Skegness

My son is not stupid but is currently on course to fail all his GCSEs. He's had a very tough year persoanlly but he is also lazy and unfocused and the combination of these factors means he has got quite behind at school. I think he would really benefit from some 1:1 attention/tuition. Has anyone got any recommendations for a tutor who might be able to help him?

Thanks, PippaD. Patient and fantastic sounds perfect and just what I'm after. x

I'm in Nunhead and a very late developer where driving is concerned so a good, patient teacher would be very helpful. I'm looking to keep the cost as low as possible too but realise this is likely to be difficult! Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

Hollydale is undersubscribed because people don't realise what a gem it is. Their loss.

John Skinner is a lovely man. I went to cym but was actually quite rubbish at music, embarrassingly. He was really kind to me when my mum died. I hope Lewisham hospital is treating him well.

My four year old has recently started small group lessons with superkids at st Thomas the Apostle in Nunhead. Before these lessons she had never willingly unwrapped her arms from round my neck for even a second when I took her swimming and I am amazed at how her water confidence has developed. The teachers are lovely and calm. Reasonable prices too.

Basically it works like this in theory: reception 1: 23 rising 5s reception 2: 22 rising 5s year 1 = 30 youngest year 1 students year 1/2 = 15 oldest year 1 students and 15 youngest year 2 students year 2 = 30 oldest year 2 students year 3 = 30 youngest year 3 students year 3/4 = 15 oldest year 3 students and 15 youngest year 4 students year 4 = 30 oldest year 4 students year 5 = 30 youngest year 5 students year 5/6 = 15 oldest year 5 students and 15 youngest year 6 students year 6 = 30 oldest year 6 students. So if you have a spring/summer born child they would go through the school as follows: reception, year 1, year 1/2, year 3, year 3/4, year 5, year 5/6 And a autumn/winter born child would go: reception, year 1/2, year 2, year 3/4, year 4, year 5/6, year 6 There is some mixing/joint teaching and streaming across classes, especially in SATs years (eg my twins, one of whom was in the yr 6 class and the other in 5/6, were taught together a lot in the same ability groups for literacy, maths and science during year 6 SATS. They also both starred in the year 6 leavers play- pride, pride!) and a system is in place so that children don't study the same stuff 2 years running. On the whole it works well- child travels through school with 14 permanent classmates but there is new blood every year so there is a wider range of potential friends. None of the children is always the oldest or always the youngest in their class. hth!

Great school in many ways. Daughter is in reception and loves it. Sons went there too and did well. Small and has family atmosphere. Astonishingly supportive to families if the chips are down, for which I am hugely grateful as this year has been a tough one for our family due to sudden serious illness of my partner. New head is doing good things there, responding positively to rather less than glowing ofsted report in her first fortnight at the school. She is really focussing on further improving teaching and there are some dedicated parents putting in lots of effort and time into extra-curricular clubs. Amazing jewellery club last term for eg and gardening club starts next term. Has better than average wrap around care- breakfast and after school club. There are very good things happening at Hollydale and my perception is that children and parents are very happy with it.

Hi. By crib, do you mean a cot or one of those rocking type things for babies under 6months? I have a blue Ikea cot and a stairgate. You would be very welcome to either or both if you can pick up from Nunhead.

I love this thread! I had to buy some popcorn to eat while I read it. Is it part of a secret strategy to create deliberate community tension and infighting between Charter and Haberdashers and drive exasperated East Dulwich parents to say "A plague o' both your houses!" and send their offspring to Peckham Academy? Great idea, if so and hats off to whoever came up with such a cunning plan.

Welcome to Nunhead near the station.:) Nunhead Surgery is the best GP surgery ever. Dr Roe and Mary the practice nurse are 2 of the nicest people I've ever met, I think.

My daughter has had a hemnes daybed since she moved out of a cot at about 2 and has been absolutely fine too. They are good beds. Hers is a hand me down from much older brother who has given it plenty of rough and tumble and it is still going strong. It hasn't been that great for visitors though as the foam mattresses are too thin to be comfortable and if you go for 2 normal thick mattresses it really would be very high...

Yes, very well said, LondonMix.

I reckon Prendergast will be fine if it comes to it. Probably be a school that people fight to get into in years to come. The original Prendergast is incredibly well thought of. How far away are you from Beecroft? Remember that the results shown in the booklet are first offers. I.e. they don't show the distance of children who got in after what they call "the shakedown", the process whereby offers are accepted and rejected and places become available. There is quite a significant amount of movement from April - September so it may be that Beecroft's actual last distance is a good few metres higher than 735. Where did the kids who were too far from Beecroft get offered this year? Gordonbrock is another option. Or Holbeach. All good schools near you. Just getting into one of them that's the problem! I'd pick the nearest 6 and put them in order of preference. Most people get something they like in the end.

double post edit

Beecroft Garden, Dalmain and Stillness all get rave reviews, I think. I would be looking at those 3 if I was a Crofton Parker. I wouldn't be very tempted by a newly opening primary phase at an all-through school unless the secondary is (or is on track to become) shit hot, tbh. I have a slight worry that they may not really know what they are doing with young children because their expertise is all with getting pupils through GSCE and A levels. There have no proven track record with the very different animals that are 4 - 11 year olds. An additional disadvantage is that your child will probably end up in porta cabins for at least a year or two while the new school is built (though, to be fair, I see no reason why a porta cabin can't make a lovely reception schoolroom with a bit of imagination and hard work.) On the more positive side, even if the current secondary is not brilliant they may well be on the up as you say and they also may be bursting with great and innovative ideas for the primary. It will be nice for you and your child not to have to worry about secondary transfer. And there is always something exciting about a new school with your child being one of the pioneers. I would just check out their plans quite carefully and remember that they are pitting themselves against some very good local primaries. I was quite tempted by the Haberdashers Free school, purely and solely because of the guaranteed entry to the high performing secondary, which is local to us. But, as per the above, I thought it was quite striking at the open evening that the executive head who led the presentation and dominated proceedings didn't necessarily know very much about the needs of primary aged children or their parents (hadn't heard of after-school club, for example!) However, I might well have swallowed down any reservations had we been offered a place because of the magical draw of the secondary. I have had experience of trying to get children into a good local secondary and it can be fraught with difficulties. I don't think I would even have looked at the Habs primary had I not had that experience or if it was attached to a less desirable secondary. I felt and feel very confident that there were 2 or 3 lovely primaries that know what they are doing even closer to home (one of which my daughter is now attending- yay!). Hope this is not too waffly/irrelevant, Scribble. Good luck with choosing!

rd really good things about St Mary's as well. Glad your daughter is enjoying it.:)

I think moving from one establishment to another could be more tiring than just spending all day in reception. My August born daughter seems to be enjoying reception a lot so far.:) Good luck with your school visits.

Have a friend with 2 very bright and talented sons there. They all seem extremely happy with it.

it's standard. They will just check she's meeting her milestones and ask you if you have any concerns.

I like the political debate. Adds spice and gives valuable insight into the way the council works and how the different political parties work locally. Though both are often helpful, Renata's posts are usually far more focused on social justice for all local families whereas James comes across as wanting more choice for people like himself (as long as the choice is Harris;)). It's good to get a sense of these things!

Check out Mars at http://www.mammydoula.co.uk/. Lovely person.

You won't have to home school unless you want to as there are many other schools in South East London and there will be a place somewhere. Call your local council and the neighbouring ones (Lewisham and Lambeth) for advice on schools in the area.

I am really happy that the Kingsdale results show significant improvement over 2012 and am also pleased that information has been given in a more or less timely fashion, though I agree it could be even more precise. Given the extremely low attainment last year, anything over 50% or is to be applauded, imo, and suggests the school is getting back on track academically.

Wow @superb results at Charter, millymol.:)