MsMaz

Hi Renata, I can't open the document - it's all code. Any other way of attaching it?

National Autistic society Southwark Branch: Email: [email protected] http://www.autism.org.uk/services/local/england/london.aspx

This on Kingsdale website: Increase in Published Admission Number (PAN) for Year 7 Entry in September 2016 The Governing Body of Kingsdale Foundation School is pleased to advise that in response to the continuing exceptional demand for places at one of England?s most popular and oversubscribed schools the following determination has been made: There will be an increase in the Published Admission Number (PAN) for Kingsdale Foundation School to 360 for entry into Year 7 in the Academic Year 2016/17 only. Representations and advice from Southwark LA, acting as an appropriate and independent well qualified admission?s authority, were formally considered prior to a final decision being made.

Mama79, when I said school nurseries, I definitely did not mean private schools. I mean the nurseries in state schools - you can get a place the term after your child is 3, but also you could ask to join now because of your daughter's diagnosis. As the above posters suggested Bessemer Grange or Heber, but there are many others good with SEN, eg Dog Kennel Hill and also Rye Oak School has an autism unit. I'm not sure what your closest school is but try calling round to all the school nurseries in your area and see which one seems most welcoming and experienced with SEN. Many do half-days but would be happy to do half-days for your child anyway. They will have connections with Southwark's SEN department and, if your child has significant enough SEN, the school can apply for extra resources to help your child and in the future, possibley an EHC Plan assessment (what was a Statement of Education). (also, if you find a private nursery, children with SEN or from disadvantaged background have a right to free place at nursery from age 2 btw) I used to get driven mad when we ever got any new speech therapy block, the therapist would always get the bubbles out. Bubbles are great but not every time! There are lots of strategies to do at home, and I think what we did was see a private speech therapist every 2-3 weeks, then do more at home ourselves. We couldn't really afford it but we just had to. There are some good books out there, too, on how to communicate and encourage play with children with SEN, autism, etc, and on internet. If you want any further info, please feel free to pm me.

It's always been difficult to get much speech therapy on NHS. My son is in secondary, not autism but a severe speech disorder, and we ended up having to get private weekly speech therapy for 2 years before school as he was only given one block on NHS. Then we chose a mainstream primary school that employed its own speech therapist (there are a few around). Puddleduck Nursery was experienced with SEN (Nunhead) back then, no idea now. Also, not sure how old she is but some school nurseries are often better at getting support for children who need it, and understanding about early intervention. Also try the Early Help service at Southwark Council, who are an early intervention and signposting service for newly diagnosed children: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200071/information_for_parents/2154/early_help_service and contact your local Southwark NAS branch - they may be able to help, too. Good luck

I ended up giving a present to the Kings College Hospital Children's Appeal, which gives presents to children having to stay in hospital over Christmas - just in case anyone else is interested.

Hello Does anyone know of any local children's charities that would like (new) xmas gifts for children? I'd like to donate a christmas present to one. Thanks

Actually we are way out of any catchment so it wouldn't benefit my child but I understand it would seem like too much of a manipulation and I do accept a lot of your points - as it is extremely complicated. And I also would much prefer to see a lottery and banding system with all schools, including this one. I am not pro-distance at all. The system is already bonkers when every school in Southwark has different admissions criteria, and could well be using it skew/manipulate etc, etc,

No, MsMaz, there isn't anything wrong with it at all, but to suggest it's not happening is naive at best. I think you got the wrong poster here - you meant Mick Mac's post. I didn't post on the lobbying at all. I was having a different conversation about catchment overlaps, not nodal points or lobbying. I am not involved in your conversation at all and would like to remain neutral on lobbying, so can you take back your post please.

It's Ms not Mrs...

Hi LondonMix, No we are not assuming that at all, in fact, my point was that the catchment would actually go further north, east and south if the overlap was avoided - so would benefit anyone on any of those borderline areas. This is particularly for those with younger kids, as the effect I described will be over a period of time, especially as the catchment shrinks. They won't go for it anyway so all theoretical.

My last post was referring to MickMac's post about ensuring there is no overlap of Charter 1 and 2's catchment - a few posts sneaked inbetween quickly! I think it's the fact that Charter have refused to tackle the problems that this large overlap causes, that have caused all the fighting about nodal points, because people are worried the catchment won't go very far, especially after a few years. RedJam, yes the overlap does matter for those with younger kids as eventually the areas around the hospital site will become Charter 2 catchment. Charter 1 may expand a bit because of this but in ALL directions, so borderline areas may still not get into either Charter 1 or 2 and you may end up with a better chance of getting into Charter 1 from Tulse Hill and Brixton...

I think your points 1 and 2 to stop overlapping catchment (which is massive) and thus maintaining the existing Charter 1 catchment, is an excellent proposal. And is much better than fighting about nodal points - as that way, everyone who is on the borders or beyond of potential catchments and fighting on this forum would actually be much more likely to get in (wherever the nodal point) as it would stretch the catchment further north, east and south. Charter is now consulting on becoming a Multi Academy Trust and wants to align governances and best practices. So this kind of admissions arrangement surely should be possible? And at the same time, they could align their admissions so that Charter 1 is crow-flies, too, so that also stretches further to south camberwell and DKH estates.

Thanks bornagain, I think you're totally right and we (including myself) have been caught up in that mentality and it's damaging and divisive but as as Londonmix says, mainly driven by fear. In recent years, many parents from camberwell and east dulwich have seen Charter or Kingsdale as the only choices to attempt, yet we've heard good stuff from all the schools you mentioned. I wish we'd all embrace these other schools more (including myself!). I'm worried about the effect of this new school on those schools though - will they be shunned even more?

Hoonaloona, just to be clear, the priority of siblings is over children with exceptional medical, social and/or psychological needs, not SEN (although a child with these circumstances may also have SEN) Those with SEN and have EHC Plans (formerly Statements) will have first priority. Then Looked After Children, then Siblings, then Exception Circumstances (as above). It is this that was questioned as most schools would put it above Siblings. However, there have been comments about the lack of content about SEN support in Charter's ethos/vision. Although they say they will be a fully inclusive school, it really is up to each school how they offer specialised SEN support to pupils that have some SEN Needs (but who don't have an EHC Plan). I would like to see more detail on this, too, and have put this on the survey. I'm not sure whether the amount of SEN pupils is above or below national average in the current Charter.

There was a large, very loudly vocal contingent from Lyndhurst school and some from DKH, who were extremely keen to keep nodal point north. Some of those from the other areas possibly not reached by the Jarvis Road nodal point raised the issue of a second nodal point. But there were about 150 parents in all and obviously pretty much divided equally between the two camps - that's why it was quite animated when discussing admissions! Nothing new was said really...and I think the latter suspect it's a done deal anyway.

And LondonMix, it could also be argued that those in South Camberwell and Bellenden are just as easily served by Harris Peckham - I think you even made this point yourself before. So they can't exactly argue that they can't get into any school either..... All in the spirit of unity too!

Thank you for posting this. Just this week I received a letter reporting on this supposed 'movement' and almost ordering parents to get onto the online survey to ask for nodal point not to be moved from north east. Back in September, I was also told directly by Charter's new school team (while they were asking parents to support the bid) that they would initially propose the southern eastern end of site, not north. I hope that Charter are transparent about looking at all the responses to the consultation and responding fairly to it.

It seems to me that, since the start of the campaigns for a new school, there have developed 2 camps - one for going more to south Camberwell, one for going more towards East Dulwich and south of there. Let's be clear, there is no 'right' or 'wrong' solution. As said before, many of those estates around DKH would get into the first Charter if they only agreed to change the policy to crow-flies, too. No one is claiming privilege or entitled-ness, we have just all been asked to support 2 campaigns for a new school over the past 2 years - and most of us gave our support as we were told in was in our best interest to support both - and many of us want a chance for our children to go the new school. But to be fair, if the support for this school runs from Denmark Hill station to Forest Hill Road and Nunhead, then why not just reach some sort of geographical compromise - to be fair to all? Eg. if the original Habs was looking at a nodal point a little way up Northcross Road, and the other half want Jarvis Road, and there are an equal amount asking for both in the consultation, why not find an equal point between the two? If the school covers 1.5km max (no way 2km) then that should cover much more of south East Dulwich/Nunhead, as well as all of Bellenden, DKH, Champion Hill, Camberwell Grove, Grove Lane (no affluence round there, of course!). Us on the outskirts will probably still miss out but at least a compromise for everyone might be the fair way forward. I think a nodal point off site doesn't matter, as we know site wasn't exactly located for the need, and it's alreayd in Charter catchment, as has been stated countless times.

If Charter 1 changed its policy to 'crow flies' rather than safe-walking, then Charter 1 would already include a lot more intake from the estates around South Camberwell and Dog Kennel Hill...

LondonMix - if the current Charter stretches to, say, only 1km (I know of kids quite far down on waiting list this year who are less than a kilometre) and the new Charter only stretches to approx 1km, then it would only go as far as Barry Road - (look on Freemaptools to see) the rest of East Dulwich south/east of Barry Road and around Peckham Rye Park would not get in, neither would anyone down Camberwell Grove, Lyndhurst Grove, way, etc either. Although 240 places is a lot, that's only 4 schools' worth - 5 schools are close - DKH, Goose Green, St Johns, Bessemer Grange and Heber are currently closest so if most opted for the new Charter, few kids in schools beyond those would get in. I'm not saying they should, but I think that's what the reality will be, and in 4-5 years there will be Belham and Harris Academy ED in the mix so I expect it will be a very small, densely-packed catchment by then. I think people are asking for a nodal point/s so that there is no overlap with current Charter catchment, which makes sense to me. It does seem ridiculous that families will be able to choose from both Charters and this could make the catchment not stretch as far to Bellenden, P Rye and East Dulwich as hoped, and instead stretch the first Charter catchment to take in even more from Herne Hill/Brixton area. Obviously everyone will be wanting the nodal point as near to them. I personally don't get why they have put it most 'northern' point as I would have the thought going as east as possible would be best.

Thanks for that feedback. What was the response given about admissions, seeing that their heat map and the Haberdashers one seems different? I will try and make one of next 2 meetings. It would be great if they tried not to overlap with existing Charter catchment.

So I'd stay near Fairlawn until you get in definitely!!

We've lived in one of those streets for 10 years - it's been a blackhole for primaries all that time. We have 2 kids 2 miles away at school. Kids get scattered to various schools - Horniman bulge, more going to local Catholic school Francesca Cabrini, and further afield, private, etc. The Ivydale expansion next year may help a tiny bit but unlikely.