jollymummy

Does anyone know if a child on or around Fiern Road has ever been offered a place at The Charter School? Thx

Hi forumites, My sister and two children are coming to live in ED, with me and my hubby, temporarily and will need to attend a local school. I hope her youngest daughter will get a place at Goodrich, I just have to make a late application, but her eldest child needs to start secondary school. I figure that the closest school for him that we have a chance of getting a place is Harris Boys. I have heard lots of comments surrounding the Harris schooling system but really know nothing about it. Could any parents who have boys at the school please tell me what they think and if they are happy with it. My nephew is a shy, introverted type who is not hugely academic and need to get an idea if this school would be right for him, albeit only temporarily. Thanks in advance.

Thanks everyone, I think the way to go is to start actually looking at the different vans. I LOVE the traditional VW vans but a bit worried they are not roomy enough.

Do any forumites own a campervan and can you tell me is it practical with two small kids, 5 and 2 years? We (I say we but my hubby is yet to be convinced) are considering either buying or converting a van as thinking of ways to travel Europe and keep the costs down now that we are tied to school holidays.

To clarify, my friends didn't move into the 'catchment' area after January, they were already there and applied before the January closing date. They were quite a bit down the waiting list when first round offers were made but moved up.

Hi HS, Two friends of mine who live at the bottom of Rydedale near Peckham Rye were both offered a place at Goodrich this year two weeks before the start of term.

Has anyone tried Scallywags playgroup in Dulwich Village on Wednesday at 10?? Am looking for a Wednesday morning toddler group for my little one. Thanks!

Regarding your question about the menu, kids can choose their meal from the regular bambino menu. My son attended a party there just before christmas and the party was held in the downstairs room at the Hearne Hill branch, great space.

Thanks BB for your post. Would the cookery class be suitable for a 2.5 year old? Also, is the Ivydale Centre easy to get to by bus from ED?

Can anyone pls recommend a Monday morning playgroup? We currently go to Cheeky C's but it seems to be losing it's sparkle, think the owner may be losing a bit of enthusiasm as numbers can be quite low.

I know not strictly a general topic but wondered if anyone can recommend a joinery firm to make large internal doors which split the ground floor reception rooms? Have been searching and searching and really would like a recommendation as it will be an expensive project. Thx in advance.

I know not strictly a family room topic but wondered if anyone can recommend a joinery firm to make large internal doors which split the ground floor reception rooms? Have been searching and searching and really would like a recommendation as it will be an expensive project. Thx in advance.

Hi SE22newmum, HH appears to be a great school, we loved it when we visited and was offered a place. We were very tempted but the school run eventually put me off. Apart from the traffic, parking is very difficult. I have a close friend who has two boys there and she hates the school run, it drives her crazy every day. In terms of preparing children for the 7+ assessment they are excellent and give good advice on the school they feel appropriate for your child. It does seem to be an academic school but then this is necessary to get kids into the next level of school at 7.

Hi everyone, Wondered if there are any cabin crew living in East Dulwich? Have been offered a job with BA but not sure of the practicalities of the journey to Heathrow. Be good to pick some brains about the commute, cheers :-)

Does anyone have any ideas for activities or groups suitable for both a 2 and 5 year old? Cheers!

I have read lots of posts about some lovely play groups being held in local churches, I think Pickle mentioned Forest Hill Church? I wondered if anyone had a recommendation for Monday mornings? My daughter used to go to Cheeky C's but they are closed over Christmas and possibly closing for good next year. Thanks in advance!

Sadly have to agree with Mrs TP. We went yesterday as well and Santa was sat in a hut/large shed which was positioned in the middle of the conservatory. Not very magical or mysterious.

Thanks very much for your imput guys. I had assumed two bank holidays and I will give her the choice as you suggest Cazfay. We are getting on fine but it would be nice to have some family time with just the family but I feel awful if she were home alone. We normally head away for 2 weeks at Christmas but I can see this changing if she comes with us so realistically it will probably just be a day or two either side of Christmas. I was thinking that if she does come with us at Christmas then I wouldn't feel so bad telling her she has to make her own plans for New Years Eve. She has said she also has no plans for then but I really feel we should be able to have this time to ourselves.

Your point?

I love GK Barbers but since the lady left the chap (French I think?) doesn't cut little girls hair very well. He had admitted to me that he doesn't cut girls' hair well and is better with boys. He cuts my 5 year old boy's hair brilliantly and we always go back to him. My daughter, on the other hand, has had some very dubious cuts from him so I am now looking for a hairdresser for a little girls. I have tried Little Clipper but find the staff mostly rude and the cuts not of great quality and the price very high. Recommendations anyone? Thx

We have already floated the idea of having Christmas with us at the MIL's as we wanted to get an idea of her plans. I have specifically asked her if she has plans or anyone she would live to spend it with but she has said she has no plans, doesn't know anyone to spend Christmas with and if we go, she will come with us. If the MIL gives it the green light I am happy for her to come but I am in danger of using all my holiday to cover school holidays and then be left with none for when she wishes to take it. Do you think it reasonable to suggest she takes her holidays within the school holidays for the coming year?

We have one for my 5 year old. We use for ad hoc journeys in other people's cars and when travelling. Is great to fill with stuff for the plane and obviously used for the transfer at the other end. Would not use for long, regular journeys but fab for the occasional journey. A bit heavy, as telemum said, but easy to hang over the pram handles.

Thanks for replying WOD, we are taking the Christmas period as holiday and we are also having a week pre-Christmas for a skiing holiday where the au pair is staying at home, not having holiday deducted. I am a bit nervous that we might run out of holidays to cover the ones she wants next year. We haven't got the ok from the in-laws but if they say yes then the au pair will not be expected or 'allowed' to do any work in their house as my MIL would feel awkward about it. As you say, tricky. Anyone else got an opinion? Thx

Hi, Any advice on my current dilemma would be much appreciated. We have just had an au pair/mothers help start and we pay her ?150 a week, she has only been with us a week but already we can tell she is totally lovely and great with the kids. She is Australian and has been in the country 6 months. She does not have any plans for Christmas or New year, however we have plans to spend it with my husband's family. I would have really liked her to have plans over this period but I don't want her left at home alone so am going to invite her to the in-laws for Christmas (if they agree!). I imagine she will offer to help as anyone would do when staying at someone's home but we won't require her to officially work so her time will be her own to spend as she pleases. So my questions is, do we say she will have to take it as holiday entitlement and deduct however many days from her annual entitlement or treat it as a regular working time period and not deduct any holiday days? Obviously she will get the bank holidays as standard but I am wondering about the wraparound days. Thx!

I would sign this a 1000 times if I could. I have a daughter and the thought of her experiencing this brings tears to my eyes, how anyone can remotely think we should do nothing to stop this barbaric practice is unthinkable.