Bellenden Belle

Thanks everyone for your comments. I didn't ask for opinions on the value of an independent education but thanks for your thoughts anyway. Interestingly, many of the respondents are so quick to criticise my choice of school that they are failing to see the dilemma. I do not live in the same part of SE London as the father of my child, who has chosen to move away from the family home and live in a different part of town. And therefore my child has to get to school from two different addresses - whether that be a state school or an independent school. As for "nearest state school" - there is no natural catchment where I live and many children have to commute to their secondary school. This notion that all secondary schools are a five minutes hop skip and a jump from a front door is complete fabrication. So actually to reframe the question, at 10, should a parent still take responsibility for a child's safe journey to and back from school. But by all means, use my thread to climb on your soapbox and berate me for the terrible disadvantages I am bestowing on my children.

About fifteen years ago, this forum was pretty much all I did at work 🤣 teddyboy23 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > They'd all gone back to the work

I like this idea. Thank you! I?ve asked for a phone call with the head. Sonners Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Could the school help connect you to a sixth > former who lives nearby who could help your son > navigate the journey > for some easy money until he is confident enough > to do it himself? I think the beginning of year 6 > is quite early to start a commute from HOP to > Croydon, especially it?s a new school/journey for > him.

His father has chosen to move to HOP whilst I live a single bus ride away so whilst this is a difficult journey to navigate, it is the right school for my son who fortunately will enjoy the benefits of an excellent school he?s earned through an academic scholarship. oimissus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think that you/his father will need to do the > journey (both ways) a number of times with him, > both over the summer and then when he starts > school. He'll probably pick it up fine. Make sure > there's an alternative route for invariable delays > and cancellations. > > It sounds quite a journey but equally I don't > think you can write it off after one attempt. > > But personally I wouldn't be sending my child to > school requiring this kind of journey (both in > terms of complexity and duration) if there are > closer options.

Mariamadeit Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It really depends on the child and how wrong it > could go? Is there anyone else doing a similar > journey that could help? I have written to the school but the majority of children appear to be either taking the school bus (not available in Honor Oak Park) or are being taken by parents.

Oh my goodness?.. are we all here?

It has been a long time since I posted on here but in the past there have been sensible and thoughtful responses to parenting dilemmas so I?m hoping that might still be the case. My son is due to start Year 6 (a year earlier than typical) at a secondary school in Croydon in September. His father lives in Honor Oak Park and is insistent that a walk, train journey from HOP station to east Croydon and then a bus is an acceptable commute to be undertaken independently by a ten year old. I have undertaken a trial run which was unsuccessful with my son missing his stop. I think it is simply too much to expect from a child in year six and will result in unnecessary stress and could possibly leave him vulnerable. Anybody have any thoughts?

Chick - you can definitely donate money (as well as bikes!) to The Bike Project. Money goes towards brilliant work including training refugee women to cycle, the costs of refurbishing bikes, snd an online programme to help tackle social isolation amongst refugees and asylum seekers. Chick Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sorry I thought you could donate money. > > > Chick Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > How about this: > > > > https://thebikeproject.co.uk/

I?m looking for a book club. Tuesdays evenings would work perfectly for me. Is the Tuesday Tippler group still happening and if not, can we start a new club? It would have to be six members, zoom, or meeting outside at the moment but fingers crossed that?s not for ever.....

She sounds perfect! Thank you SO a much for the recommendation.

I?m looking for a tutor for a bright nine-year-old. English and maths prep to support him sitting the ten plus next January. But I want them to be both knowledgable and to have a personality. So far the two seem to be mutually exclusive.And I don?t want to destroy his love of learning with a dull teacher. Anyone got a recommendation?

I?m afraid you should be aware you can?t just put grammar schools down. They have their own application process - they don?t just take the result of an 11 plus. For example St Olaves has a two stage process including a creative writing second stage not featured in a traditional eleven plus exam. I would hate you to waste your child?s places by not following the correct procedures.

Can anyone recommend a local family mediator please?

Thanks for the reply. No the kitchen is already extended to within permitted development but there is scope to extend further.

My house is ideal for a kitchen extension. But I?m intending on moving. Is it worth getting architect plans and planning permission before going up for sale? Does it add value? Or does it not make a difference?

With flights seeming super expensive,I am looking for an affordable all inclusive holiday for this May half term. I want something suitable for three - 13 year olds. Football facilities and pools a must. But ideally reasonably priced - we?re not in the market for Mark Warner or Sensortori hols. Am I asking for the impossible? Don?t mind where as long as it?s warm.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I spoke to the training provider?s Ops Manager today and I felt I got the balance right between being enthusiastic and kind about the instructor and pointing out the lesson wasn?t pitched appropriately. I got a good response with all the right noises made about training and CPD for the instructor in question. And I will keep cycling!

I think a mirror might help although I think one of the points of looking behind is to try and make eye contact with the drivers and to make them aware you are going to do something. I think Saturday?s drivers may have read the fear in my eyes! It?s tricky. I?m tempted to complain to the cycling provision providers but no one wants someone to lose their job. I also think it was a strangely positive experience in that I survived.

I?m curious. I had my second ever cycling lesson on Saturday. I can cycle and turn corners but told the instructor I wasn?t confident looking behind or signaling. So the route we took involved me cycling from Burgess Park through Elephant and Castle, navigating Waterloo roundabout next to the IMAX to get onto Waterloo bridge and ending up in convent garden. The instructor ended up in a different lane to me at the roundabout by the Imax with a bus driver leaning out his window shouting GO GO and another cyclist asking if I was okay. Then we did it all in reverse. The instructor at the end told me I should just get out and cycle and that the busier the road the better as traffic goes slowly. Is this normal?

Called Steve out to fix a washing machine, having first used him almost a decade ago. He is still absolutely brilliant. Fixed my machine, sorted out why my dryer wasn't working, and was just an all round good egg in less than half an hour. AND refused to take a tip! His number is 07921 777428.

Dulwich Oaks Dental practice oppostie Sainsburys on Dog Kennel Hill. Just so good with children. My little one went there for a brilliant visit having refused to open his mouth at another dentist previously.

http://www.camberwellchoirschool.org.uk/ A brilliant local resource which offers a wonderful introduction to music learning for children as young as your little one.Because it is taught by musicians and has a built-in progression route onto learning instruments, even the classes for the very young are rooted in music practice such as developing rhythm, following a conductor, playing at different volumes.

Roz Pendlebury is an excellent therapist - not CBT, but definitely integrative. Provides really sound coping strategies whilst getting to the root of the problem. http://rozpendlebury.com/contacts.html

http://katherinefisher.co.uk/tongue-tie-assessment/ We used Katherine and were hugely impressed.

I shall lower the tone considerably and say that the graphic novels by Dav Pilkey - Captain Underpants, Super Diaper Baby, and Dogman turned my son (at a similar level) from a strong but reluctant reader into an avid bookworm. The plots mostly revolve around poos turning into men, and talking toilets - but my son laughs so much and is so excited that it has been a joy to watch. I truly urge you to give them a go.