tiddles

gosh I feel so sorry for all stress and disappointments caused to families at this time of year. It is not much help right now whilst you are still reeling, but many people do get somewhere they want on the second round (and later too). It is dreadful that your children are put in this position as well. Get on that phone and take up all the offers of help that any councillors offer out of interest, how did people get on with hassling the local authorities last year when they were in a similar predicament? very best wishes

Well I would start by approaching all the local primary schools! If you are going as a volunteer (ie free) I am sure any school would welcome some extra, CRB checked help! best of luck

looks like a real bottle neck on the south part where underhill meets barry? the pavement has been widened - this is going to cause problems if the p13 is there and cars coming down barry will not be able to turn left or cars wanting to cross barry will not be able nip across safely (stuck across barry - yikes). maybe I am not reading the plans correctly and the scale is fine?

actually I know of a couple of primary schools in east dulwich have spanish as a very large part of their curriculum = woven throughout the whole curriculum. I appreciate what you are planning to do but am heartily opposed to these free schools as it is just spreading what little there around even more thinly.

well I am not sure about the bubble wrap and the delayed clamping, but both my caeserian deliveries at kings were very like that. I could not recommend them highly enough.

don;t townley road do them? they certainly used to (or am I hopelessly behind the times?)

the other problem is that often the planning officer will say one thing, but then get over-ruled by their boss - who may not even 'get' the proposed work and common sense is over-ruled . Also there is the dreadful confusion about the 'new legislation' and how to interpret it as mentioned above - there are some even worse stories from lambeth so just thank your lucky stars you don't live there. Lastly the planners are supposed to respond to an application within a given time frame - they are often overstretched and rather than admit that and miss their targets, they refuse based on silly niggles (the plans aren't quite the right scale) and so. Sorry to sound so quite so negative but I don't have the alot of confidence in planning departments.

I went out for the day and left the bottle. Apparently after a bit of reluctance, she went for it. Anecdotedly my friend's sister had the same problem and she found the playtex worked. (I should add I don't have shares in the company!) good luck

ha ha this sounds VERY familiar. After exclusively breastfeeding we found it very difficult to get out baby to take a bottle. We spent a fortune on every bottle/teat on the market. The only one she took in the end was the playtex - get them online at amazon or infantcare direct. Just google playtex bottles and you find loads. best of luck and yes there IS light at the end of the tunnel!!1

I am anti academies as purchasing power is fragmented as mentioned by fuschia and there is bound to be a polarisation between schools that will be hard to overcome. The other thing is, who knows what lays ahead. When one particular school I know who was trying to find out what was entailed (reluctantly I would add) they did not seem to be able to get straight answers - since they policies had not been put in place - it was being made up as they went along almost. I would not be surprised if these academies have to start finding their own funding or a private sponsor in a few years time. Or perhaps I am just too cynical!!

keep contacting them from time to time - letter/phone call or both just to see if there is any anticipated movement and gets your name recognised

edited as usual boring rant

any ideas for a venue for a 13th party - small disco affair, so don't want a huge hall with kids hanging round the edges, but a decent size room and do not want my house trashed!! And it has to be an evening! I was thinking about a function room in a pub but imagine there might be problems with children on licensed premises, even if there was no alchohol in the area where the under ages were. suggestions gratefully received

small key, with orange/yellow tag marked 30, found on friern road, just round corner from Goodrich.

no

I have a card for you delivered to my house - what number are you? thanks

any ideas where I could send a 13yr old girl for street dance/modern dance??

out of stock at decathlon!

ditto kristymac1 this is how the forum is normally used!

I thought it was ok to park across the white line (we are in a similar situation) but the white line indicates that it is a drive way - i always tell people to park there, but be very careful not to have tyres/wheels on any part of the pathway.

what about confining the cat to the kitchen only? I assume you have a cat flap? that way you could minimise the fur/dust in most parts of the house (soft furnishings) and keep a box/basket for the cat in the kitchen which you can then change regularly. I appreciate a right pain with keeping door shut, but it is just a thought.

yes it was not always clear, but it seems that if you get a scholarship, and you are placed there by the local education authority, then you will have the chance to have those additional music/sports or maths sessions once you are there.

I have a daughter in year eight - and having nothing but good things to say about it. Extremely happy and no complaints. We too wondered whether they could live up to the 'hard sell' we were all getting, but hats off, they are doing the job. The school seem very ready to communicate with parents and they have always responded quickly to any queries I have had. Re behaviour, they seem pretty tough as far as I can see. My daughter and her friends (of both sexes) are extremely happy and feel safe. I think there is more of a choice now - Charter, Kingsdale, Sydenham Girls and Harris Boys (which so far seems good tho early days I know) are all sound choices. Yes we will all hear of some incident or other which doesn't sound quite right but on the whole I think these are all good schools with a chance of getting some decent qualifications.

oh what flippin nonsense, let them learn at their own pace = top things up if absolutely necessary around 9 or 10 but before that - pleeeeeeeease!!! Children learn and develope at different stages and readiness to learn is absolutely key. Rather like trying to get a toddler to ride a two wheeler before they are ready = yes some can, but it often comes naturally a little later on!! gosh this makes me so cross.

the latter I think!! to be honest you really need some decent honest friends to share your equally "god I am hopeless at this" stories with mirth and a complete lack of judgement. I have had some of the best times with my friends, weeping with laughter as we out do each other in the bad mother stakes - I should hasten to add we all love our children dearly!! I rather suspect your marvellous friend is actually just as crap as the rest of us but cannot admit it. Let's face it - I think most of us find having a child a complete shock - sleep deprivation, chaos, lack of control, mess along with the "I had NO idea it would be like this!" feeling. I do not know of anyone who genuinely feels they are doing it right - just finding their way as they go! Do not worry, you are normal, your mate is not.