cactus

It's a little too early to expect secondary schools to have their induction timetable confirmed. Some, but not all, will send initial dates with the formal offer letter. As previously mentioned, there will be at least one open day for new students in the Summer term. Some schools will also have an assessment morning where children sit a series of tests for the collation of baseline data. There may also be a day for children who aren't joining with a cohort from their primary school. Plus you may also have a Summer camp on offer, usually 4-5 days. My son's school offered this for free.

My 11 year old has an account with the London Mutual Credit Union, there's a branch in Peckham. He uses it for small amounts of birthday money, bigger sums go into a Child Trust Fund account that can't be touched until he's 18. HSBC do a savings account for 7=17 year olds, you can open it with ?10. Once they're 11 they can have a debit card - though I'm not sure how wise that would be!

Apparently so, just checked Trainline and it looks like a normal timetable ...

Generally the passengers who crowd around the exit doors, are the ones who are only going a few stops. They can't be bothered to go upstairs or move down, nor can they be bothered to walk 5 minutes instead of squeezing themselves onto a packed bus.

I'm always struck by the unfairness of the recycling system. Residents on your usual streets have to follow certain rules about how to dispose of their rubbish/recycling. Whereas in blocks of flats, no such rules, and everyone is free to dump their recyclable items into huge communal bins. I live in a biggish new build development, and it drives me nuts that many of my neighbours don't recycle because it's voluntary. Grrrrr.

I would imagine that parents will receive a letter as soon as the report is ready to be made public. Otherwise check the OFSTED website and see if it has been published. In my experience it usually takes a month or so for this to happen.

Noticed a few trees lying on the pavements today, with those metal stands still attached to them. The ones that the sellers were screwing into the trunk for an extra couple of pounds, instead of the usual logs. Looks like bit of a hassle for the recycling team now, having to remove them before chipping.

Just to add, St John's & St Clement's also have outdoor learning /Forest school sessions.

Grim reading.

One reason for example, can be if a child joins the school community in Year 6, but has English as an additional language, isn't already a fluent speaker/reader and has been educated overseas. I worked in a Southwark school for a number of years, where there was quite a mobile population, so this was fairly common. Other reasons I'm not so sure, but perhaps others on here will have more insight. Significant SEND issues may also be a factor.

You can definitely apply for schools in other Boroughs. You apply online through your own Borough's website, but are free to put down 6 choices in any area. Last year we applied to schools in Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham. Just double check all of the admissions criteria carefully for each school.

Southern up to their usual antics this morning! I thought the industrial action was all of next week, but a serious lack of trains on their timetable today. My 11 year old travels in the opposite direction, ED - Tulse Hill for secondary school, but again no trains for about an hour. Chose his school on the basis of an easy journey in, but it's becoming a bit of a nightmare for him to get in on time. Not great into London Bridge either, horrible way to start the new year, feel for the commuters this morning.

From my experience, they collect trees on brown bin/garden recycling day, which is less frequent than normal collections.

Try John Miller, he's based in Forest Hill, 07946 840643

Totally agree Nigello, when so many car journeys are for short trips anyway. Last week I walked from Camberwell to Kennington when the 185 was diverted due to works on Camberwell New Road. It took an extra 10 mins compared to my usual crowded and congested bus journey, but I got 45 mins of exercise and arrived at work in a better mood and on time.

Very good judo class at Dulwich Leisure Centre on Fridays at 4pm.

I was really put off by the founding cohort rhetoric of Charter ED, hence we declined our offer. However I can see how it might appeal to others.

New Jaflong on ED Road is a soulless dining experience, Not remotely cosy or welcoming, nor have they tried to lure the young'uns by updating the place and giving it a minimalist signage, as opposed to the ugly discount takeaway billboard thing.

A new sport, lob the divan over the fence. If the rubbish can no longer be dumped on the small plot that First Port are currently responsible for, then it will spill over onto the pavement that Southwark are responsible for. So the LA pay for the rubbish removal instead of the private management company. Not a great solution, just pushing the responsibility onto someone else. I'm totally p****d off with the lazy attitude of both tenants and landlords, and selfish human beings in general, who trash their own neighbourhood with impunity. Time to move to the Hebrides I think.

In my experience, as soon as the LA has issued the formal offer of a school place, then parents have to supply the school with the relevant documentation, usually including the child benefit letter (most often in the mother's name) plus other proof of address, e.g. utility bill etc. So if parents can produce these, then what else can the school do to question their eligibility of a place based on distance?

Hi there, my child has just started Year 7, and so far so good. Like you, we visited a few times and just really loved it. It has a real community feel, the transition preparation was excellent, and the staff have been great. Plus the shiny new building helps too. I think perhaps we don't hear so much about it, because it is in Lambeth, and parents tend to look at Southwark and Lewisham schools first.

The Cherry Tree

I'm a bit late if date night was tonight! However something like - tuna steaks, sweet potato mash, tomato salsa & green beans or duck, cherry sauce, dauphinoise potatoes?

The OP has shared the information that she has, in order to try and find the lovely couple who helped out her son, not her husband if you read her post correctly. No need for further questions in my opinion.

Definitely try for local, after school pick ups where you can bring your daughter along. We had someone for 2 years doing this for us, she brought her toddler along and it worked out really well.