nunheadmum

We've been to a camp used by both Eurocamp and Keycamp (and Canvas and others). It was Beg Meil l'Atlantique in Southern Brittany. We booked directly with the French operators Sunelia which got us a better (fresher) mobile home than the Eurocamp/KeyCAmp ones. But we were amid the French holidaymakers which wasn't as good perhaps for the kids (depends how outgoing yours are....ours are shy!). Our LO's were younger 4 & 2 and we went out of season. But considering something like that for them this year. We didn't use the kids clubs. The kiddie ones looked a bit tired out of season but others used them and liked them, for what they were. Expect the whole site feels more alive in high season. For us the important stuff is a nice pool complex (different ones have different mixes of types of pool on offer), walking distance to the beach, close to some nice touristy areas for those days when you want to escape the camp. The on-site shop selling fresh bread and croissants was also a hit for us! They're the kind of place we'd never have looked at before the kids but actually, they do the job quite well if you pick carefully.

Our daughter used to do the Freedom Academy classes at Goodrich in a Saturday. They were run by lovely folk and she really enjoyed them. They usually do summer courses too.

Thanks everyone! The places you've suggested certainly sound better than those my hubby found. The Vintage Vacations sound brilliant but I suspect probably more fun either on our own or once the kids are old enough to appreciate it. Some of the parks sound more like it. Thanks Molly - I will def catch you in the playground. (Sorry, just had silly picture in my head of the two of us playing 'catch' in the playground in and out the other mums!! And that's before I hit the Friday night vino!!) Smiler - I'm a bit worried that I'll be with you on this one. We had a very brief visit a few years ago, cut shorter than planned due to hubby's dad taking ill. But what I saw didn't really inspire me - steep hills in Ventnor, howling winds and crap coffee. I'm hoping that we just didn't do the place justice and we'll fall in love with the 'old fashioned' side of it. Or at least the kids will, after all, if they're enjoying it, chances are we will......as long as there's a decent pub!

You all came up trumps so quick on my Kings Cross query, thought I'd try with my summer one. We're considering the Isle of Wight for summer. Ideally looking for somewhere with pool, other kids around (ours are 6 + 4), reasonable accommodation (decent mobile homes fine). Some of the places I've found so far look a bit tired, which sort of confirms our impressions of the Isle of Wight from our last very brief visit......bought a Cappuccino and it was a Nescafe packet!!!! But have heard so much about how good it is, I think we may have missed something. Don't mind a bit old fashioned but not tired and dirty. Anyone know of any gems or which areas are best?

And it does Austrian coffee and cakes in the cafe!!!! To heck with the kids, I'm going myself.....oh, I need them to get in, don't I!

Wow, that was fast and Coram Fields looks brilliant! Think we're sorted - thanks so much!!

I'm meeting a friend coming down from the North at Kings Cross next week. Between us we have 4 kids between just toddling and age 6. Can anyone suggest a good option to keep them amused, preferably with some option for mums to catch up? I guess Regent's Park is the obvious one if the weather is like this week has been. But any other indoor kiddie gems within a bus-ride if the weather isn't up to much? Is the British Library any good once they need entertaining - I remember it being nice in the courtyard when they were crawling/toddling but not sure the bigger ones would last once the food was eaten. I don't usually venture up that way with the kids much.

Anyone else have a lovely day off yesterday only to find they've spent today doing all the things they would normally have got done on a Sunday?! Guess it was still worth it.....as long as hubby doesn't complain about poor dinner tonight!!

If you know what school you're going to send them to (or hope to...it is ED!), maybe try and find out how they prefer to do things. I know that my daughter had learned her letters and basic reading at nursery (she loved doing it and it was a game, not work) but when she went to reception, she spent the whole year repeating what she'd already done. I guess they wanted to be sure she'd covered it all their way. It led to some issues when we went into year 1 as she'd been able to coast in reception and got a shock as she had to do some real work! It sounds like what you're doing, getting her to 'read' the book from the pictures is a great start. The rhyming focus is good too. Also maybe ask her little questions about the stories you read to check she's understanding them or things like how the characters feel, what could have happened if different things happened in the story etc......essentially things that get her thinking and using her imagination. With that kind of start, she'll probably pick up the reading bit fast enough once she starts. If you do want to start with letters and reading, I found the Jolly Phonics DVD really useful - 6 or 8 episodes based around the letter groups as they're taught in phonics. It's quite basic but my daughter loved it and she always asked for it as she knew I'd be more likely to agree to it than other less constructive ones!!

The Herne also has the barn at the back that you can rent out - if the numbers would justify it. Would mean your kids can run around a bit more without worrying too much about annoying others and it doesn't feel too much like a function room. Although generally so many kids around on a nice day, noise is not that much of a problem!

I wasn't so impressed with their portrait work. We were specific in what we asked for (a basic good shot of 2 kids) but they only spent about a 1/3 of the session on that kind of shot, spent most of it on individual shots and didn't manage to get any that really ticked the boxes for what we wanted. Some of the individual shots were nice. That said, they were great with putting the kids at ease! Maybe we just got them at a rushed time.

Would second Night Nannies - the nanny we got would have given any of the TV ones a run for their money. Great boost to our parenting confidence!

Talking to my daughter's piano teacher last time, she was saying that she's come to the conclusion that Year 1 is about the best time to start them - so about 5-6. She's tried recently starting some younger kids and even though she's totally child friendly, she's found that generally the younger ones struggle more whereas the Year 1 kids are coping better. We're based over in Nunhead. If that's of use to you let me know and I'll send you the contact details.

It does sound strange. I'd expect a charge for any event and perhaps an additional cost per participant. But 50% of sponsorship sounds strange as it's an unknown amount. I haven't heard of the company but I'll certainly be looking for more info on them if they raise their head in our school /PTA!

Look beyond the headline 'good' or 'outstanding' and see what they're doing that gets them this classification. In the past it hasn't only been teaching that counted and admin aspects could count towards the grade, even though the teaching was good. I echo what DG2 says - spend time looking round the schools and talking to parents with kids there. You'll get a much better feel for what works for you and your kids than simply looking at OFSTED reports.

My eldest has been a bad traveller since about 6 months old. She can get sick between Nunhead and Old Kent Road!! Moving her to a forward facing seat definitely helped. We've also found the Travella travel tablets (homeopathic) really did help. I don't want to get into arguements about homeopathy. I don't know how but the tablets seem to work well for us.

Is it normal that kids bank accounts need to be opened in the parent's name? They said that at Barclays when I opened accounts for my daughters. As a result, I have access to it but not my husband - so I need to be present if they wanted to take money out of it. And they've just informed me that the account no longer tracks the base rate....so guess that lets them offer even worse rates. I'd happily open new accounts with another bank if they offered some incentive.

Lots of stuff on at the Southbank this week - including freebie 'Become a Superhero' at 11am on Thursday: "Become a superhero in this workshop with artist Laura X Carle and storyteller Rachel Rose Reid, who will help you decide what your superhero powers are. Choose and decorate your superhero cape and eye mask. Then pick a name and be photographed in your final superhero pose." Follow with a nice lunch in one of the many eateries.

For Greenwich, the train from Peckham to Dartford stops at Blackheath which is a short 5-10 min walk from Greenwich park.

Sorry, I'm a traditionalist - got to be made on the stove. And with salt. But partial to golden syrup, honey,dates, raisins etc on top. Kids love it like that. Apparently the real traditional way is to pour it into a scrubbed drawer, leave to cool and take a slice to work in the morning......I'm not THAT traditional!

I did see the guy from the Ivydale children's centre down there with a clipboard, one day last week. So hopefully they are still working on that option. The Children's centre at Ivydale is good (being new does help but the staff seem pretty good, well organised and do great activities). Let's hope they can work out a way to make the One O'Clock club feasible because I think the mix of their input and the space available, could make for a really brilliant resource. I have to echo the issue of timing though - with 2 kids who have (thankfully!) been good lunchtime sleepers, I rarely got to use the club. A mix of morning and afternoon sessions would open it up to more potential users I think.

My 2 were given a Crayola cd player by my sister and it's fairly sturdy and easy to use. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crayola-Portable-Boombox-Activity-Centre/dp/B000IZ6Y34 I think you have to accept that if you let young kids and CD's together, the CD's may not last too long. Depending on the child, they can be quite delicate. (My eldest always was great, youngest isn't as quite so good.) But ours haven't been too bad and it can be a great way to keep them occupied......some ballet music CD's and a tutu mean happy kids and I get time for a cuppa! (And some classic video clips!)

Would love to hear about more afternoon music events. I think it's brilliant to be able to take kids to live music. And is the best option for mummy and daddy seeing live music too (which we love) without paying a fortune in babysitters.

Phone Seldoc to check. Don't take a chance. Prossible nothing major but get the decision from someone who knows.

Just about every night, about 5-20 mins after we've put her down, my youngest comes out on the landing and shouts for me. When I go up, she starts trying to think up her 'excuse'. It's so funny to watch her little brain whirring as she looks around trying to think of something justifiable. This thread is making me think I should write them down as some are classic youngster thinking.....of course can't think of any now other than the current regular that her pillow is too hot. Just thankful she doesn't do it in the night - don't think it would seem so cute!