prdarling

Hi all. After starting this thread way back when we did try Jags and found it great. Danny the coach is fab with the children and it's perfect that it's a drop in session. My boys are 3 and 4 so may be in a different group from you guys (no idea as it's Daddy's job!)

JAGS do a drop in session ?3 a time. Not sure of the timings but my little ones who are 3 and 4 go 11-12. We found it a bit better than Little Kickers as Darrell Community Centre is so small the kids crash into each other all the time. JAGS is a really big space and Danny the coach is lovely

As far as I know, nurseries tied to schools only take children in the term following their 3rd birthday. Independent nurseries do tend to have huge waiting lists (Nelly's 2 years, Gumboots and The Villa waiting lists are closed, or they were last time I checked) and many of them require minimum 2 days. However as Molly says if you are flexible you may be lucky Have to say though, I agree with her. I think a childminder is a far far better option for a 9 month old baby. I don't think nurseries give small babies the mothering they need

My 4 and 1/2 year old is obsessed with talking about death. I try to answer his questions honestly and fairly breezily hoping he'll move straight onto the next topic! He is particularly interested in roadside shrines and always likes to discuss the one on the corner of Peckham Rye and ED Road " Mummy when little girls die do they turn into lamp posts?" I absolutely hate talking about it and find it so upsetting but I figure I have to grit my teeth and be as honest as possible. At this age he seems to accept everything I tell him and isn't too worried about anything. We have only got as far as people who are very very very old (ie older than his grandparents) die and very sadly some children who don't cross the road carefully - I think that's all he (and I) can cope with at the moment

Ah Fuschia that's true, yes. It's also the start of a September only start (much to my annoyance as my son is more than ready now but we have to wait until January) You can now apply to 6 schools across any boroughs. However, the same rules apply in that you haven't a hope of getting in somewhere where you are not on the doorstep unless you chose one of the less popular schools like DKH, Bessemer Grange etc. All of the documentation makes you think that you have a choice but you don't really It's anyone's guess re black holes though. I know that the year before it was families around The Gardens who struggled but that was addressed by the Heber bulge this year. Ryedale was fine last year as there was a bulge at Goodrich. It will be interesting to see what happens when neither Heber nor Goodrich can bulge.

I agree with Molly, def put GG and DKH down if you like them and they work for you. GG has come out of special measures and will get really popular. I would prob put these 4 down, but 2 from Lewisham. Go and see them all though. Sure you will get into Goodrich however x

Forgot to say that if your son is staying for lunch, he will need a packed lunch as sglanzer says. They eat around 12. You may just want to do 10-12 on the first day, but if I were you and you end up being able to leave him as he's enjoying it, I would send a packed lunch, phone just before 12 to see if he is still happy and let him stay. If they tell you he has struggled, then pick him up and try again for lunch the next day Good luck!

My 2 sons are at Buds - my first since April 08 and my second since Jan'10. I have to say that admin is not their strongest point but they certainly make up for it in love and affection towards the children! They are very very relaxed and I am fairly sure that they will let you do whatever you are comfortable with. When my first son started it was the week after he turned two and I hung around for about 45 minutes and when I realised he hadn't even turned around to look for me, I left for the rest of the morning (after saying goodbye to him -never a good idea to disappear!) and that was that. The staff are super supportive and Miss Idda (pronounced Ida) who runs the place is the loveliest, warmest lady you will ever meet. All of the kids flock around her! I am a bit evangelical about Buds as it really is such a great environment, so please don't let this put you off! If I were you I would arrive on Monday at 9.30/10ish and then stay as long as you feel you need to. I am certain that they will work at your/your son's pace. As I said, admin etc is not their forte, but that is the last thing on my list when I am looking for someone who will look after my children! Please PM me if I can help further PRD

Hi Ryedalema It is I of which you speak! If your daughter was born in July 2007, then yes, you do need to apply for a primary school by Jan 2011. You may recall that I live on Ryedale, but at the Forest Hill Road end. I applied to both Southwark and Lewisham schools as we are on the border of both boroughs, 4 schools in Southwark and 3 in Lewisham and I got offered my 4th choice for Southwark, which I had only put down in a panic as I was confused and stressed by the whole game. There was no way I could get my son there, my little one to nursery and myself to work all at the same time! In the end we got a place at Goodrich 8 weeks after the initial allocation came out, which I have to say were the worst 2 months ever. We are also as it happens first on the waiting list for Horniman school, so after all that, may even end up with the embarrassment of choice. If I recall you are closer to Goodrich than I, and a friend in Cornflower Terrace got in straight away, so I don't imagine you will have a problem. Basically you must apply to your closest school. There is no way you would get into Heber for example, as people for whom it is their closest school come higher up the list. Also Heber have offered a bulge class this year which means that next year there may be a higher percentage of siblings (for example normally at Goodrich there are 30 ish siblings out of 90 places. After the bulge last year there were 52 sibling places taken for this academic year) I think Ivydale may do a bulge class next year so it may even be worth putting them second after Goodrich - but that's just me being tactical!! If I were you I would also apply to Horniman and Fairlawn in Lewisham. Both are wonderful schools and you really will have a shot at getting in - probably not initially, but after the shake downs (which is when the schools work out who has accepted and rejected what). No point putting any more in Lewisham as we are just too far away. Do feel free to PM me as I like to think I know my onions when it comes to this stuff and nonsense! PRD

Make up definitely required in hospital bag! Squillions of photos are taken and it's nice to look half human in some of them :) Talking of which don't forget camera/video camera and mobile phone Flip flops are a MUST not an either/or. You will need to wear them in showers as the floor in there can be somewhat unpleasant. You will also need dark coloured towels for the hospital. Don't think a bath thermometer is necessary - fairly common sense what is too hot/too cold Agree re pillow. Hosital pillows are not comfy/soft and there are never enough Insect/mosquito net for pram good if you have a summer baby. Mine used to sleep in pram in garden a lot and it's reassuring to know they won't be plagued by flies or worse Couple of breastfeeding tops are handy too, though not strictly essential. Good luck, very exciting times!

Not sure why you are discounting the childminder route in the first place? You are way more likely to find flexible hours with a good childminder. I have found that nurseries are very rigid in their structure Obviously I am speaking for me, but I think a nursery is not the best environment for a small baby. I think once they are 2-2.5 they will thrive, but until then they fare better with closer attention in a home from home type environment Good luck with whatever you do, it's such a hard decision

Thanks to everyone for their brilliant suggestions - so grateful. I have a couple of potentials now and localgirl I will email you tomorrow if that's OK. A million thanks I feel so much brighter than I did this morning!

Thanks for all your suggestions - so helpful

Mon - Thurs 3.30-6pm Pick up from Buds Pre School Situation couldn't be more desperate. Will not be able to carry on working with no childcare. Please please please can anyone help Thanks

If you phone the admissions teams they should - be able to help you. No experience of Lambeth, but Lewisham are exceedingly organised - one phone call and you can usually get all the info you need. Southwark are rather a different story and make you jump through hoops to get the most basic info. If Goodrich is of any interest to you, i think I may have got one of the furthest places offered as I had a (well documented on here) 8 week wait to be offered a place. I live 465m away. There may have been others since me, but that may give you a ball park. Don't envy you next year at all, but good luck :)

There was a drop-in class at Crystal Palace sports ground that I used to take my boys to a couple of years ago on a Friday. Prob still on. Bouncy castle, trampoline, beams, mats etc. Few quid a session.

There was a drop-in class at Crystal Palace sports ground that I used to take my boys to a couple of years ago on a Friday. Prob still on. Bouncy castle, trampoline, beams, mats etc. Few quid a session.

Thanks for all the suggestions - trying everything. Have got two weeks grace until term starts. Responses much appreciated x

I go to Beckenham Spa. Mainly because the ED pool has been closed forever and the Spa is a lovely pool. My son really enjoys it - he's 4 and a half and has been going for a year. His confidence has grown massively

My step mother is German and my father English - they spoke to my 3 half siblings in their native languages but the children only ever replied in English (they were living in an English speaking environment). My step mother was convinced they couldn't actually speak German, until a trip to see the grandparents in Germany where they chatted away quite merrily. When they relocated to Germany, German became dominant but they only ever spoke in English to my father. They are all adults now and all 100% bilingual

Err just give her them! Stop trying to be so perfect. She is 26 days old. Don't try to control the situation. If she's a sucky baby, let her get on with it. My son was the same and i let him be until he was after 1 and then we did 3 days of controlled crying and he has never remembered it since. Some babies need to suck. Best to let them do it. Makes everyone happier

I have tried in vain on here to find someone to provide after school care for my two boys so need to go down the agency route. Wondered if anyone had any contacts/recommendations please? Am completely desperate as have been offered a new job (which I need to fund our house move) but I need care after school care once term starts in a few weeks time Thanks PRD

So glad that HFMC has been granted charity status - you do an amazing job. Wish I had something positive to contribute. I find Andrew's case terribly poignant as my baby boy was born at 11.31am on 14th September 2007, which was just about when the last sighting of Andrew was recorded. He's often in my thoughts, please do keep us posted

Both my sons were born in Room 12 (the big one with the pool) eighteen months apart. Major deja vu! Both births were me, my partner and the midwife, very low key, very chilled (well as much as birth can be) With 1st son I stayed in 24h and it wasn't brilliant but it wasn't hideous either. With 2nd son, I left from the delivery room 2.5 after giving birth. I found Kings to be great and if i were lucky enough to have another I wouldn't hesitate

Found - after an hour and a half of Daddy and I panicking more than number 2 son