Cora

No it's not drop in you need to register and agree which days you want. Don't have to be potty trained.

Thanks have just registered ..... Hoping it might come by half term!

Don't get them from sainsbury's, their sizes are up the spout!

Have now read the ofsted and basically looks like the staff are teaching the children well from a below average base...I guess the question I would want to ask the head is how they are/would support the higher achieving pupils. If they don't have a plan then I agree I would be worried but a 'good' school should focus on each child and develop each one..(that's my definition of good not the official one!)....Also the low level disruption would worry me - would want to see that that that had gone a year after the ofsted report....but I do think it is these schools that are on the tipping point that can be the most exciting as there is no complacency. The school should also be well funded with the pupil premium scheme. Like the idea that it is a smaller than average school too. Anyway....just find it all very interesting....

All this talk of Langbourne has made me look up their website to see how awful it is...especially as someone who lives 300m away doesn't want a place there. Obviously I am only reading the 'marketing' of a website but was amazed to see that they are rated 'good' for ofsted and have a new headmaster who seems to be full of ideas and enthusiasm. Have people visited since the new headmaster started? Have people met him? This may be the year when a new intake of supportive parents could tip the school to 'outstanding'. I accept my knowledge is minimal but it certainly doesn't seem to be the sink school everyone seems to be implying it is....I'll bet in a few years people will be finding routes to get their children there....

Accept the one you've been offered and then make the decision again depending on what the other offers....you can always turn down a place at a later date. Gives you more time to think about which you prefer too. Am or pm depends on your child's day structure. I prefer morning because that's when mine has most energy but others prefer getting up more slowly knowing their kids will be busy in the afternoon.

Can anyone recommend a good app?

I know of a local teacher. You can find her by typing in yo crochet and her name is Lindy.

I think it's an ofsted thing....worried it will affect their attendance figures but feel quite strongly that the needs of the family and child should come first - ofsted should accommodate legitimate absence.

I would just go ahead. My understanding is that at Heber it will automatically be refused but it will just go down as unauthorised absence....so what? You deem it to be important or your family and so long as their attendance is good the rest of the time it shouldn't be an issue.

Bringing son for first time .... any tips? Ie how early do you think we need to get there?

I think that some of them are only for the first year so need to check once September comes...

No, if they accept a place they stay on the waiting lists of those schools higher in their preference. They will be taken off a particular schools list when they are offered a place and turn it down.

Email southwark admissions ASAP to go on Bessemer list...at least it will be easier to get to than Langbourne and you will be in a fantastic school where your child already has a friend. Then you have back up while waiting on the other lists....would think the southwark positions are pretty unlikely but you should be much higher up on Horniman....

I always found email much more effective....phoning you go via a call centre I think. Kes, in advance of Renata's reply, you should be told if you are offered a place at your second choice, shouldn't have to keep checking but reassuring to check every now and again - you can reject it and stick with where you are (and feel good that you've made someone else's day!)....

I would think 6th on Goodrich list gives you a very good chance....

Could it be kelvin grove school?

Bizzylizzy you will automatically be on the waiting lists for all the schools you put down....accepting or declining a place will have no effect on whether you are on waiting lists or where you are on the waiting list.....before declining though make sure that if no other school is offered that you really wouldn't prefer it over no school, even just temporarily to tide you over. Accepting the place you have been offered will not take you off the waiting lists of the others or affect where you are on those lists and at least gives you a back-up.... I can't remember for sure but I think there is a delay time after which you can contact admissions and they will tell you where you are on the list and there is loads of movement.....Lewisham had a much better system I think by including in the letters your place on the waiting list and the furthest distance offered...that way you have all the info straight away. It may also be worth looking to see if there are any more local schools that were initially not on your list which now seem more attractive than your offer and see if you can go on their waiting list too...don't know how that works or if it's allowed?... Good luck...

Fantastic.....well done anonymous x

Anyone have any insider knowledge.....

It's a lot harder work but I think if you are considering it then you probably haven't hung up your broody boots yet! After two for me it just felt wrong to move on and get rid of everything....now with three I love passing my things on and am ready for the next phase!...would have regretted not following that instinct....Now my youngest is three, things are much easier - true financially it's restricting but that's a choice you make....

James Barber said in an earlier post that if you pm him specific problems you have had he will collate them and pass them onto the appropriate people...

Recommend Daniel's Tae Kon Do see www.walterstaekwondo.com it's drop in on a Weds and Sat with a good mixture of girls and boys lots of kicks and sparring...pm me if you have any questions

Just like to say that Yasmin is a real enthusiast and great with the kids....if only I had the patience! My 8yr old boy will now pop off to knit to relax or calm down...and is already creating things to keep his motivation going.

Dulwich Hamlet football club run one too....