kristymac1

There's an excellent age appropriate book called 'goodbye tonsils', i used this with my daughter aged 5 and it was great - have tried to find it to lend you but cant find it at all:-\, you should be able to get it from amazon on express delivery. Good luck!

Thank you Simone. I have the upmost respect for the efforts that the Steering group are going to, I am aware of the undertaking involved so sincerely, thank you. Provision of Education for our children is an extremely emotive subject and it's impossible for it not to get heated on occasion - however transparency and dialogue go a long way to dampen the flames......

James Barber Wrote: > Hi kirstmac1, > On the basis of how we're running this campaign we > have over 400 families opting in so far. I expect > lots more over the next few months. If you have an > alternative proposition from a new secondary > school then I look forward to hearing it. I am one of the families who is supporting the campaign and I'm not aware of how the Steering Group made the decision to narrow down the choice to 2 providers. I object to your stance that if I can't offer an alternative then I just have to go along with what a (small) minority have decided - that is so arrogant. > The free school process is about applying to set > up a school that they wish to provide. It isn't a > procurement process and it isn't a referendum. > The Steering Group are a group of local parenting > volunteering from all the supporters we've > received. We're hopeful that the purpose of the > Steering Group will come to an end when an agreed > provider is made and we pass the project to that > provider to run and deliver. But the Steering Group must have some process in place for deciding who that provider will be - its not unreasonable to ask that question is it? > Yes, if the Steering Group was a long term > proposition then all the things you say would make > sense. But they come with an overhead that we > don't need for the time we're expected to be in > place. General public consultation is included in > the free school application process. Won't that public consultation be run by the chosen provider though? Seems to me there are enough people with strong feelings towards different providers I would like to know how the Steering Group narrowed the 'choice' down to 2 (again!) > For those families who don't agree with the new > school. They would not be expected to apply for > places. They get to vote with their feet. Well that's alright then. Unbelievable arrogance.

bawdy-nan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I reckon 40 people with children interested in > setting up a new school is good enough for me. I > actually don't see any need for a proper > constitution, terms and rules and regulations in > this instance. The aim is to set up a new school > and as far as I can see this is happening swiftly > and efficiently and with, as far as I can gather, > very little internal opposition as to the > direction of travel. Some people on this forum > don't want one and that's fine but enough do. > But my understanding is that the Steering Group is now 'closed' to any new members - it wouldn't be too difficult to ensure that there is a reasonably representative demographic on that group - where did most of the Steering Group first hear about the campaign I wonder? On here, the EDF? Not everyone with a vested interest in their child's school provision reads the Forum. I understand that the Steering Group have contacted parents through the schools (book bags, P&F mailings etc) but this was done AFTER the decision was made on which providers to approach. BTW, I want this to happen, I want there to be good co-ed choice in the area, but I would like it to progress on the basis of transparency and inclusivity (with an firm eye on pragmatism too)

I think it would be very useful if there was more information and transparency on the actual set up of the Steering Group. This group is potentially making an enormous decision (presumably) on behalf of parents and children in the local area. I would like to see clear terms of reference for the Steering group and how it was and will be constituted going forward. I'm unconvinced by the 'canvassing of parents concluded that Harris' would not be approached' - that decision seems to have been taken very early on in the discussions and whilst I have no particular vested interest in any provider it seems very wrong for only two providers to have been approached without any genuine discussions with the community. 'Too many Harris'' is also not a valid argument, and the idea that the chosen provider will creat 'more choice' in the area is just plain backwards if the pool of providers to choose from is narrowed down to two and before proper consultation, thus removing any real 'choice' at all. Without Terms of reference and constitutional rules & regulations, the Steering group, I'm afraid, is not representative of the parents and children in the local area. James, you work with Committees, do you not see the importance of this?

The appt system is chabging again at dmc, notice in window appears to suggest that you wont be given an appt until a doc calls you back to establish whether its necessary or not - seems like a pretty dire system to me. i cannot understand how a surgery can get its admin so wrong. i have been with dmc for 13yrs and its saving grace is one or two exceptional doctors but everytime i encounter the appt system i am tempted to leave...

I also know that a child did get into Reception at Fairlawn this year from Dovedale Road - they were given St Francis Cabrini first but then offered a place at Fairlawn before the start of the school year.

There is also a planned new primary to provide provision in this 'black hole' apparently it's ging to be in the Homestall rd area which is just round the corner from Therapia.

Ahh the CPT, best quiz night known to man (2002 - 2006 anyway), husband proposed to me (on one knee I might add) over the barrel hatch of the CPT, New years eve 2002 - great year........ For me those days were brilliant, our lives are soooo different now (2 kids, daft mortgage) but just as great - there are elements now of the old girl(and by that I mean SE22 rather then me, but that too is definitely true...) which have been lost, things are a bit more identikit now, a lot of high price mediocre stuff, but the schools are great, neighbours are fab and I feel really lucky to be able to bring our kids up in London (and in a pretty nice part of London too). I do miss the lovely Leslie (quizmaster sidekick) and Inside 72 though. Dare I say I also miss the pool tables at the Foresters as well...........x

Hi, My daughter had same operation at a similar age (she was just turned 4), her recovery was very quick - some pain and discomfort for a few days afterwards but perfectly well managed with painkillers (paracetamol and ibuprofen). In terms of preparation we read 'Goodbye tonsils' and ' Going to hospital' I think I still have the usbourne 'Going to hospital', PM me your address and I can pop it through your door tomorrow if that would help? It's pretty horrible having your little one go through a general and have pain afterwards but the team at St Thomas' we were under were great. Good luck x

Thanks that's really helpful!

Hi, can anyone remember this thread - I can't find it and there were some useful posts regarding what people would be prepared to pay for a table. Doing a bit of research with a view to holding similar event in local primary school. Any help finding thread or advice on appropriate charge for tables much appreciated! Thanks x

Interesting thread (sort of;-) ). Our by phone live has been dead since last Friday and even though by know what the problem is at the exchange they won't even book the job in until the 27th! Call centre people utterly useless, script reading at best. Was thinking of switching to virgin in new year but seeing this it seems pointless. Sigh......

we were at horniman today and it was pretty dismal, lacked any kind of fun or sparkle, Santa was a bit grumpy and my daughter said he smelt funny - no magic to be found there I'm afraid, now trying some damage limitation.....

Headbands - great fun for adults and kids, no emphasis on having to read or count x

Another co-ed so close to Charter would not provide any benefit to the side of East Dulwich we are in (close to Peckham Rye), so our 'choice' is Harris' single sex. Is there any chance of even a discussion of Harris girls and boys becoming a lower and upper Harris' co-ed school? I'd even be happy with the Haberdashers' model where the classes are taught single sex but the non-class environment is co-ed. What are other's thoughts on this?

Fairlawn is 7th too. Heber fair Sunday 1st December 11.30 -3, lots of lovely crafts and activities for the kids, stalls from local traders and of course Santa will be there in his grotto! It promises to be a lovely festive start to the season.

One of mine is insulin dependent and has to be injected twice a day. He's much better now that they've got his level right although it can change and he has regular blood tests to ensure his levels are in check. he sits and waits for his injections each day so it's no hassle really...

great big beautiful tree snapped in half on dovedale rd, neighbour's car flattened (literally):-( . was driving wee one around this morning in an attempt to get him to sleep and there didn't seem to be too much more damage, although it did occur to me how difficult it us to avoid tree lined roads in this area! the reason we love it here I guess!

Hahaha, I dread the clocks going back (and forward), but my 15month old actually slept through and till 6.30 this morning (so a 5.30 start) which was brilliant as I was expecting his usual 5.15 (so 4.15 start:-/). Clearly he must be ill........ 'Me time' pfft!

thank you for tge info bonoame, helps to put things in perspective,, I wasn't able to make the meeting yesterday but the feedback from those who went has been very positive

nursery was rated outstanding, foundation stage overall good. all schools, even the very best have room for improvement and I can certainly identify areas which I would personally like to see improve, but the report simply does not make coherent justifications for the rating.

I'm really disappointed for the senior management team and the teachers - of which many are excellent. the detail in the remanyport contradicts itself in so many ways on the one hand it talks about how the leadership has eradicated inadequate teaching but then they down grade them from good (presumably when there we're instances of inadequate teaching) to requiring improvement when there is now no inadequate teaching. the report just doesn't stand up...

I've always considered 'homework' for the wee ones as simply one way of informing the parents what the kids are doing and the sort of level maths and literacy they are focusing on in reception, yr 1 and yr 2 (my daughter has just started yr 2), We haven't had anything particularly onerous and have never felt under any pressure to get it done - we're lucky I guess that our daughter enjoys sitting down and working through her homework (which generally takes 15minutes or so), but if she's tired, not interested, cba then there's no pressure from us (or the school, so far anyway) to hand it in on time. For us it helps to know what level the kids are being taught at, helps us contextualise stuff better when just hanging out at the weekends.....

Email sent to Heber parents today said that there was spare places in nursery andif anyone would like to.apply offers.we're open. so they may say they only start in sept but if places are available it would seem entry is based on that. good luck x