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Hello all! Yay, the forum is back. Glad to hear that all the kiddies are causing their usual trouble.

I kind of thought that the forum magically ran itself! Poor people never being able to take a holiday. Will be good to break the addiction for a bit!

Re. the sleep (or lack of) issue, think that the comments / reactions show how hard and emotional lack of sleep is! It is a real struggle.

It was announced at the Labour Party Conference that the Government intends to scrap the current "salary sacrifice" childcare voucher schemes (in order to provide up to ten hours a week of free childcare for two year olds from low-income families): http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2009/09/29/52356/labour-party-conference-childcare-vouchers-to-lose-tax-relief.html There is a petition against this, which you can sign at: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/list/open?sort=signers

v.good AnotherPaul.

Vulfin, setting aside the arguments about state vs private schools, you should be aware that admissions to state secondary schools in the area (and indeed other areas of London) is a hot potato at the moment, and schools each have their own admissions criteria (see other threads on this forum).

There is some information on the Southwark website: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/educationandlearning/schoolsinsouthwark/governors/

There is a public meeting coming up about the schools issue - see other thread. With respect to "failing" schools, as judged by Ofsted, I feel strongly that while some parents will want to send their child(ren) to such a school anyway, judge it on their own experience, support the school, see the positives, support work to help the school improve in the future etc. etc. those who do not want to do so - who want instead to send their child to a local state school that has already been judged as "good" or "outstanding" - should not be criticised for that decision, nor for lobbying the council to improve access to the latter schools.

I'm with Claire29 - Davina! There is a special postnatal one.

This thread is indeed like therapy. Was inspired to to an exercise DVD for first time in ages! My bloke "commented in passing" yesterday that so-and-so(svelte mum round the corner) goes running every morning really early before her two are up. I managed to resist strangling him, and in fact said nothing and kept a blithe look of lack of concern on my face. But GRRRRR!

Cllr Colley, Is it a public meeting, where the public can participate, or is it a committee meeting that the public are invited to observe? With respect to the paper, I haven't followed this closely, but the paragraph below doesn't seem to reflect the experience of people posting on this forum (this year and last year). It would be helpful for the paper to provide some facts and figures, rather than simply making statements. As Fuschia has highlighted, it would be helpful to have much more factual information about the on-time applications, including how many applications were received for each school; and how many places were offered; and how many people got their 1st, 2nd choices. Also, the paper does not seem to discuss quality matters, which is a key factor for parents. It is not just about getting into a local school, but a good local school. "In Southwark the 2009 primary admissions round was characterised by an unprecedented degree of concern about reception class places from residents in the East Dulwich area. This problem had not been anticipated on the basis of projections available at the time. After the first round of applications a very small number of concerns emerged and these were mostly addressed in the final round of allocation. However, a very large number of late applications were received for this area and gave rise to the need to add places at short notice."

Fuschia, any feedback from your FOI request to Southwark yet? Sorry if it's earlier on this thread and have missed it.

StevePC, before June 2009 the bank account to which fees were paid was HSBC, Thornton Heath. From June it was Barclays, Catford (and in the name of the new "Little Fingerprints" company).

My 18 month old is doing the same thing (and apparently I did at that age and just stopped napping), argh! Only had an hour or hour and a half, but still a nice break. A friend suggested giving an early lunch, e.g. 11.30, so that they run out of energy and have an early afternoon nap (with a later lunch they get an energy boost just as getting tired). Am also doing the "keep busy in the morning" thing. Mixed success so far. And she goes to bed at 8. Awful.

Oh, am so envious of the whole concept of "the lunch hour". Those were the days! Is also a sad day when cake is considered a vice!

Hurrah alib! Enjoy the chocs. fmay - yes, of course the little ones are fab and is worth it etc. etc., goes without saying, but am just too shallow and vain to think like that most of the time! Madmum - feel your pain re being asked if are pregnant, same thing has happened to me, is awful. It is also apparently possible to have cellulite on your tummy, as have found out - argh! Also agree with those who talk about the naughty men taking time to go to the gym when we have no time. But maybe it is up to us to demand some time, with the men looking after the little ones! Mine (svelte, muscular etc. due to all the exercise) moans about putting on the odd pound on holiday or missing out on his runs - grr grr grr! Have not said anything to him as figure perhaps if he's obsessing about his own bod he won't notice the state mine is in!

Sorry that people are having problems. Peckhamgatecrasher - Forest Hill is run by a separate company. They liquidated what was Bojangles (with no declared assets) and set up two new companies, one for Dulwich and one for Forest Hill. Details earlier in this thread. Presume that the Dulwich one may have now folded. Parents were told that deposit money had been "ring fenced", but if this was done it wasn't declared in the liquidation. Might it be worth seeing if Ms Adams / Mrs Narramore(as directors of Bojangles and, in Ms Adams' case, what was the new company for Dulwich) will personally honour the deposits (as many have been paid and gone through)? Addresses are given in the establishment papers for the new company (somewhere in the Companies House links above).

Oooh, full sympathy ladies, I am at 18 months and still over a stone up on my pre-baby weight with a dreadful baby belly. I don't mind the weight as much as the belly! I breast-fed and with dieting as well did actually lose almost all the weight by 9 months (though I felt like crap), but that was just before Christmas and then everything just went wrong! Have had occasional bursts of exercise, but not managed to sustain it. My weight has always yo-yo'd and was never going to be one of those people for whom "it just drops off" due to my bad eating habits! A (skinny, new mum) "friend" who have known for years, seeing me feeding my daughter (and eating her leftovers) commented "no wonder she's slim and you're not"! Bit hurtful, but probably true. Oh dear. Am trying not to worry too much about it though, there is already enough to beat yourself up about when a mum. Was heavier than this when was a boozy student in my 20s and it didn't matter. Packed away the too-small clothes so that the stuff in the wardrobe actually fits and looks OK. Don't worry ladies.....! Sillywoman, fingers = painted nails, nice rings, stylish gloves etc. etc.! Accessories in general are great (big bag hides big belly!)

It seems odd to me that the targets or policies are whatever focus on the number / proportion of people getting places within a certain geographical distance, when quality of schools is also vitally important. For example, some of the most popular schools have a tiny catchment area and Goose Green is local for some, but is in special measures. Some parents will want to work with the "failing" school they are allocated and send their child there; others will not. But for those who will not, the council / government will state that they were offered a local place. The council could, however, decide to do better than the statutory requirements. The numbers are so not a blip!

Hi all, We have an upper-floor flat with no garden, has been no problem, have an 18 month old. Left pram folded downstairs. Only issue has been stairs, there are loads of them in the flat and was worried about her falling down them, was hard to keep an eye on her when she first became mobile. She quickly became a real stair expert though! Re. not having a garden, we just get out to the park as much as possible, would be nice, but at least with no garden you don't have to do gardening!

Eliza D, what on earth do you mean? Surely all childcare for which money is charged is "a financial venture"? Anyway, isn't it OK to make money from childcare as long as one provides a good service? After all, parents have a choice about whether or not to use the services on offer. Wish childcare round here was cheaper mind you!

Mariposa,I take issue with your statement that "it is easy to take shots at people behind nicknames". The nursery owners in this case were not open with parents in East Dulwich and seem to be behaving similarly up in Forest Hill. This forum is a way to inform fellow parents in the area of what has been going on; clearly, what is up here is individuals' perceptions of the situation, but I would not call it "taking shots at people". Munchkin - we're no longer circulating emails, but if I receive anything else of note I'll post it here.

Oh dear Kenzo, best wishes for your birth. People have such varied experiences with giving birth! Hope yours is a good one.

Congratulations Heidi Hi, he is gorgeous. Sorry that you had a bad time and hope you feel better soon.

There are various strands on Melbourne Grove and DMC elsewhere on the forum - worth a look. We are with DMC and find them to be generally very good.