minder

The Minkey, your friend is very lucky to have you there. I can't imagine if my Dad had to be booked into A&E on his own with his dementia, especially if an elderly person has any kind of infection. My Dad left King's last week after a 10 day stay in King's. He had a kidney infection which sent him into delirium for a couple of days. King's were very good but basic things like eating his food seemed to be overlooked, even though a dietician was put into plan. Luckily I was there one evening when he hadn't received his dinner. The other patients in the ward had all had theirs by 6pm. There was nobody around except a young boy in a white overall (sorry, probably a trainee) who apologised and went and found a meal for my Dad, who wolfed it down!

My Mum was treated at King's for her breast cancer (treatment began Oct 11) BUT looking back there was very good, good and quite bad! This was not just in that dept. but in the aftercare, secondary and A&E depts. and then on the wards. Months after her breast cancer was FINALLY diagnosed in Oct 11 (she had been treated for an infection under the armpit for ages), my Mum was due for her day surgery and I noticed on her records that the surgery team had the WRONG breast due for surgery! This was the day before the op but me and my sisters were reassured everything was ok. Little did we know that after dropping her off to King's Day Surgery at 7.30am, my poor Mum (78 but 10 years younger) was made to travel from the Day Surgery over to the main hospital, on her own, in a hospital gown, for the necessary x-rays to confirm for the team to operate. If my family had known she had to do this on her own we would have been there for her. She told us this after her surgery but we were too concerned about her recovery and forward treatment (which was another matter).

Hope you find one. World book day lost me my lovely red velvet tablecloth I used for my table sales in the past. Red Riding Hood was the reason.

Why not have a table at a sale I'm organising for Sat. 5th April at St Barnabas Hall, 23 Dulwich Village. Charge for a table is ?10 but I could sell your stuff for you on my tables and take a cut for the Alzheimers Society, the charity I'm organising the sale for? Might not sell a lot but you never know.

Yes, didn't know it was gone till before Christmas! Happened very quickly and if you google Samuels still have a branch in Peckham! Nearest one now is in the Lewisham Shopping Centre.

I really don't know where to start with King's really. It's a shame as I've had a near death experience with them in A&E 15 years ago and they saved my life (pulmonary embolism), but days before I was up on the maternity ward complaining about how I felt but was discharged within 24 hours. Before that King's had helped me and my sisters and friends through many births/traumas. You trust a hospital. Fast forward 2011-2013. The A and E Dept., their breast cancer department, the aftercare, the Gynacolegy dept which sadly got it wrong for my Mum after the breast dept. but then the general wards which are also another story as my Mum was admitted a few times to the wards where we saw good and bad but had to let her stay day and night. Also, the attitude of some of the ambulance staff visiting people in their own homes leaves a lot to be desired.

Just before Christmas I went to Rye Lane to visit H Samuels, the jewellery shop at 71-73 Rye Lane. Persuaded my two girls to go with me too to buy present for Dad. According to my searches for times and opening days it was still there. Last time I had bought something was a couple of years before. I've been going to H Samuels since leaving school in 1979 when I got my first pay cheque and bought lots of bits for myself (crystal animals etc.) and presents for family and friends. My girls were embarrassed as I went into next door shops asking where H Samuels was but nobody could give me an answer. It's now another food shop/market.

It's meant to be every 3 years but 4 years is the norm too as I think Ofsted are behind in their inspections.

Same as edcam.

Hi Melissa, thanks for the information (although I don't do Facebook or Twitter). Just to say I think you should have mentioned that the National Childminding Association (NCMA) is now known as PACEY (Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years) as it now includes all childcare practitioners.

Ellie78, schools have been doing a January intake only for at least a couple of years now (might be wrong) so can't see how this would affect your 2 year going up into the next room? If he loves it there I wouldn't worry now. chorusgirl, I wouldn't worry about your just turned 2 year old mixing with much younger children. I find it helps them a lot actually in their personal, social and emotional development. Nurseries in England were given more info about 2 year olds being eligible for free 15 hour places (this was from Sept 13) and maybe they're trying to accommodate?

It does sound very OTT with the nursery pursuing this but also that somewhere between June and September maybe there was cross-communication. Did you try to phone or email them when you realised you were not going to send your son? If you didn't then if the nursery have a signed contract, payment may be due. I would have thought the nursery would have given you a copy of the contract at the time of signing? Can you give us the name of the nursery and also where you've decided to send your son now?

srisky, if your friend is now considering becoming a nanny (with or without her own child)? and she can fulfil all your criteria I suppose it must be a dilemma about payment etc. I suppose you have to factor in the time she has to leave her own home? I don't know? Londonmix, I thought ?6.31 was the national minimum wage per hour for over 21s? Please explain as my 21 year old has just started a part-time job (in between university) and they're not paying him ?6.31. That 31p can make a difference!

Susan, please don't worry that your son would be 'bored with a childminder'. We are on a par with all nurseries in terms of what we offer. Agree with Hollybush about the chill-out time after nursery/school. Children are still so young and all they want to do is play!

Hope the OP is a bit clearer on what to do regarding the MMR! I remember back in 1998 when my youngest (now 15) was due her MMR and the Andrew Wakefield scare was everywhere on the news etc. I think if I had not had two older children who had already had the jab then I probably would have had some doubts about whether to give, but she received it. Since then I've had the worry about whether to let my girls have the cervical cancer jab when they reached their teens, but they've had it. I just wish there was a jab now for breast and ovarian cancer .... My Mum's sister died at age 14 from Rheumatic Fever (in 1945) but rheumatic fever is now unheard of (in this country I think).

Hope you find it. I used to write my phone number in hats, shoes and wellies and got a couple back that way.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention sillywoman. Will talk to my girls tomorrow morning.

I wouldn't worry as most 4 year olds are still quite fickle in their friendships anyway.

It might not be compulsory to attend a state school nursery but tell that to the parents who didn't get a place, only to find some parents who did being relaxed about it all. Schools have to be strict I suppose as otherwise they would have no children attending the nurseries.

The Tuesday toddler group at St Barnabas had to close in December 2012. Fi from Boppin Tots has been there since last April and her class is really popular. She's so energetic and really keeps the children amused. It says 10.30-11.15 on the website but the class usually lasts an hour most weeks.

I've also seen these ads on Channel 5 recently and had to do a double-take. Also betting ads which shouldn't be allowed (imo). Channel 5 seem to enjoy glamorising them.

A headmistress leaving a school just because of SATs results? Their results (SATs) did seem a little low but you have to go back a few years or so to look at other schools and their results and what they're achieving now etc. All schools have a deputy head but that doesn't mean they will replace the Head teacher (unfortunately). Usually a completely new person is brought in.

Laur, I don't remember seeing this article in the paper version (and I read the Daily Mail everyday) so was it just on-line? Purplebreeze, I thought this was the kind of research you were looking for?

My 15 year old is going ice-skating with her cousins tomorrow but I got her to check the forecast first. Dry and sunny till around 4pm. The park is the best place with a 2 and 5 year old tomorrow.

I think you are very lucky to have been offered a place at the Half Moon Nursery. That's going by what I've come across in the past and present. Is the Blue Class still in the main hall? It's a very large space but then again their outside space is very small. That's one thing I noticed but I often see the staff and children in the local park (5 min walk away) and they are out in all weathers, not always in the play area on the swings and slides, but doing something more nature involved. The staff always seem focused on the children and friendly. At nearly 3 years old a lot of activities are mainly free play. I think the Montessori method is a bit more involved (like learning to tie your own shoe-laces) but they still have to incorporate the EYFS until the child is nearly 5 so a lot is still based on free play which is normal at this age anyway.