Fuschia

I've rung seldoc before when dmc are wrongly on night service and they've sorted it out. You can get an appt at seldoc now, anyway. If you call them to arrange to see a doc at seldoc, they will try toget you through to the duty dr at DMC rather than see you themselves, you can be pretty sure.

call seldoc, sue. they can put you through to the dmc if necessary using some sort of direct line they have.

Have had responses off and on in the past from both ED councillors and College ward (where we now live) though the College ward ones have been quicker to respond and actually pursued issues, I have a couple of times had no reply from the libdems (or just a holding reply) so I gave up contacting them. Lewis Robinson, our Tory councillor, is very good. So is Tessa Jowell.

The academy programme was originally intended to replace failing schools. Now there is a target for new academies, it seems any new school runs the risk... academies are undeomcratic and run outside of the local LEA, often isolated from other schools.

Mr google he say: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article484092.ece

toast Wrote: The one off buldge classes would only be > places in successful schools, would be for one > year only and would be well funded. > This would only add 30 students to the population > (e.g. Goodrich would go from 613 to 643), and > would not grow from there. But what will happen next year? Is there some reason to believe the demographics will have changed? I would be surprised. Taking in additional pupils in any school will also increase the number of siblings hence it will be even harder to get children in under non-sibling criteria next year. I don't have a problem with increasing intake at a school (though I think Goodrich taking in 4 reception classes is too many) but I would be very interested to hear exactly what the Council thinks will happen in 2010!

Ann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Goodrich was always a large primary school, I know > of no other primary schools with a three form ( 90 > ) intake. If that has been increased, albeit > temporarily, to a four form intake, then this > years intake will be 120. This is the intake for > many Comprehensives, but for 4 year olds. > Yes, I think 4 fe is too big.

hoipolloi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm afraid that my experience of our local > councillors (in the context of the primary school > places issue) was extremely disappointing. My > email to them asking for help was forwarded to > someone else on the council but the councillors > themselves did nothing else to help and showed no > interest really. I know that others had similar > experiences. I presume they have realised this will win them no favours/votes!

My first son was very high need.... and never ever ever napped for more than an hour after the first few weeks! So I understand your pain, Helena. Can't say I ever followed any particular philosophy, just what worked for us (which was cosleeping, but not slings) Leaving him to cry was never an option for me though. And in the end, the first couple of years went by in a flash and sleep was no longer an issue. Now he's just a barmy 6 year old. Roll on school term starting!!

Please comment on the primary school places issue: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,323614

I think few schools could take in an additional form of entry all through without accommodation becoming a severe difficulty... if you expand by a form of entry, then in y1 you have an extra 30 kids, in year 2 an extra 60, in year 3 and extra 90... so it's only a solution for a year or two. Can the council build an extra primary? Will they get funding? If there are excess places at schools within a few miles, probably not. I'd be very interested to hear what discussions are going on at the Council about this. My FOI request deadline is tomorrow, I don't think I will get a response within the statutory 20 days and will therefore make a complaint to the Information Commisssioner. I notice the Libdem councillors have woken up to pending elections, as they are posting elsewhere on the forum. I'd be interested to hear their views on all this!

cloudnine Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Fuschia Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > The issues really are around things like size > of > > playgrounds, lunch hall, PE space, trying to > > accomdate expansion. > > > > > > You've emphasised my concern. What we're looking > at here is squeezing more and more into existing, > old Victorian schools that occupy what are > effectively finite, inner city spaces. Surely all > this 'cramming in' is detrimental to the children? hence why the council initially offered schools 2 miles away...

Moos Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What's an fe? sorry. form of entry ( no of classes in each age group)

cloudnine Wrote: > It's understandable pushing for extra classes to > be taken on to accommodate more children at > schools in the area - but what I find worrying is > that no-one is questioning just how these 'bulge > classes' might adversely affect standards. We're > all so desperate to get our kids into schools on > our doorstep that we're not stopping to think > about the long-term implications. Can Goodrich and > the other schools taking on bulge classes really > cope? It's all very well employing extra teaching > staff, and allocating a bit more funding, but what > about the stretch on other resources within the > school - from buildings and teaching equipment, to > having enough basic items such as books to go > around? > I think it's down to the school management to make sure it doesn't affect standards. I am on the senior team of a school which is expanding from 1fe at primary to 2 fe. We get money for classroom conversion (in due course mobiles) in advance of our move to a new, larger site in 2012. We also get ?? for furniture and equipment, we have to make a case to the LEA at the point we agree to take the extra pupils. The additional funding that comes with the pupils (age weighted units) pays for materials, books, staff etc. The issues really are around things like size of playgrounds, lunch hall, PE space, trying to accomdate expansion. Actually being a bigger school is better in many ways, allows staff to paid more for responsibilities and more funding for chared facilioties like library, ICT room. Heber has expanded from 1 fe to 2 fe and noone has a problem with it (though I don't know whether there are enough rooms in the school to accomodate 14 classes evantually, plus nursery. IMO, a 1 fe primary is unsustainable (though nice!) and 2 or 3 fe is the optimum no for financial sustainability.

Read this: http://books.google.com/books?id=ORRBRwcMbOgC&pg=PA79&lpg=PA79&dq=sears+sleep+pattern+REM&source=bl&ots=8SAJlccAtr&sig=FNAc-dMgnysKcjGUPsHqKDQj80c&hl=en&ei=xHufSq3kMJPd-Qag99XlDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

verds Wrote:> > But today I went to the health visitor, who said > to give baby rice at 5 months. No why do they say that when the DOH advice is 6m? And research shows waiting till 6m reduces the incidence of obesity/ heart disease as an adult? Stick to 6m, and start with pieces of soft veg.

CP one o'c club is very restful. Lovely staff... and can walk round the park, see the animals, go to swings after, and there's a cafe (though they do drinks etc in the one o'c club) I really recommend it. They do art and stuff and have a lovely play house.

snowboarder Wrote:> but he cries > in the pram, in the car seat (long and hard) and > in these situations I CAN'T pick him up...so does > this affect cortisol/stress levels too? Suppose > so.... I guess it does, but we have to be realistic. If you wear your baby in a sling and don't use a pram, and don't travel by car, chances are your baby won't cry very much. But that's not practical for many of us... so we just do the best we can. And if a family feel that they will only maintain their sanity via controlled crying, then I guess that's a better option than having a nervous breakdown or battering the baby! But I have a bad feeling about the childcare guru industry and the way you can buy magazines that say "Sleep through in 5 easy steps as if a baby is a diet plan! Another good book is Sears Nightime parenting. Lots of info about human sleep. http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070200.asp http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/t070800.asp (about night weaning)

Sing and sign is very good, lots of classes to choose from

wonderwoman Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ludoscotts, we got doodles from Clarks in Peckham > (a few doors away from Primark), there were loads > last time we were there, I think we paid about ?12 > for my son's ones. He's given them a good > bashing, we've put them in the washing machine > twice and they're still going strong! Give it a > try (cheaper than ordering from website) It's well nigh impossible to get G or H fittings in the shops, is the problem

http://www.unicef.org.uk/pages.asp?page=103 you may like to donate any old or unwanted shoes to the ShoeBiz appeal. This UNICEF initiative recycles footwear to raise funds for education projects worldwide, including safe learning environments across Malawi. To find your nearest participating store Click Here.

http://www.clarks.co.uk/find/Department-is-kids/ProductType-is-summershoe http://www.clarks.co.uk/Help/ReserveInstore

Exactly the same happened to us, my partner took son no 1 and came out with a G fitting, he's usually H. Shop refused to take them back, it was a few days before I realised. You can order shoes from clarkes website then try them on at lewisham clarks shop, don't pay unless you take them

Charisma gymnastics Saturday at dulwich college but long waiting list i fear

CP one o'c clock club... soft play at Peckham...