nunheadmum

Apologies if I'm wrong. There was always talk of how the last head had turned the school around and really improved things - I guess I just made an assumption or perhaps heard the comment from someone and took it for fact. To be honest, I've been more focused on what the school is doing now than reviewing old reports so, again, apologies if I got that wrong. The basic concept remains though that the school appears to be working hard to address any significant weaknesses that remain. And my current experiences of the school are largely very positive.

Another endorsement for Ivydale here. I think it's true that the school still has some issues to address fully and these were picked up on by Ofsted. But I think you have to bear in mind that the school was in special measures not so long ago so there were lots of problems that needed to be put right. Lots of the problems have been addressed and others are being addressed now. And I don't think you can ignore the fact that the demographic of the local area has changed over time - although hopefully it won't change so much as to lose what makes Nunhead such a good area. It's been a long time since I was last in a school playground so maybe I'm not comparing like with like, but I'm amazed by how friendly it is in the playground before and after school and just how many of the other mums and dads I know, from the children's centre, classmates or just around the area. I think that really is the school's strength, the real community feel. That and some really dedicated teachers. And another plug for the Street Party after the Royal Wedding on the 29th April. We really hope that it'll be a community event, not just those connected to the school.

Mmmmm...I'm about to have another splurge in preparation for Easter...haven't done one for a while. One piece of advice though - if you are buying it for a rainy day, make sure you hide the stuff well otherwise, once the kids see it, there's no convincing them that it's a lovely day and why not go off in the garden.....! That said, a lot of the stuff comes in big enough amounts that it does last a while.

I have a similar sore big toe but it pre-dates the kids. I think it may be related to having flat feet. Whenever I ask a GP or podiatrist/chiropodist all I get is 'well, it doesn't seem athritic' - not sure if that makes me feel better or not! It does improve if I use the inserts for flat feet but they don't really work with 'nice' shoes. Like you I never was that big on high heels but it would be nice to be able to wear something other than flats if going out dressed up - especially as I'm under 5 foot! Haven't found a solution yet.

We found out with our second, not the first. Like you, I just wanted to be able to think through the implications for the longer term - did I need new clothes, longer term was sharing a room not an option etc, etc. As first was a girl, wanted to know for hubby so he didn't get too hung up on a boy, just in case. In the end, just as well, as he's now got a housefull of women!! It didn't affect how I felt on the day - the second was just as nice, even though I knew in advance. Is nicer too I think for no1 if they're in the clear 'urgh, boy/girl' split phase - no nasty surprises.

If you park at the church/community centre, the park is off on either side. I think the bit behind the church is smaller and the bit with the playground is across the road from the community centre. One O'clock club open from 9 or 9.30 and does tea/coffee and toast. There was a van that used to do nice coffee and lunch-ey stuff (nearer lunchtime/afternoon and I suspect, only when the weather improves). And there's a cafe by the community centre too - but never actually been there. Loads of parking. Not a massive playground but the slide is a bit different for a change and the one o'clock always has plenty of cars/bikes/scooters etc out. Now I'm talking about it, might just head up there tomorrow. Haven't been for ages!

Following similar problems with my youngest on last illness, I got a homeopathic remedy in Health matters when she had chicken pox last week. They come in little tiny tablets which they can crunch and she was happy with them. They seemed to help. Not cheap - about 5 quid but you get quite a lot. Not sure how homeopathy works, but it did seem to help.

I have to agree with Cuppa tea on this - try and decide at the start if you're going to go with them or say no, and then make sure you stick with it. As soon as they realise they have the power to change your decision, they'll try it on every time. If they get the message early on that if you say no, you mean no, they soon learn it's not worth the fight. It is hard as sometimes you get halfway through a tantrum and realise that really what they wanted wasn't that impossible after all and going back on your decision seems like the easier option. But it's worth sticking with it. And if I am going with their request, as my youngest's language gets better, I also tell her that if she stops crying and asks nicely, then we'll do what she wants. I'm hoping she learns to avoid the tears in the first place and go straight to asking nicely - but we'll see if that works.

Excellent - is there an age range for it? I guess if it's only an hour it may be a fairly mixed group? My daughter is only just turning 5 so I'm not really looking for anything too serious, just something to give her some confidence in doing physical things. Sorry - should have asked all the questions first time.

I'm sure folk have posted on here before about a club at Harris Girls School - does anyone know if there is one here still (I know some of the community sport activities have suffered at the school lately) and what the details are. Thanks.

What state is the softplay at Peckham in?? Recent posts made it sound a bit rough (or rougher than usual). I'm not looking for pristine but not filthy either.

My youngest at between 2.25 and 2.5yrs was regularly to be heard, whenever she tried doing something and it didn't work, saying 'oh, F**k it!'. (Full marks I have to say for appropriate usage!) Thankfully that phrasing is the one used by daddy, so I was able to blame it all on him!!

I think you can get the Gro-clock in lots of places - possibly even Jo-Jo. Having gone through a few of these clocks, my thoughts on them are: Kidssleep Bunny Clock (think that's the name, the one with the picture of bunny asleep and bunny awake). We used this with both our kids and I think it may be the best for young kids - we used it from age 2 with brilliant results. I think the young kids get the concept of bunny awake / asleep easy with the picture. The build and features are a bit basic but I was told by the distributor that a new version was in the pipeline and imminent, but haven't heard an update since. Gro-clock - this one has more features than the kidsleep one and is better built. (Features like different light brighness levels, 2 time settings, quiet buttons, keeps the time/alarm settings if the power gets switched off for a short time) I don't think it is quite as easy for younger kids to get the hang of (maybe that's just my youngest) but not really that hard. As the kids get older, I think the stars counting down towards getting up time is a nice feature - gives them a sense of time if they do wake in the night. Bunny (or other animal) clock with moving ears - this is pretty obvious for kids to get the hang of and has the benefit of being a proper clock so has a longer life span. But no night-light option. And both my kids are scared of it. (But they are officially scared of just about everything!) And the waking action is slightly noisy so it tends to wake them, if they do occasionally sleep through getting up time. (Depends on the circumstances, whether this would be a good thing or not.) Hope that's of some help!

Telegraph Hill - One O'Clock and on a hill with BIG slide. Might help tire him out. Not a big park but good for a change maybe. On 484 bus route if no car.

Am I the only one thinking, what's a flash mob? Think I get the jist from the post but wary that I may have totally misunderstood!

My eldest had chicken pox several weeks ago and got it bad on her scalp. Most of the spots have since disappeared but the ones on her scalp seem reluctant to move. I think they're just caught up in the hair as much as the actual skin but my daughter won't let me brush the hair too close to them. Can you use olive oil to help loosen them up - a bit like you do with cradle cap? Or is there anything else that works? I know my daughter will protest at olive oil (or anything else) so don't want to use it unless I can promise a result.

My youngest was referred to an eye specialist by the Health visitor when she was under a year - he ran a clinic in the Townley Road centre. It was run by Kings so I'd expect your GP can refer you to the relevant department at Kings. Sorry, I can't remember the name of the doctor we saw but he was really good with such a little child and explained things well to me.

As well as iron, it's worth getting a blood test to check for Thyroid levels if you are feeling tired constantly. It's surprising how many folk are affected by low levels, which can have lots of other side effects too which we often dismiss with logical explanations. Essentially, if you think it's more than just a lack of sleep inherent in being a parent of young kids, it's worth chatting with your GP just to ensure anything medical is ruled out. If all is okay, it may be worth having a chat to the folk in Health Matters or similar, if you can afford more targeted supplements. I started taking high dose Vitamin B1 to ward off insect bites and it did seem to improve my energy levels. I'm sure other things work too. But not always the cheapest option!

Renata, I see that you (and Harris) are quoting a 90% figure for 5 GCSE's but the league tables only state 49% - can you clarify on what basis the 90% is calculated? The value added figure shows that the school is doing a good job and GCSE results aren't the be all and end all. But it would be good to be clear on what the stats are really telling us. Does the 90% relate to a percentage of those who sat the exams rather than the whole year group? Thanks!

Fuschia - don't think you'll be kicking and screaming like a toddler does and as you're expressing yourself, your husband can probably time when to give the big hug! That may not be so easy with a toddler. It probably depends on the situation and what works for your little one. If it's a manipulative tantrum then yes, leave them alone and don't give any attention. If it's emotional, then try a cuddle but if it's not working, try leaving them somewhere close (so they don't feel abandoned) but where they have space to safely get it out their system, if that's what they need and then return to give cuddles and explanations as they start to calm. Starting to think though that I treat all tantrums the same way, as manipulative...maybe time to cut the slack on the LO a bit!!

This is still some way off for us as eldest has just started primary but with the current talk this week of increasing fair banding and lotteries, I wonder how this works where schools have particular focus. I'm thinking in particular of Harris Girls. I know lots of parents at Ivydale are hoping that the improvements at the school will continue and see all the kids getting a good education. Selfishly, a good school on our doorstep would be really practical for our kids. But if the school's focus is Sport, Health Sciences and Enterprise, what happens if you have a child who wants to pursue a more academic bent? Will a school with this focus ever be able to cater for the academic subjects as well as a school with a more e.g. science or language focus? If the allocations become ever more random and hence you stand a fair chance of being allocated simply your local school, what happens if that school doesn't meet your child's needs. (It could equally work the other way - an academic-focused school being allocated to a child who would be more suited to a school with more vocational aspects.) I don't mean to talk down any schools or say that academic is better than vocational - every child should be encouraged to achieve a good basic education and what will give them the best future in life and make them happy and different schools providing good basic education and then specialising in different aspects seems to make some sense. But if schools specialise and kids don't really then have choice as to which they go to, it seems to undermine the concept and risk making a mockery of the whole thing. Is there an angle to this that I'm just not getting, that explains how it should work? Maybe once all schools are providing a good basic education, if the more vocational side of education is valued, the academic schools will become less sought after...but is that realistic?

Just discovered a great professional (but approachable) cookware shop by Clapham HIgh Street station (train from Denmark Hill) - they were advertising in the window that they had them in stock. Have to say though, it's a dangerous shop to go into - so much stuff that I never knew I needed, until now! Clearly all I've been missing to turn my cooking into masterchef level!!

The drops are meant I believe for bacterial conjuntivitis. If he's got a bad cold, it could just be coming out through his eyes i.e. it's viral or just general cold gunk. Our GP advised just bathing in cooled boiled water (or other similar soothing solution, I guess) till it was over, probably when the cold passes. Having tried getting drops in a baby's eyes, I always try this first if the LO has a cold at the same time as it's MUCH less hassle.

Buggie - got to factor in that you don't get CP till 10-21 days incubation after exposure, so if 2.5 yr old was exposed e.g. at nursery, playgroup etc, baby may develop it after older sibling. My eldest had it this week - just waiting for youngest to come down with it ....almost at ten days and watching!

Ko - do you mean Ivydale or Leapers at Rye Oak? Other than singing, I don't know of other sessions that are controlled in any way other than at worst, first come first served. But I don't use much more than playground so may be missing something.