southeastlondonmum

LEWISHAM / LADYWELL £13.50 / per hour gross 16 hours a week over three days - must be able to work Monday, Tues and Wednesdays Friendly and energetic Ladywell/ Lewisham family seeking responsible and reliable nanny housekeeper You will be responsible for picking up our 9 year old from school and ensuring our eldest child comes home from secondary taking them to after school clubs, taking them to park/other activities and sorting meals and snacks. We are looking for someone who is equally confident unpacking the dishwasher, making food, sorting shopping, sticking a load of washing on, putting clothes away and generally being "hands on" around the house with housekeeping tasks. Some child free time is factored in to the role to help with this and the family also have a weekly cleaner. Mum and Dad are working in a combination of office and home but in high pressure jobs. We need someone fun, reliable and responsible to muck in with family life and to be fully in charge while looking after the kids. We are excellent employers who treat people well and have lasting friendships with all past help.

without costing an arm and a leg. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance

Recommendation for a local upholsterer We recently had a chaise longue reupholstered by Sarah @ Queen's Road Home Upholstery. She did a great job, was really easy to work with and pretty reasonable pricewise. Our new (old) chaise looks fantastic. I'd really recommend her. Have attached a photo to show what it looks like now - sadly I don't have a before although to give you some idea it was ?30 on eBay... [email protected] / 07910848649 @queensroadhome

Muddy boots is great - you can find it on Facebook

I am "hoping" to have a major operation in the summer which will mean that looking after the kids is likely to be very very difficult. My partner is likely to have time off to help but probably will need to be looking after me quite a bit. I am thinking that I might book the kids into play scheme for at least two weeks of the summer holidays. Could people suggest some good schemes... half days fine, cheaper the better but would need to take a 4.5 year old and 6 year old. Thanks in advance

You need to all employ her separately. And the tax code is either split or with the person with most hours. Otherwise it is definitely illegal unless her hours are truly irregular and changeable. Would always agree a gross salary in these circumstances otherwise with a net salary your contribution will go up and down

Looking for a builders clean next Saturday. Ideally someone who can so windows and potentially carpets too. Recommendations greatly appreciated! Thanks

Thanks for suggestions. I probably should go to the GP but her behaviour is so good at school, I'm not sure that we will be a priority (understandably). Art therapy could work but I'm thinking about some support/ advice for us as much as her. We don't feel like we are managing her right

Looking for some sort of professional to help with our 5 yo DD. She is very bright and flourishes in school - her behaviour is brilliant there and they are supporting her well to meet her ability. However at home she completely and utterly melts down over the smallest thing- mainly if things are not in order or in 'her order'. And when I mean melt down we are talking a 30 min complete screaming fit from which is impossible to recover from. These happen 5-10 times a day. She was an easy baby but very hard work from 2 years onwards. It is getting progressively worse and all attempts to deal with it are not working. My husband and I think it is time to seek some professional help. Do people have any suggestions of people we could consult? We are on 'attachment' parenting view point although are happy to enforce rules/ discipline if appropriate. For info- she is v well behaved with childminders but can be challenging with grandparents (though better than with us). She really struggles to get to sleep and wind down and this does also affect her behaviour Thoughts and suggestions welcome.

I am paying 13/ hour for very experienced nanny (gross)

Really grateful for recommendations re builders for bathroom refurb (will include knocking down some walls). We are also looking for recommendations re floor sanders as we have a number of floors that need repair and rescan ding. We are in Camberwell. Thanks v much

I do not know the exact circumstances at Goose Green. And if I was a parent there, I would be asking tough questions but I would also support the school. I expect it will be getting a lot of support right now from a range of sources - and given the response from the Governors I would expect results to improve quickly. Many, many schools have turned round very quickly with the right leadership and support. However, whatever the intake (and many schools have more deprivation, English as a second language etc than GG and still do well) I do not think that you go below the absolute minimum standards that we require from our schools without there being a problem. Variation on results by 10% either way can just be the year group, but not that low.

I don't know Fairlawn but I do know what makes a fantastic school. Very strong focussed leadership, excellent class room practice and using data effectively to ensure that children continue to get work that stretches them or can be additionally supported so they make good progress. To be honest, nice buildings, playgrounds, fetes etc make no difference at all. The problem is - for the average parent- this is really difficult to assess. When I made my choice I was delighted to find out that my school plans lessons weekly across a number of schools (so all sixteen Year 1 teachers do this together). A small, technical point but proven by their results a great way to ensure consistently good practice across classrooms.

Yes -as London Mix says- value added is critical here as it takes in to account the starting point of the child. Very few schools in London now fall below the floor standards and London's results are some of the best in country. In Southwark the borough average was 80%, GG was 25% below this. There is a huge irony that there supposed to be a national support school which supports other schools despite results being just so-so in recent years. They will be needing a lot of support to pull it round. Ofsted will make a judgement whether they believe the new leadership can turn it around so just requires improvement or special measures when the council will intervene. Either way, they will get a lot of support which it looks like it needs. Lyndhurst also didn't do well- though not quite as badly.

Hi - living in SE5- looking for a window cleaner for a one of clean. would be interested in outside and inside too. Please PM or post if you have any recommendations Thanks

Standards started to dip months ago after a trip away. We paid her but left her jobs to do. There was a misunderstanding with our house sitter which caused bad feeling. I suspect this is the reason

According to her 'she does the house' and so it is not an hourly rate. But it's not working and I'm sitting here looking at cobwebs. She has been with us years and standards have only just dipped so it is hard to change

She doesn't do 3.5 hours though - more like an hour and a half hence the problem

Hmmm, I pay 35 pounds plus parking plus four week holiday and really the house doesn't feel clean afterwards

Thanks ! Xx

As it says in title, I'm just canvassing opinion. We currently have a cleaner but standards have dropped a lot recently so I am interested to see whether I'm asking too much. We live in a three bed property

Great experience of Rick - called him on Saturday and he responded straight away. Great service, great price. What a relief thsnks Rick

Great, will get in touch

Have also posted this in Family Room. Friendly Camberwell family seeking responsible and reliable person for cleaning and child pick up duties on a Monday or Tuesday (1 day a week) Hours are 12.15-6.15pm weekly. Will be paid at ?11/gross per hour so ?66 per week. Duties will include Household cleaning and housekeeping (approx. 3 hours) Pick up from local school and nursery. Light meal preparation. Some experience with children preferred, references essential.

Looking for one off clean this Thursday afternoon. Live in Camberwell SE5 Paying ?35 for three hours work Pm if interested