nunheadmum

Another vote for Colourbox. Had two kids there and been so happy. It's small but as a result the kids form lovely bonds. I see it now the kids are at school - they still look after each other.

Fruit cake for me. Or a good Black-Forest if I'm being really indulgent. Kids seem to love the frosting (any kind) more than the cake - although can usually be counted on to eat chocolate cake.

I don't think keeping your son at nursery would be an option. Although I don't think you MUST have your child in reception, I'm not sure that any nurseries cater for kids of reception age. Home schooling could work. But if you don't get a place for reception, there isn't really any better chance of getting one for Year 1. Some spaces may come up but if you don't tick lots of the criteria - siblings, special needs, very close to school - you may find that others come along and hop over you on the waiting list. By all means stay on the list of the school you want but don't rely on getting a place. The school situation really is frustrating around here. I wish there was a better answer.

Think Hazelnunhead is right - you don't need the paperwork at least until you accept the place and possibly until you go along to the official meeting in the summer term when they tell you what class etc your kid will be in. But you can always call the school and ask. Ivydale is taking a bulge this year (2013/14) but with virtually 2 classes full of siblings anticipated, there's no telling if it the third class will make any real difference to the catchment area. (i.e. compared to a 'normal' year - obviously were there no bulge, the catchment for non siblings would be non-existent). I've got 2 kids at Ivydale and they love it. The usual minor grumbles but the school has a lovely feel and has just received it's first 'Good' ofsted report for a while. The head seems to be moving things in the right direction. And the parents are a good bunch generally - nice feel in the playground, I find.

Not sure what you class as obvious, but would any other parents be able to help - even one per child? Picking up from 2 schools seems to be the difficult thing so unless you can find a childminder who could do this (presuming the nursery/school allows early/late pick-ups or it's close enough for you to do both on time) it may be the best option. In terms of childminders (or nannies), are you aware of any already picking up from the respective classes? Do you have any ways to network with the other parents/folk who pick up? Maybe if you can work out who your kids friends are and ask their parents etc? I know that my kids are much easier when they have company so some parents may welcome it.

Ah, ?6.99 a month for new customers sounds better than the ?9.99 'special offer' they're offering me after being with them for 2 years. I'll call them next week and see if I can haggle them down - I did last year. I just hate the idea that you're paying more for having shopped loyally with them for 12+months. The mid-week one is obviously better value but not so ideal for us as I work mid week and don't really want the kids woken up in the evenings by the often overly-cheery delivery drivers. Thanks for the info!

It was here last night but the thread seems to have gone.

Anyone know of offers going on the Ocado Delivery Pass? I've got to renew mine but I know that you can often haggle down the price if you know what other offers are around. I've tried looking online but other than reading lots of complaints about cost, not seeing any actual offers. (Computer probably knows I'm registered so suspect offers are filtered out?) What are the kind of offers you get if you don't have delivery pass? Just trying to work out whether it's worth trading the practicality of my regular delivery for a more ad-hoc approach. Don't like to feel I'm not being the canny shopper - but then is it worth the extra hassle?

Can recommend Beg Meil in Brittany - went there 2 years ago and had a good time. We booked with the french site direct and got an excellent unit. Thought the area was really good too with plenty around the site itself.

Thanks Savage, that looks perfect! Thanks Kittysailing too. I had looked at that park and thought it looked good. Great to get such a hands on recommendation. Fingers crossed for availability somewhere!

You beat me to it - I was just about to post a very similar question!! Suspect that's not a good sign....how many others around the country are doing the same??? If you're thinking of the sites like Eurocamp / Keycamp use - with mobile homes rather than tents - I'd recommend finding them on the Eurocamp/Keycamp site them googling the name to find the original site and book direct. Usually it's cheaper and often you get better, bigger pitches. We'd a lovely holiday last year in a gite in Brittany and kind of hoping to find something similar (4/5 units around a pool) but a bit further south to improve the chance of getting decent weather.

Never really done the big destinations (Spain / Portugal / Med etc) in the height of summer but now I've got school kids, we're more restricted. (Unless we break the rules which I know is an option, but...). Are there any destinations where you're fairly guaranteed of decent weather but aren't scorching most of the time? I have a vague concept of a nice island or coastal place where breezes keep the worst of the heat away - but realise it may be totally unrealistic?? We've tried Brittany but the weather was too dodgy. May move further south in France but wondering if there are any options that we just haven't heard of.

Just consider how long you want it to last. Some of the quirkier bits of kids furniture look great but kids can grow out of it (in size or theme) long before it's had full use. We went for plain big things (wardrobe, drawers etc) and then added fun.smaller bits.

Latest bug sounds like what my 2 (4 & 6) had before Christmas. Sorry to say, it took mine about a week each to get over it. Nothing that wrong just VERY lethargic with high temps coming and going and the odd sick bout. If you have the time, just get the duvets out and lots of cbeebies / films etc. I would almost have enjoyed the excuse to slow down if it hadn't been the week before Christmas!!! But you have my sympathies, what with all that's gone before it for you too.

Saffron - I love the idea of Switzerland as I worked there for 4 years but not sure it'd work so well with the kids. Not sure my two have developed the love of the mountains just yet. I'm looking for something probably with more immediate appeal for them as I've come to the conclusion that the most relaxing holiday for us would be if they have things to keep them occupied with minimal exertion for us. I think Switzerland will probably work better for a shorter break or when they're older. Canada appeals to me as myself but I think there may be too many unknowns on our part to be able to really relax when the kids are factored in. Another one I think for a few years time. Much as the old me hates myself for it, I suspect I'm looking for something like a holiday park - the Key-Camp / gite set up worked in Brittany except for the weather. Generally if the kids are occupied with other kids around (they'll be 5 & 7), we can enjoy the time we do things with them and enjoy a bit of down time too. Hopefully as they get older, they can see there's more to a good holiday than a swimming pool, some friends and ice cream and we can broaden their horizons!

Can anyone suggest options for not so hot destinations for summer hols. We've tried Brittany - doing gites and key-camp style - which has worked well with the kids. But the weather has let us down at times. We're not great sun worshipers (I'm happy up to around 25degrees but melt and get grumpy if it goes too much over that) but would like to be relatively secure that we can go out mid summer (school holiday bound) without needing warm jumpers and possibly even eat/sit out in the evenings. I guess our ideal is some beach access - but natural more than heaving with sunloungers. Some cultural bits. Child friendly swimming. Other kids around although kids clubs not essential. (Traditionally I hated 'resorts' and still do deep down but have to admit to their benefits with the kids around!) So far I've thought of further south in France or maybe Austria/Southern Germany (tho no beach and not necessarily as many kiddie-oriented resorts). But just wondering if any of the islands etc maybe offer sun without being quite so roasting hot. Any suggestions welcomed!

Running to/from would be good - if you have the facilities at the other end. I don't so running/cycling would involve taking on a gym membership to get showering facilities. I've found myself struggling with the fact that going for runs seems to come out of any me-time. So hubby gets a long lie at the weekend - I get to get up at my normal time and go for a run.....it doesn't seem fair! But that's maybe just my mummy guilt complex and I'd get more time if I pushed it. Definitely got to get back on it this year. Didn't quite lose as much as I'd hoped for last year - though didn't do too badly. But fallen back into lots of bad habits and not been running so much lately so need to lose a bit more I think before I can really relax. Not helped by fact that hubby is stick thin and can eat what he likes! Not fair!!

We went to the Bromley one (Pavilion) a while back and I'm sure the ratio (like Beckenham) is 2 to 1. They have a little slide that goes into ankle deep water - the only one my two (4 & 6!!) would go on!! However I didn't see any medium slides (it seemed to go from tiny one to big spiral ones up in the air) - maybe I missed them. I thought the complex was great as it also has softplay / bowling etc on site as well as a decent cafe. It has the potential to be an expensive day out if you do more than one activity but for an occasional blow out, it's good. And a bit of shopping for adults afterwards if the kids can last.

Another vote for Superkids. Lovely teachers and with a max of 6 kids in the class, I've found that they get plenty of attention and time to do a fair amount of 'swimming'.

Thanks for posting this. Hubby took my eldest round (youngest not well) and said it was a lovely service but not particularly well attended. May be worth publicising more next year as we've often wondered what was on but only went this year due to this post. I suspect more locals would go if they knew about it.

My two still don't really do excitement - they're 4 and 6 - more slight confusion and sulkiness from older one! Being ill for the past week hasn't helped. But think I need to bring out their inner feelings more.

We got a Innotab last year and although there are cartridges that you can buy, there is also apps online. We've bought a few but not so many. But then it hasn't been used as much as we thought it would. If you are the kind of folk who are getting lots of apps / games etc for other devices (phones, ipads etc) then its possible that the approach will rub off on your daughter and she'll want the same for her computer. It may depend on age too. My elder daughter would probably go through more whereas the younger one is happier with less.

I think the Ivydale situation is a bit of a strange one-off in that there seems to be an unusually high number of siblings coming through in one year - the large majority from the years above this current expanded intake (i.e. siblings of kids in Year 1 and above when there was only 2 reception classes). In a way, if a lot of the siblings have hit in this year, it may mean that following years have lower sibling numbers - although two years of additional classes will have an effect. It will mean that it's hard to define exactly what the natural catchment area is for Ivydale but as the area becomes more popular and the school is performing better in terms of SATS and OFSTED, it's likely that it will get smaller than it has been in other years, if there isn't an additional class. I don't think another year of 3 reception classes was anyone's preferred option but the option of turning away siblings and kids who live yards from the school wasn't realistic either. Let's hope the sibling issue is unusually high this year and it comes back to something more normal in future years as the school doesn't have the capacity to expand permanently. The issue of primary capacity really does need to be addressed at a higher level.

Just been received from the school........ Dear all I just wanted to confirm that there will be 3 classes opening in reception in September 2013. We have closely with Southwark to secure this as we are in an extremely unusual position of having a large number of siblings in this age group. Current predictions indicate that without the additional class, some siblings would not be offered a place. I'd be grateful if you could spread the word amongst the local community as there are many families living very locally who will benefit from this news. With best wishes Helen Ingham Headteacher

How about the Jolly Phonics DVD - it's 6 or 8 episodes and covers all the basic phonic sounds. My daughter used to really like it even though it is very basic production levels. Maybe depends exactly what age your toddler is. Also my daughter loved the Tumble Tots dvd's too - lots of songs with actions. I suspect a lot of this developmental stuff will depend on how much you put into it with them. I didn't buy any of the above with the intention of hot-housing my kids - I just responded to what she was showing an interest in. But I did notice that she seemed to pick up most from them in the times when I watched with her and commented / joined in etc. And you can do that with most of the cbeebies stuff that's on - I suspect the more focused educational programmes they have on around the 9am slot are probably as good as anything.