Hollybush

I agree with Soylent Green on this. The zone has definitely created more parking space and got rid of all day parking. The consultation seems to be saying that they need to extend hours in order to put in more greening/seating/cycle racks etc but I don't really understand this part. Surely they could just reallocate more space for those things without changing parking hours? I've replied along those lines

Yes I think you've understood right but Kingsdale is pretty much in national average for progress as so close to zero, probably not statistically significant that it's negative. If you drill down you can get confidence intervals. Charter has above average progress and Harris boys well above average. You can also get the attainment scores for each school which is an absolute measure of grades achieved- both Kingsdale and charter come out better on those measures.

Does anyone know if there's any later post collection anywhere locally? Seem to have missed the 12 o clock collections and even highshore rd and LL post office are 12 too, we thought they'd be later!

Found: iPhone today in Lettsom Gardens. Had a black and white cat picture on the home screen and cartoon on back. We have charged but can't unlock to access numbers. Call the phone or let me know if it's yours!

Dontpanic I really disagree with your point about the nodal point. Moving it a few hundred yards east would clearly have an impact on the other side of the school, where children would not get places even tho they lived closer than children who have been offered places based on distance from the off site node. I think this would be very hard for the school to justify, it would look really unfair, and potentially exclude students from areas where survey responses might be lower but there are no doubt children who would also like to walk to a local school.

I saw this advertised on edtots for 0-5 years. Wondered if anyone had any experience of this group or where to find it this morning! Thanks

Another vote for birth pool in box. I've had two straightforward home water births (after a first attempt where I loved the pool but had to transfer for actual birth. Would really recommend and it gives your partner something practical to be doing. BOught and sold all on ebay, using new liners. I'm not sure about hiring - I think the cost of hiring with Brierley midwvies at least is quite high compared to getting hold of a second hand one. And they don't guarantee it will be available.

Yes I would really recommend the school experience - lovely for structure and feeling part of something. I agree a nannyshare seems the perfect solution! Hope it works out x

This is really hard. We use a school nursery and I don't think there are many working parents using it apart from when it coincides with maternity leave for the next child, or where the family is already using a nanny (too expensive for most). Childminders are probably the best option, perhaps if you can do the drop off yourself and get a cm to pick up. But I found they would charge a full day rate of ?60 or so, which effectively means that the 15hours free is not benefitting you. On the other hand if you stay in nursery your fees will reduce to take account of the 15 hrs. Dog Kennel Hill school nursery gives 2.5 full school days instead of 5 half days which might work better for some. Good luck finding something that works. I wouldn't worry about him being bored in the afternoons - I think they need some chill out time after the excitement and structure of 'school'.

I find the only way is to go there at 7.45 and wait outside - I rarely get an appointment by calling at 8. In a way I can see what they're trying to do with the system, but it's very tricky to work it if you haven't realised the child is sick by 7.30 or so, or if you can't get there. The other option is the Lister walk in centre, usually an hour or so wait there though. Hope you get sorted soon

I can help, my son is the same (now six and with 2 younger siblings, so I've done many dairy free cakes!!). I usually do a chocolate fudge cake which is pretty foolproof and can be whittled into trains/hedgehogs whatever fairly easily. Let me know if you would like the recipe. But most recently I have discovered a vegan sponge which actually works. It's on this blog - - - the page is about a complicated mousse cake but I just used the sponge recipe. The vegan buttercream is nice too - I use pure sunflower marg as the base (sainsbury's). Hold on I just realised you are not needing egg free - that makes things much easier! Any recipe will do fine, just substitute any butter with Pure sunflower spread, and any milk with oat milk, formula or whatever you usually have. x

Would anyone be interested in getting together to share a nanny? It seems like a fantastic childcare solution - (affordable and sociable!) - it's our favourite option if only we could find a family to team up with. I've tried the classifieds section which has been good for finding possible nannies and childminders but not so far successful in finding a share family. I'm on the Nanny Share website too but no luck, it doesn't seem to have that much traffic. So posting here in the hope of reaching a match. Here's our details - please do message me if you are interested in talking further... We have 2 children: a baby boy (will be 12 months in December) and 3 year old boy at Goose Green pre-school in mornings. Looking for 3 days 8.15-5ish from Dec or Jan and happy to host in our house (near Goose Green school and ED station) or share. Any advice from experienced sharers would also be more than welcome! Thanks

My August born son started reception in September at just 4 and thrived. I was worried about settling as he was so young and also shy, but in fact he loved it. I think that it is probably easier for them to settle if they are doing full days as that is what everyone else is doing. They seemed to mostly play all day, inside and out, with free play, home corner and other activities, so much like nursery with a bit of phonics in the morning and maybe a maths activity thrown in somewhere. I would agree that deferring to Jan might be better than going part time, but would recommend full time based on our experience. With a June birthday, maybe 3/4 of the class will be older, and 1/4 younger.... not a bad place to be! Well worth asking to discuss with the school as well as they might give an idea of practicalities, or perhaps reassure you.

Oh hope it worked quickly. Any idea what caused it? My 5yo is highly allergic to dairy and egg amongst other things, have had many scary hives moments...

Sainsburys I would have thought?

GOose Green School Carnival, on the green 12-4 on Saturday. Also Bellenden, Dog Kennel and Heber summer fairs at least I think!

My son's had cat hair included in allergy screens at Kings (skin prick tests most recently although also had blood tests originally). The test doesn't say for sure that they are allergic but the probability of a reaction. Do you have allergy/asthma/eczema/ hayfever in family - as this would make it more likely that child would have allergies and might be relevant to point out to GP if trying to get a referral....

Tiny ballers have put posters up advertising local sessions but I emailed them and they said they actually don't have sessions at the moment but are finding out about demand and will contact me when they set up... email is [email protected] if you want to register interest.

You're welcome - it just is an emotional time, and I think part of it is just the upheaval of the children starting school - any uncertainty on top of that makes everything harder. I was really worried about my lo settling in to reception anyway as he was so young - we were in the same situation as you and I was upset not to be able to start telling him where he was going and what colour uniform etc to prepare him over the summer. We stayed on waiting list for our 1st (were further down than you though) but in the end we stuck with 2nd choice which in our case turns out to have been brill - he loves it!

I don't think I can help you as my son has allergy rather than intolerance and for allergy I'm sure you could push for a referral, as it is good to see the dietician at kings about milk replacement in the diet, and they then stay in the Paediatric clinic system to be monitored long term (skin tests, food challenges etc). I just don't know enough about CMPI to know if you should expect similar or not. He was supposed to have Nutramigen but never really took it and we used WYSOY instead (bought it ourselves) (with blessing of consultants), which is OK after 6 months I think. Even that he hardly drank, he was breastfed morning and night until about 14/15m and then carried on just not having milk in his life really! We used to give readybrek + wysoy to ensure calcium levels were OK, also alpro yoghurts which have calcium added. Sorry I can't be of more help x

You have a good chance of getting Ivydale as you are so high up the list, if not before the start of term then during first term (although you might not want to move once settled at Hollydale. YOu are not 'guilty' of sitting on a place as that is the nature of the system - you would of course give it up straight away if you got a place higher up your list, as would everyone else. Can't judge how likely people are to 'sit on' places but I imagine most would let the council know once they were sure of their intentions. I hope that there there are the 4 rejections that you need to get in! Of if not, you come to love Hollydale - it all looks different once term starts and you get to know faces, I promise.

Hi, Just to say I sent my 18 mo old away with his dad for 5 days to visit family and I really thought that would be the end of that (secretly hoping actually...) When I saw him again he was so happy to see me, but about 30 mins later seemed to realise something was missing and went straight back on the boob. He carried on until about 21 months. I guess he wouldn't have got much milk the first time, maybe just comfort, but that would have brought it back up I guess. Hope it goes OK for you - really feel for you having to leave the little one, it's much worse on you than them though x

Copleston Centre on Copleston Road (SE15 but in between your specified areas!) have a really nice relaxed class 7.15 on Thurs pm, led by Karen Bonnici (Dulwich Yoga Space which is probably google-able) and also someone else leads an Ashtanga class on Sat am, the phone number for the Sat class is up on the board outside the church.