DVnewbie

Lyra in the Philip Pullman "His Dark Materials" trilogy? Definitely liked Diana Wynne Jones a lot when I was a "pre-teen". (Howl's Moving Castle was too late for me though - although have seen the odd cartoon...) When 14, I liked Pride and Prejudice... (And that was before Colin Firth.) Elizabeth's not a sap. But doesn't really fit the contemporary requirement! I'll keep an eye on this thread for ideas for my daughter. Although she's only three so I guess I've got a while to catch-up on good teenage literature.

Another vote for Half Moon Montessori. My son went last year and my daughter's just started. They both adore it. We're big fans. The staff there are all fantastic. Depends where you live though!

Eeek. Am worried now..! Maybe I've been a bit too complacent then! Yes, of course, lots of people can move into the area too.... Hmmm.

Signed - completely messed up breast-feeding for me with DC1, who had a bad posterior tongue-tie. And I asked two doctors and a midwife to check in the hospital after I'd given birth as I have it myself. But they failed to spot it so I really think they need people spefically trained in diagnosing it. And once a good midwife did spot DC1's, it took 10 days to get it dealt with - not too bad but DC1 had to be pipette or bottle fed for first three weeks to prevent dehydration. And, because I had such a horrid time with DC1 and trying to breast-feed (v bad mastitis twice in first 3 weeks) I had a huge psychological block with DC2. I think this is really important - thank you for highlighting the petition.

Hello - totally agree with KatDew and in the same position with a son who has just started DVI. My son is super-excited every day and keeps begging to go to school all day long (Reception has a gentle introduction of half days for the first couple of weeks). However, WishfulThinking - I'm pretty sure I was told that first round offers for non-sibling non-church places were under 500m for Sept 2012 start. I know people got in from the waiting list though from further away than that. 636m rings a bell though! Maybe that was for Sept 2011 start or included offers to people on the waiting list? I suppose the "wider" catchment area for Dulwich Hamlet is based mostly on one factor - that there aren't any church places so the admission criteria is predominantly distance (i.e. there are twice as many places avaialable based, mostly, on geography). Although there are bound to be a few more elder siblings for Hamlet admissions as it's a four year school, rather than a three year school like DVI. I think it would be surprising if your child got a non-church place at DVI and then didn't get one at the Hamlet at 7 - even if you're nearer the DVI measurement point than the Hamlet one. A significant number of families send their children to DVI and then to fee-paying prep schools after that though. Just something else that might explain why only 75 out of 90 children from DVI went on to the Hamlet. (Or move out to the country to be near good grammars at 11...)

Hello. I totally feel your pain. The term used in the baby/toddler books is "early morning waking". Our first child did this for the first 2 1/2 years of his life. It was incredibly stressful as he generally only went back to sleep at about 8 a.m., just as the nanny arrived and we headed off for a full day at work. (Also made more stressful by baby number 2 arriving when he was 16 months.) We tried everything - and we gave each "method" a go for at least 4 weeks before abandoning it. The only thing I can suggest is keeping your baby/toddler in his/her room, in the dark, and not making it any fun at all to be up then. I'm a big advocate of total blackout blinds for early morning wakers (get those travel ones with suckers or put velcro up on the windows from this company http://www.easyblindsonline.co.uk/ ). They can't hurt anyway! (Yes, they mess up the look of your windows but I couldn't have cared less about that at the time.) And try to make sure that whatever method you try, you try for 4 weeks solidly, even if it kills you. If it persists, it's probably worth splashing out on a "sleep consultant", as long as it's somebody with proper experience (like an ex health visitor). Lots of my friends recommend Andrea Grace. We nearly used her but she was on holiday when we got to breaking point. She's based in North London but very good by all accounts and does telephone consultations. And she's medically trained, very nice, not Gina Ford-like in an extreme way although obviously keen on consistent routines and behaviours. There are various methods you can try (including the crazy one of waking the child up half an hour before they wake normally and then putting them back to sleep to "reset their body clock) and I'm sure you've tried a lot of them. Somebody used to dealing with sleep issues on a daily basis might well have more of a feel about the best approach for your little one. Good luck! p.s. The suggestion to put my child to bed a little later used to drive me up the wall - only because OF COURSE I'd tried that and it hadn't worked. But I was incredibly bad tempered, ratty and miserable. Earlier is quite a good one though!!

Totally agree with Cora and everybody else. I have a fairly robust 4 year old about to start school today and I'd be very upset if he hurt himself, told a teacher and was told to go and clean it up himself. It would totally knock his confidence and trust that he would be happy and looked after at school. Definitely think you should mention it to the teacher.

Hi Tatianadis, I'd check the Southwark council statistics (all published on their website) about the furthest distance from the school for first round offers. I don't think you'd have got into Heber or Dulwich Village Infants if you lived on Melbourne Grove this year - even from a waiting list place. Dulwich Village Infants (age 4-7) is a Church of England school so has half church places and half "open" places - children who live the nearest as the crow flies, get offered a place. Dulwich Hamlet (age 7-11) is a non faith school so all places offered are on the basis of who lives the closest. The big exception you need to remember for ALL (I think?) schools is that siblings of children already at the school get priority. So, if there is an extra class one year (a "bulge" class) the effective catchment area, for children without a sibling already at the school, often shrinks in the next couple of years (particularly as the "bulge" class is a one off normally). Heber first round offers this year were to children who lived under 200m from the school gates. I think Dulwich Village Infants was around 450m for the non-church places. So you definitely wouldn't have got a first round offer from either this year if you applied to Heber or Dulwich Village Infants and lived in Melbourne Grove. You can always go on the waiting list if you don't get a first round offer from the school of your choice. The list operates on the same admissions criteria so, again, children living closest will be higher up the waiting list. But talk to the people in the Education Dept at Southwark council before you move anywhere! Good luck!

Hello! I found this as it was the only place I could find an actual list (other than the guidance in the New Parents' Information booklet): http://www.yourschooluniform.com/schools/Dulwich_Village_C_E_Infant_School_SE21_7AL/ I have a son about to start and have gone for only one logo-ed polo shirt and two logo-ed sweatshirts and everything else non-logo M&S/Tesco. I prefered the non-logo-ed tops as they were 100% cotton and cheaper. They only need to wear the logo-ed clothes when they go on outings so I hope that's ok. I've got 6 non-logo polo shirts (well, they were only ?2 for 2!) and 4 non-logo (thin...) sweatshirts. I think you're assumptions are safe Sanne Panne on socks/tights. And I reckon any "sensible" coat should be fine if they don't specify. Re dresses - yes, I think any red/white gingham dress should be fine. My son asks every day if he's going to go to school.... The concept of 4 weeks time is difficult to get across!!

Hi Ellie, How's it going? Are things getting any better?? I wouldn't normally post on something like this as people have such different ideas of how to deal (or not) with tiny babies who don't sleep well and I think you need to do whatever works for you and your baby. But.... I just wanted to say that things will feel so much easier if you get just one decent night's sleep. Long term serious sleep deprivation is torture that shouldn't be a trial that new mothers feel they have to endure without any help. It doesn't matter whether your DH/mum/friend or a night nanny takes the night shift - as long as you are comfortable with whoever is doing it and trust them. A night nanny might be easiest - it's their job so there is less guilt about asking favours (although, really, most people who offer do mean it and you should take any offers up!!). If you can get a couple of blocks of 3 hours' sleep a night, for a few nights in a row, things will feel better. And if they don't - and you've had significantly more sleep - then think about going to the GP or Health Visitor to ask about PND. (Had that and it's horrid - but easily remedied in my case thanks to my brilliant GP.) My first baby had tongue tie (diagnosed late, despite my asking three doctors in the hospital when he was born to double check he didn't because I do...grrr...) and reflux and that was very tough. He didn't sleep well until he was 3 and I think it's because he had such a tough first year and didn't get used to sleeping properly. Second baby was a dream though and slept through from 4 weeks.... (No reflux or tongue tie.) Yes - what's weight gain like? Does he curl up and cry a lot immediately after feeding? Is he restless and uncomfortable when he is feeding? An experienced maternity nurse/night nanny might be able to help "diagnose" any issues if there are any - if you do get one, maybe go for one who is qualified as a midwife (seem to remember there are a few of those around). Good luck Ellie! Really hope things are getting a little bit easier. I found things improved at 6 weeks and then again at about 3 months. But I think it just depends on you/your baby! xx

Oh yes - the one on Melbourne Grove, definitely. She's lovely and v good with children. She's only cut my son's hair but I'm sure she'd trim a little girl's hair too if you asked.

Yes, my daughter is, but in Blue Class (she's 3 in August).... So probably not much help as they won't see each other much at all during the day. However, wanted to let you know that we are very happy with Half Moon Montessori. Our son's just finished there. I'm sure your son will love it! Hope a Red Class parent sees your message!!

Bessemer Grange is the one I was thinking of actually etta166... It's supposed to be really good now. And at least you wouldn't have to worry about going through it all again at 7!

Hi Goocha, Yes... Sorry, they had a couple last week. It was all very informal - just a 30 minute charge around the playground (with all the Reception teachers around). There's a new parents' evening this week. So I think it's very unlikely they'll be much movement now. But, on the positive side, I'm not sure what school you've been offered but a couple of nearby ones that weren't doing so well are now supposed to be really good? Hope it all goes well.

Ha - yes, that's me!! It was very nice to meet you. Hope A is ok!

Hello - how are you getting on Goocha?! We went to a look round DVI with my son yesterday and I met a nice mum whose child was offered a place yesterday (from 20-something on the waiting list). Maybe it was you...!

Think you'll need to ask the school as it's an academy now.

My son's at Half Moon Montessori and daughter will be from September. Actually, it was recommendations from here that persuaded me to look round it. I also love it! The family that runs it are lovely. Not sure what nurseries you've looked at but it's not mega-smart - it's in a church hall and they bring packed lunches if they stay all day (well, 8.40 - 3.15). The staff are great and my son has been begging me for ages to send him there "every day".... It's very reasonable though. (Although, to put it in context, we moved from Islington last summer and all the nurseries there were very expensive!)

My 2 3/4 year old has just started at Dulwich Ballet School on Village Way and loves it. They were great with her - they don't let parents into the class which actually makes sense as she would have clung onto me if I'd been in there. A few tears first time (even though she asked to go!) and she held the teacher's hand most of the lesson (and was mostly quite happy), a tiny cry the second time (just going in) but she came out beaming the third time and has been showing us her new dance moves. Soooo sweet! The teacher, Miss Jo, is really lovely and great with little ones.

Magic circle law firms are very similar to the big 4 accountancy firms. (Although some make you pay some back if you don't stay for 6 months/1 year after you return from maternity leave) Mid-sized law firms are typically much less generous although some are better than others. The one I just left had a sliding scale, depending on how long you had worked there. The best was 6 weeks at 90% and then 6 weeks at 75% (then statutory). I agree - transparency would be very helpful....

I know about law firms in the city... Feel free to PM me if you like. Afraid I don't know any (female...) bankers at all (!). Statutory sounds awful for a mid-size bank but I'm not that surprised to be honest.... Good luck!

Definitely Chantelle. Good luck. Pandd - that's amazing... We got our first choice but live well within the last few years "catchment" distances for non-siblings so something very freaky would have had to have happened for us not to get in. I suspect people might have to live within site of the school we got into next year to get a non-sibling place then as it has a bulge class this academic year.

What's the betting Southwark website crashes at 5? Yup - good luck everybody!! My husband will kill me if our son doesn't get a place - given that we moved from North London specifically to make sure he could go to a decent primary school... (And a few other reasons.... ;-) )

Sparkle - we got the ferry both times. Overnight to St Malo when we went to the Vendee - then drove straight to the campsite. (Ok, quite fun, but got minimal sleep overnight in our cabin....) When we went to the Dordogne we just stopped somewhere near Orleans. Just used a cheap travelodge type hotel - if you want to do the same, I recommend Campanille. Cheap and quite nice breakfast. Or you can stay overnight in some of the Eurocamp sites on the way down if there is a handy one to break your journey. The websites should say how much shade the sites have - you can call them up and quiz them about details if it's not clear. I think it's a really good holiday. However, I'm not convinced it's a particularly "cheap" option - unless you book with the French campsites directly but then you probably won't be directly surrounded by English toddlers. Not necessarily a bad thing...?

Hello - have been with both Keycamp (when children were nearly 1 and 2) to the Vendee and Eurocamp to the Dordogne (when children were nearly 2 and 3). We went out of season both times and had lovely holidays. Although, we didn't really like the Vendee itself that much - the campsite itself was great. Highly recommend this site in the Dordogne St Avit Loisir Totally agree with Nunhead mum though - I've heard from lots of people that you get better accomodation if you book directly with a French operator. Also, we went in September last year so it was very very quiet. We wouldn't have enjoyed it so much if we went on our own but we went with 4 of my uni friends (plus their husbands and children!) so we had a quite a large party.... That made it lots of fun. But all the sites are set up for children under 10 - they all seem to love it. The Dordogne is particularly lovely though. In fact, so lovely, we are going to the same sort of area again this year. (Sharing two houses this year though as it works out cheaper - Eurocamp etc. are not cheap!) Brittany is great too and will probably be warm enough if you are going in the school summer holidays - and don't want too much of a drive.