midivydale

Hi, I am very sorry to hear this but a huge well done for reaching out! How about volunteering? There are several worthwile causes in the area that often look for staff. I worked one year with familes and young children in Camberwell. I will have a look to see if I can find the details. There are also alot of activities going on in local churches around the area. The community spirit is high even if you are not a regualar church goer.

From what I have heard of Ivydale they are very supportive in these circumstances so I would def speak to the head about it. She is very experienced and I have found her very sympathetic when speaking to her over the years. (I should add that I am not affiliated with the school in any way other than that I live very close by, my son goes to reception at a different school). Good Luck!

Yes take a birth certificate and if possible a copy of father's passport along with his acknowledgement that the children are flying with you.

The schools that we were applying to last year were happy to provide this information over the phone when I phoned and ask. I hope that helps x

Sesame, excellent point. In fact I pulled out a lego piece frm my makeup bag on the train this morning (yes im one of those people that puy my make up on on public transport).

Thanks all, yes I think we are heading towards lego/playmobil but deary me im fed up with the 1000 little shi*** pieces everywhere! Thanks all for your ideas, keep them coming. On the plus side lego does fit the fine motor skills criteria so I might be able to ignore the annoyance of all the pieces. Has anyone tried the lego mat that turns into a sack?

Hi all, please help me with some gift ideas for my son who will be 5 in March. For the past two years he has been very clear with what he would like to play with (Thomas the tank engine, Ninja turtles etc). This year it is a little trickier (although I am turning a very deaf ear to any hints of star wars or video games). What does your boys play with? We are travelling which complicates things a little. I would love for something interactive that he can play with us and if it can help with spelling/reading/maths or fine motor skills then that would be fab. I sound like a complete spoilsport, I realise this.

We hand alot of things to the pediatric ward at kings.

My son has just had treatment for Scarlet fever, there is alot of cases going around. The GP said it is hard to know sometimes but with mini ivy he was pretty confident that it was scarlet fever. IF it is, then it is so infectious and your little one will feel so much better after having taken the penicilin. Scarlet fever is not nice at all. We have just finished a 10 day course of penicillin.

We have just started Tae Kwando at the Green in Nunhead. V mixed ages my son is youngest by a mile at 4 1/2. Great instructors. Can really recommend.

We are with Dr Islam at the Gardens. She is lovely and gentle

Thank you so much everyone! We are testing our way through the suggestions. Thank you Renata for the very very local suggestions, def trying those.

For 4 year old boy?

Hi, Are you a conveyance specialist with experience in dealing with purchases from Southwark Council? If so please could you get in touch urgently via PM as we need legal advice. Thank you

Thanks everyone for all your input, much appreciated. The help that we have received so far is pretty non existent so will go down the private route (which I should have done years ago). Thanks everyone for all your suggestions, will get on to this today. What is the difference between a skin prick test and blood tests?

Does anyone have any ideas? I have tried to get hold of a karate kid thing at Fairlawn but never hear back frm them.

Thanks Sonners that sounds great. He is 4 1/2 testing needed for cows milk, egg, nuts, and some animals and dust.

Please could someone give me a contact name for private pediatric allergy testing, pref local. Pretty urgent so any advice very welcome. Thanks

Hi Thatiana, Sainsburys are very good with outfits, or maybe have a look on Amazon or ebay online? Good luck and enjoy the party!

Hi Thatiana, Nurseries vary a lot from country to country and it might well be that some things are very different here in the UK from what you are used to in your home country. This was certainly true when I looked around for nurseries for my son a few years ago, so I can understand how you feel. I think what your friend means is that nurseries here encourage children to be very independent from a pretty young age so would encourage them to manage as much of the toilet visits etc by themselves. Having said that, I have not known of any nurseries that completely leave the children soiled or do not help them at all if they need help. Put this down as something to bring up with the nursery when you go and visit and tell them that you want them to support your child using the toilet until he/she can manage by themselves. I am sure the nursery will reassure you that they will. Class and group sizes...Yes, this is somewhere it often differs from other countries (mine included) and that might take a bit of getting used to. There might be incidents where the staff does not see what has happened or might get the turn of events wrong. Again, speak to them about things, ask them questions and engage with them at pick up and drop off. The closer nursery and home work together the more you can help to ensure that your child is settled there. In my experience, staff are often very open to discussion with parents and more than happy to explain why things are done a certain way. Leaving your child to nursery is a very emotional thing, it is really hard especially if it culturally differs from what you are used to. You almost feel blind when making the choice because you do not fully understand how they are run. I understand that completely and my advice would be to voice this when you view a nursery. The right fit for you and your family will be the one where you feel listened to. Good luck and keep posting for advice on here if you need it!

rking, where in Nunhead are you? Ivydale is a much loved primary and an obvious first choice for many,depends on where in Nunhead you are though? Some areas of Nunhead are close to Lewisham schools (john stainer, edmund waller, haberdashers). It really depends on your location. Good luck with it and there are lots of parents here from the various primary schools who will be able to offer feedback on specific ones.

Jules and Boo How about the mumsnet classic (LTB) leave the bastard :) And of course the thread was meant light heartedly, but it is a fine line sometimes you are right saffron - hun :)

I have noticed an annoying trend with grown women talking like teenagers. At work I have been emailed "hi hun" (wtf?) And on social media there seem to be alot of "blessed mummy", "quality family time" "love my munchkins" "family forever" type things. So a picture of a frozen pizza end up being: #lovemyhubby #blessed #midweekqualitytime Find it really annoying #midivydale #carpediem #mysonismyworld #solucky

I make most of December really festive to avoid putting too much pressure on the one day. I put my tree and decorations up for 1st advent and then we do lots of festive stuff for the month, Pantos/carols/make gingerbread houses etc.

Not Sainsburys but hubby and I saw the lovely Luca in Good wife a week or so ago at Blue Montain on North Cross Road. She was beautiful!