OverTheRainbows

"You know you are expecting a baby, make provision for this" - yes, that is why I posted this question and am figuring out the best option. "a carseat in many ways feels like part of the core equipment to me anyway" - I presume you have a car, then?

Thanks for all the tips, and thanks so much for the offer Medusa - funnily enough my next door neighbour just offered one yesterday. So that's one possibility to think about...though we are very bad at anything technical, even fitting seats in unfamiliar cars, I expect - so will have a weigh up of the other options, too...

Do any carless people have experience of getting a baby home from hospital in a taxi, without supplying a car seat? Are there any firms that will provide one for you? Or any other suggestions? Thanks!

Not bad speeds, good customer service, unlimited deal is pretty good value...

Second La Querce - excellent food, good for vegis, child-friendly...

Thanks L and L (and others) for the info - fingers crossed!!

Also really want to know if passports will arrive on time for a holiday! Loz and Lochie, do you mind me asking what month your applied? Don't know if I should be panicking or not...

p.s. kitwe - according guidance on the DfE website, free schools are not required to follow the national curriculum: http://www.education.gov.uk/a0075656/free-schools-faqs-curriculum "Do Free Schools have to follow the national curriculum? No. One of the freedoms Academies and Free Schools enjoy is over what curriculum they deliver, providing it is a balanced and broadly based curriculum. The new model funding agreement requires Academies and Free Schools to teach English, mathematics and science and to make provision for the teaching of religious education." Would you not commit to teaching English, Maths and Science? ('Provision for the teaching of religious education' is rather vague and presumably open to interpretation...?) There is an option to apply to open 'alternative provision' rather than a mainstream free school, and the guidance for this invites: 'If you are proposing to teach something other than the national curriculum, please reference ? but don?t copy and paste ? evidence (where it is available) which demonstrates that it is a good and successful model' https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210874/Free_School_Criteria_-_AP.pdf We certainly need more school places around here, and any genuine choice and diversity would be great - so just think that it might be worth considering trying for funding that would allow non-fee-payers, given you say you want to benefit the area...? Or are there reasons other than the curriculum issue that you'd prefer not to try the free school route?

Re Renata's post - kitwe, this ties in with something I was wondering...is the idea here more a collaborative, home-educating effort, or a 'normal' private school arrangement where you hand over your fees and your children and leave them for the day? I do really like the idea of the school at first glance, but I find it hard to get a grip on what's being offered. I also wonder why you are not being more explicit and transparent about the proposal. On your Facebook page there is little specific information, and you say you'll send more information if people email you - but why not just place the information in a public space to begin with??

Please could you let us know what the cost will be? And whether you'll offer any fee-remission? Was very interested until I saw it's fee-paying! Also would like to know more about the overall model, as per bemusED's query - as well as more about how things will be sustained given reliance on just two teachers...? In addition, I too would genuinely like to know why you've chosen to be fee-paying (limiting your intake to those who can pay) rather than seeking funding through the free school route (potentially allowing access to a greater range of children). I fully agree that 'this area of London [might] really benefit from having an alternative school' - but, without meaning to open the whole wider state vs private debate, think this might be a bit of an overstatement if the benefits are restricted to a select group of already-advantaged families!

My experience of The Careers Group was appalling; as with most of these things, it probably depend who you get, but be wary, especially if you are paying a lot! (If you want to go with them and want a name to avoid, pm and I can pass it on.) If you are a graduate, you used to be able to use your old university's careers service for free. Don't know if this is still the case, but worth findings out?

Hi Helen - that's very interesting - watching all this as we'll be applying next year and we are trying to get a sense of what's going on. I was wondering how you know that 269 children didn't get places this year, and whether you know if there are particular black spots or whether the problem is spread across the borough? This information will exist, but whether it's publically available...? As you say, it would seem that a bit of forecasting and planning taking residential distribution, birth rates, etc, into account could have alleviated these problems. I agree that the voice of parents (and children) needs better to be heard in all of this; the whole situation is horrendously stressful and potentially detrimental to children and families. I remember about a decade ago working in Lambeth for a supplementary children's provider where several of our attendees were left in the position of having absolutely no (secondary) school to go to at the start of the school year. A temporary ad hoc solution (some teaching in a church hall / community centre or similar) was all that was provided. The behaviour of the children who had no school deteriorated and their younger siblings were scared that they too would have nowhere to go, and somehow thought that it was their fault (that there was some kind of selection going on). It was horribly disruptive to their development and wellbeing. I hope so much that things don't reach a similar point here.

This is great: on trying to follow this thread, my confidence in politicians (not particularly high to begin with) is diminishing by the second, and I'm still no clearer what's going on with the schools around here...

What is going on with this?! They seem to be switched off all over London...

Wow - I know what's it's like to have the odd tutting idiot who thinks they know better but that's a whole barrage! Just remember that it's them with the problem and nothing better to do, not you!

Thanks Telemum - that makes sense. born&brED - it's a nightmare, isn't it! I'm thinking that even with the bigger reception intake it's better to put down somewhere else relatively close, rather than risk ending up somewhere really far away...

Telemum, I was just wondering how you know about 'last distance offered' not including siblings? Thanks!

We've also recently moved into the area and liked the look of Stillness so applied for a nursery place there. We didn't get one, despite it being our closest, and were told that 40 of the 45 nursery places went to siblings. This isn't reception places, but doesn't bode well for getting one next year! Have also heard from various other local mums I've spoken to about people living on Stillness Road itself not getting a place in recent years, and even about a sibling who didn't get a place a year or two ago because there were so many! Looking at the Ofsteds, I'm guessing that because it's been good for so long, a real network of families has built up around it which is difficult to penetrate unless you get lucky / live right on its doorstep. So BeadyBoo - really directing this at you, I suppose - be careful when choosing where to move to, because the last place offered distances for recent years are deceptive, as a sibling at that distance would get in, but not a new child. Don't assume that because the place you move to falls within a few hundred metres, you're safe. We made that mistake and now, realising all this, I wish we'd considered trying to live near a different school. Worried now that we won't get into Stillness and that we'll be too far from our next nearest schools, and end up getting a place at an undersubscribed school on the other side of the borough... Having said all that, really liking Honour Oak generally!

Alistair from KFH - reduction in asking price is entirely irrelevant; why would cd123 want to remain with you when your salespeople: '...consistently passed the buck, failed to provide updates, rarely offered feedback and not once was there evidence of the proactive interbranch sourcing of buyers that was promised. Final straw was Dominic explaining away a meagre 1 viewer on the 3rd Saturday with ''yes, we've taken another property on and the guys are focussing on that''.'?? I have not used KFH in ED, but in another area in the surrounds, and cd123's comments on KFH's service ring very true to me. I would add utter ostentatious contempt for buyers, out-and-out rudeness, complete lack of basic social skills, and highly pushy misleading tactics to the list.

I've been to the one in Greenwich, but maybe closer cinemas also offer it...?

Not a class, but how about toddler cinema? Or too young?

Yes, definitely recommend! - but you have to be consistent in using the signs yourself at home too. Mine started at about the age of the OP's and it was perfect timing - started signing within about six / eight weeks, including making up own signs for things not covered that were important...think this is the perfect age, possibly because most can't verbally articulate what they want yet, but do have the understanding and want to convey their needs - and signing allows this. Mine was MUCH less frustrated once able to ask for food / drink / nappy change / sleep / park etc...it was really helpful to us both! If there's no availability in ED maybe try surrounding areas / contact the organisers to see if there is any possibility of extra classes if there is demand (a friend in north London got things going that way) - or as someone has suggested, just do it yourself at home with the help of a book / internet...? Mine naturally moved from signing to talking by about 18m (if I'm remembering correctly), with an interim period where unclear words were accompanied by signs. So I really do think this is a good age to go for it - later may not be as useful, as talking will be beginning...

I have been diagnosed with anxiety in the past and have had both medication and CBT on the NHS. Both 'worked' to an extent in different ways. I've read paco's post and the process it describes sounds similar to CBT. Like a previous poster, I am uncomfortable with the 'peddling of (expensive) wares' on a thread that's a cry for help and advice. I agree that there are actions that you can take to begin to tackle your problems, but suggest that the first port of call should be your GP / other free NHS services (health visitors etc) who can provide access to FREE therapy etc. Extra financial pressures are the last thing you need when you're suffering from anxiety, depression, etc. When I was post-partum / in the midst of anxiety and panic attacks pre-baby, I was desperate and suggestible. The vulnerable and suggestible are a good market to sell expensive goods / services to. So I do find it inappropriate that this is taking place on this thread (even if it is well-intentioned).

Your doctor's advice doesn't seem to chime with the general NHS line(?): "In most women with the condition[Post-partum thyroiditis], thyroid function returns to normal within 12 to 18 months after symptoms started." http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thyroiditis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

If the issue if that you need to complete in a year, how about one year of intensive A level courses? Some colleges offer them, though not sure about ones in this area. Have you tried going to Connexions? They should have up-to-date information on what's available and they should be able to offer you more tailored advice...http://www.centrallondonconnexions.org.uk/tabid/164/Default.aspx