Gubodge

Yay! "Researchers found the only way to eradicate the bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) was with temperatures of 40c and above combined with a detergent containing bleach." I've continued using non-bio for my eczema ridden lot despite knowing about the dermatological research but always wondered if it was maybe just my imagination that it appeared to make a difference to husband and itchy small. But that explains it. Staph A is a real problem for A and her dad, as it is for many with eczema, so the beneficial effects of the bleach in the non-bio dealing with the Staph obviously override whatever irritation it causes. Won't be the same for everyone of course, but it appears to work for us.

There are vegan cheese substitues, but most of them are foul. Tofutti cream cheese is the only one my dairy free small will countenance. I cannot for the life of me remember what I used to give her for snacks when small though, I'm afraid.

My mother revived our hamster in the bottom oven of the aga, lstickler. We'd been just about to bury it when it's whiskers twitched. There were no ill effects and it lived for years.

Armpits, backs of knees, and neck creases are pretty common places for infantile eczema because of the warmth and damp, not necessarily clothes rubbing. That said, try Surecare and don't use any fabric conditioner.

I could fit panniers ok with my Hamax.

I live on Dunstans Road and think they are absolutely fine on the lower part of the road (Goodrich to FHR). If you try going over them at more than 20 then you do get a horrible bang, but have had no problems at all at 20, even with a very laden car. There are one or two on the upper stretch of the road that do need slowing down more for, though, possibly because the gradient exacerbates the height/profile. I don't have a problem with them though. With the number of small children living on the road, the slower the better as far as I'm concerned.

Green poo is often a symptom of a speedy let down. It's no problem for the child, just means that there is a proportion of the milk that is not properly digested (she'd still be digesting everything she needs, just consuming more on top of that.) You could try expressing a bit off before you put her to the breast. Don't cut anything out of your diet without advice from a medical professional, but do keep a food diary to see if there are any other potential problems. If it really does turn out to be a problem with dairy then it could be up to 4 weeks before you notice a difference. How long it takes milk protien to leave the system varies, but it could be up to a couple of weeks for you, and then a couple of weeks for her after that. For what it's worth though, my daughter had a dairy allergy diagnosed at 6 months so would have had it before that, when she was solely breastfed, and she never had any problem with her poos at that point. (Did after weaning, but that's a different matter.)

Patching up scraped knees.

Dulwichbloke, very well put. I do hope you're going to next week's meeting as well to see if you can get a response from the governors on that issue.

The NUT letter was offered to parents outside as they picked children up on Friday. Presumably children who make their own way home may have taken them as well. I for one was pleased. I had e-mailed the chair of governors to express my concerns that the only correspondence about the proposals was overwhelmingly positive, with no mention that there were other sides to the argument. I asked for the opportunity to communicate some of the evidence against academies to parents, given that not all have the time or resources to attend the meetings or research the issue themselves. I was told no, that the governors had looked at all the evidence, made the right decision and that if I had any queries I should go to the meeting. It was, to be honest, a rather patronising reply, and that was the feeling I came away with yesterday. Despite their references to the two way flow of infomation I got the impression that, no matter the expertise, evidence or experience of those at the meeting, as far as they were concerned, they were the experts and they'd do it their way.

The governing body is the admissions authority for the academies, rather than the Local Authority. I'm not sure how that would work though. The point was raised (but left unanswered) last night that perhaps consultation should take place with the wider community, after all, this proposal will have far more effect on the the local pre-school children than it will on current yr 5 and 6 children.

That's what I see as one of the issues of how this 'consultation' has been carried out so far. The governors don't know what school they might federate with, but that information is vital to the majority of parents, and it would be hoped it would be to the governors as well. They can't expect parents to make an informed choice without that information. I was at the meeting last night, and did not see any 'egging on' by the teachers, and would dispute that they have different interest at heart. Yes, they are concerned by possible changes to their pay and conditions. But so am I and so should you be. There is evidence (That the deputy chair of governors did not dispute.) that experienced staff leave when a school transfers to become an academy and that as a result the numbers of newly qualified teachers increases. There are some absolutely fantastic teachers at Goodrich and my children and yours can only lose out if they move on.

Sent mine off to school today in black leggings, an old white shirt of mine with the sleeves turned back and tied at the waist with a silk scarf, her tall brown winter boots, red napkin for neckerchief and a (shop bought) pirate hat.

As all Goodrich parents should by now know, the governors have voted to move towards academy status, in a soft federation with an as yet unknown outstanding school. There are meetings to be held to discuss the proposals next week, but I can't be the only one who is concerned that the consultation so far has been minimal, with very little information given about the pros and cons, or on what basis the governors' decision has been made. I know that there are a lot of parents who are confused about what this proposal may actually mean for the school, so have started this thread as a place for it to be discussed and information shared.

And average house prices around either school - ?700k+ Bloody hell! I must get my house revalued. As should everyone living in Dawsons Heights. Have you been checking prices in Foxton's window? Because I'd have said ?700k is not far from the top of the market for the Goodrich catchment and very far from the average, whether mean, median or mode.

I don't work full time, but do work 5 days a week and have no child free time at home (this is bing posted on my way to pick up from school). The girls are 6 and 4 and the house is too bloody big. I have no cleaner, could afford one at a pinch, but it is in such a state that I'm sure any cleaner would run for the hills at their first visit. So until I have the opportunity to spend several days getting it in a fit state it'll carry on in its downward spiral. Sob.

We were always very happy with Upland Road Mother Goose. The staff were lovely and caring, the children had the opportunity to garden, bake bread, learn french. But I think I may have different priorities to you. We lived in a flat at the time, so I positively sought out a nusery where my children would have the opportunity to get grubby in a garden and drink muddy water. Similarly I never had a problem with the toothbrush issue. I don't think there are many bacteria that a child doesn't have the opportunity to pick up through normal childish behaviour, so it wouldn't cross my mind that rigidly separated toothbrushes should be a priority for a nursery. So yes, if you want your child to be in prisine, anti-bacterial surroundings then Mother Goose must come as a bit of a shock, but I don't think the vast majority of us do worry about such things, and that is why it has a waiting list. I would be very interested to hear how most nurseries deal with nap time though, if not with mats on the floor? Do some provide beds for every child?

The Worst Witch books, George's Marvellous Medicine, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Borrowers have all gone down well here.

The coconut and sesame allergies would be separate to the nut allergy. (My daughter used to have a mild nut allergy which she has now grown out of, but her sesame allergy remains.) My husband and daughter have both been suffering badly with their skin in the last few weeks, but it may be worth keeping a food diary to see if your son's flare ups have any link with his diet.

The coconut and sesame allergies would be separate to the nut allergy. (My daughter used to have a mild nut allergy which she has now grown out of, but her sesame allergy remains.) My husbandand daughter have both been suffering badly with their skin in the last few weeks, but it may be worth keeping a food diary to see if your son's flare ups have any link with his diet.

Coconut is not a nut, so nut avoidance rules do not apply.

I've had both a framed carrier and an ergo. The framed carrier was used once, the ergo was used constantly. I took my then 8th month old up to an exhibition in town one day and was carrying her for about 6 hours with no problems at all. It was definitely one of my baby best-buys.

I'd third the Baby Bjorn potty. #1 child was happy on anything, but #2 was really uncomfortable on any of the smaller pottys and didn't settle at all until we boght the baby bjorn. We have two step stools, the ikea one and one from AJ Farmers. I'd recomend the ikea one if your bathroom floor is at all slippy but otherwise anything would do.

A friend and I with due dates a month apart went halves on a pool in a box and I loved it, I spent much of the time with my neck and shoulder's braced against the edge which would have been rather less comfortable with a rigid pool. By buying your own you can also put it up in the final weeks of your pregnancy and bob about in when every you're feeling a bit achy or want to watch TV in more comfort than from the sofa. Do invest in the most powerful pump you can to empty it though. It will be well worth it.

smb12, I think the lesson from your experience is that next year's applicants should ensure they fill all six choices. It doesn't seem that surprising to me that if you didn't get into your top (and only) three then they'd consider it ok to put you anywhere. If you hadn't made any preference for the other local schools how are the LA to know that you do prefer them to the alternatives?