, I was never at the top in my class ever - and luckily I had parents who weren't stressed out by this.. I went on to an American University that had a focus on experiential, creative education and did very well and then onto to a Masters degree and have had a pretty successful career/life. Anyway, do watch the trailer to this film 'Race to Nowhere' all about the pressures on school children to be academically successful as opposed to become life-long creative learners. Also Ken Robinson has some important points to make about our education system.

Hi there, I'm just a parent who is keen that the class keep running not the owner of the dance school but I'll pass your feedback on to the woman who runs the class. Personally, I did find it cheaper than two others I've looked at - one in Herne Hill (?84 per term which was about ?8 a class) and you didn't get the free first class. And because it's in ED I saved money on bus fares to Herne Hill or Peckham. Anyway, hope to see you tonight at 5pm maybe? I'll be there with my boy Sam!