nunheadmum

The music school at Goose Green on a Saturday is a good option to consider. (http://www.eastdulwichacademy.org/) Lots of options on instruments and will be surrounded by kids playing different instruments, which I think is always good to keep their horizons open.

The added benefit of digital is being able to turn it down or use headphones. As a child I hated everyone hearing me practice. Now learning as an adult with a digital piano (Yamaha Arius) and digital headphones and it means I can happily play in the evenings once the kids are in bed. My eldest daughter likes it too as she gets a little more independent and self-conscious. A good investment - good luck with the choice!

I'd suggest taking her to the library and trying some there to see which she likes. We spent loads on books that my daughter never touched. And read them to her if she doesn't seem too keen to read herself. My daughter was great at the school reading but just didn't take to reading books herself. It's only now aged 9 that she's starting to develop a true love of reading even though she whizzed through the school reading schemes. Do look at the age group the books are aimed at e.g Wimpy Kid talks in a particular style that to me sounds older than a 6 year old. (They're in the 9-12 age group in the bookshop.) And consider what kind of story your daughter likes. A lot of the younger books are all about really imaginative ideas like fairies and animals acting like humans etc which didn't tick the box for my daughter - it's the more real life stories that come with older books that have really got her going. All that said, I'm sure you'll get lots of good suggestions for books to try. I've seen a couple already for my younger one.

Just got a Swatch Flik Flak watch for my daughter but the strap is massively too long - like twice round my wrist, not just a bit big. But there are no instructions for how to adjust it and I can't find any online. Wondering if we've just got a duff watch? I can take it to a Swatch shop later in the week but just wondering if they are meant to be like that and someone else has worked out how to adjust them or there's some cool way to wear them that I'm too much of an old duffer to know about?? My daughter just wants to wear her new watch from Grandma.

I would second using Musico South - we've had some lovely teachers through them. Just off for my own lesson with one now!

We went to that area a couple of summers ago, near Matha. We went via Calais and drove. It was a LONG drive. Lots of audio books got us there. We stopped off overnight in Le Mans - which was functional but that's all. If doing it again I'd try to get the ferry to St Malo or Caen or somewhere to reduce the drive or maybe a longer break en route and stay somewhere nice. Or fly, if you don't need too much kit. We were at a gite so most of our time was there or going more towards the coast. It seemed more of an area to pootle around rather than having lots of family activities. But we're not always the best at unearthing the hidden gems so maybe others can tell you more.

Maybe worth finding out about the different teachers - if you get a choice. They can be quite different in their style and affect the experience.

Renata - I visited lots of schools this year with my daughter ahead of the year we make the choice and was pleasantly surprised by how decent they all seemed. We expect we'll have preferences but none were awful - which is reassuring. And I understand that the schools are all in control of their own policies in Southwark. However my question was as to whether the bulge classes are public knowledge at the point that parents are putting in the applications in October ( as has often been the case lately with the primaries such as Ivydale) or are they only created in response to the number of applications made? Even if Southwark aren't the body having the conversations with the schools, do you know when the decisions are made and made public? I have a list of at least 7 possible schools, 5 of which are all outside chances, 1 is slightly more possible but isn't my preferred option and one that is a near cert but my least favourite. That leaves me 5 spaces and at least 6 contenders above my dead cert. It would be rather annoying if the one I left off then bulged after the application was submitted and that would have meant my child could have got in. I know the system is imperfect and - at secondary level - it's not in Southwark's control. But as parents we still do want to be sure we do all that we can. And then we just need to cross our fingers that it was the right choice.

Great that so many folk seem to have got good options this year. The extra bulge classes really seem to have helped - along with Charter ED coming into the mix. Renata - is there any prospect next year that we'll know about bulge classes before we need to make our choices? I can see now that this often happens with primaries now that the issue of applicant numbers is apparent. I appreciate that it may not have a massive impact on the choice we make but knowing if a closer school is going to bulge may increase the chance of friends going to the same school, which could swing your preferences.

My two daughters went to Colourbox - although the youngest left 4 years ago. But we still see the same staff out and about. The girls loved it - my youngest still calls one of the staff Grandma, tells me my dumplings aren't as good as hers and we're regularly pestered to get the staff to come to our house to babysit. It's a small friendly, family atmosphere. And it gave them a great start for going onto school. We were very happy with it.

I just took my youngest and her friend. They were apparently told to tell their parents that it had been really boring and they hated it and keep it a secret what they did - because we wouldn't have enough imagination to appreciate what was so good about it. So it was actually quite hard to get an honest reaction as they totally took this to heart. But at the same time, there was a little murmer of 'it really was a bit boring' which I think was an honest comment. They didn't come out buzzing, as I would have expected from something they'd enjoyed. Impossible to tell though as the parents didn't see anything of what they did. There are TONS of things going on around the RFH this week so I'm sure there will be other things that are good. It was totally heaving with kids today. If you do book online and need to pick up tickets, allow lots of time as at points there were big queues.

If anyone is going to this at the Southbank this week, just be aware that they take the kids off without the parents. Just behind a curtain, so not far. But a few kids are reluctant to go and parents are stressed. Thought it may help to be aware. Kids sound like they're enjoying it - the ones who went. Parents may want to take coffee / a good book etc.

When I opened simple savings accounts for the kids with Barclays a couple of years back, I had to open them in my name (with the kids name noted) - which seemed to defeat the whole point. Would be great if anyone knows of any more child friendly options? If it is in their name, I think the interest (if there is any these days!) comes tax free - so just the same as the ISA, although the latter may have better rates of interest if you shop around.

If a school was rated as good at it's last inspection, I understand that they won't be inspected again for 3 years. And I hear that OFSTED are currently a bit behind on their schedules - hence it's going a bit over 3 years. I wouldn't get too concerned by the lack of up to date reports. The schools all know that it's getting tougher to get good / outstanding so they should all be trying to make sure they're inspection ready in case that call comes. So possibly a good thing to draw out that period!!

Liners for travel potty's can be useful too for being sick in, particularly for older kids who can direct it more. Also discovered Gin-Gins this year - ginger flavoured sweets in various strengths. Probably won't stop a serious barfer but good for when you start to get a bit queasy. We also used Travella homeopathic remedy for my daughter when she was younger. Still can't work out how they work but they did seem to help on all but the most windy country roads. (Always at the end of the journey, just when you think you've got away with it...!)

If you work in HR and it's an amicable settlement, do you need a lawyer to get involved? In my experience they only try to rack up the settlement amount - unless there is a real issue of unfairness somehow which the employer is trying to get around and the employee really has a potential claim, in which case they should get advice. But if it's an amicable settlement, it sounds like you're happy your not being duped and the legal advice is just fulfilling a step in the process. Could you not amicably agree to forego the advice and your employer gives you some of the money they'd otherwise end up paying the lawyers?

We got a Steens bed https://rooms4kids.co.uk/kids-furniture/high-sleepers It went together well and seems pretty sturdy and well made for the price. Because of the way it's modular, I think you can start with it lower and then add the middle section to put it higher as they get older. (We went straight for the higher level.)

Thanks so much for doing this. Just been talking about how hard it is to get out for a decent walk.

No. A note on the gate says it's closed until the 5th Jan.

Isn't it trendy ED to be so clearly re-cycling your kids toys, regardless of gender stereotypes? As well as being eminently sensible and helping to over-ride said stereotypes.

Yes, I got the impression that we don't have much choice but to complete it. I'll try HSBC and see what they say. The paperwork gives the impression that they won't advise but maybe that's just a formality. Fingers crossed.

Forgive a rather technical question but hoping some of the other school PTA's parents will be on this board. We've received a FATCA questionnaire form from HSBC for our piddling PTA account - I guess it's just a technical requirement in the current climate. But as it's all in US Tax-speak - and not in any way written with small charities in mind - I'm struggling to work out exactly what category we should tick. Equally I don't want to tick the wrong one and end up causing ourselves headaches. HSBC state on the paperwork that you should consult a tax advisor with questions as they don't give advice on this. I suspect HSBC probably have sent these out to all their account holders so wondering if any of the other PTA's out there have worked out what we are? Or any in financial services who could assist?

We found the voice commands difficult to work. My daughter was rather disappointed.

As Cactus says, the art shop Cowling & Wilcox in Camberwell. Kids stuff as well as proper art supplies.

If it is under threat of closure, it would be interesting to understand how the Dog Kennel Hill Playground operates and see if there is a model there that could be made to work. If the local community were able to pull together and save a pub (Ivyhouse) then surely we could do the same to provide a great facility for our kids? I know not everyone could, but lots of folk who use it could afford to contribute - if the issue is just one of funding.