oldnewromantic

Happy to add another recommendation. Gives good advice, only does the work that needs doing, and very pleasant.

There are a few parking spaces on site but I've never had a problem parking on the mycenae road next to the school. The lessons are well spread out around the school so some crowding at changeover but not like the slds corridor. They don't have the nice changing room but plenty of room around and about. There is a waiting room with a coffee machine that you can use. I really liked SLDS's new building but yes, very stressful in that corridor. Blackheath also has an outside patio with tables and chairs which is a lovely little sun trap. My 7yo in particular has come on enormously since we moved and has also made proper friends, partly because they get a decent break to eat lunch together.

If you're after a formal setting with discipline, and formal exams, I'd recommend Blackheath School of Dance. I understand McAlpine is a formal one too.

hmmm... Littlelegs1 and hamilh have only EVER posted with recommendations about south london dance studios.

Those 'some other schools..' I was talking about? That's south london dance studios. I really would steer clear.

For anyone looking for a dance school, I have two daughters at Blackheath School of Dance. They love it there! The teachers are fantastic and really friendly. It has other advantages too. Much better value for money than some other schools. You don't have to sign up half a term in advance. You can observe the classes once a term, not once a year, and younger siblings are very welcome in the observation lessons. It is also made clear that you do not have to sign up to ballet, tap AND modern but can select what you want depending on what your child enjoys. These are all the sorts of things I would recommend you check before signing up to a ballet school. Since being there my 7 year old has taken her first ballet exam and is now preparing for her tap exam and I can see the progress that she is making.

Hello toomuchchocolate and melrose We still love Hollydale. It has such a lovely community feel to it. The head teacher is totally committed, very experienced and knows the names of EVERY child at the school. The after school club has recently been taken over by the school and I really can't fault it. They do lots of different activities with wonderful staff and also have a structured homework club. The school has links to the Royal Ballet as part of the Chance to Dance programme, it has an Artsmark Gold award lots of fabulous teachers. I particularly enjoy parents evenings. The teachers are always so excited about what the children have been doing and can't wait to show you. More and more parents are getting involved and the school can only get better. PM me if you want to know more

Try the Blackheath School of Dance. They do modern, as well as tap and ballet, but my understanding is that, unlike other schools, you can just do one or the other. I have two daughters at this school which is lovely and friendly. Worth giving them a call.

I wish you'd done this a few years ago when mine were little and I wasn't working :( Just to say to anyone thinking of joining, I am in the SE15 based Nunhead Community Choir which Swannieboy directs. It's my one thing I never miss. Even when I'm completely exhausted, a good old sing gets me up and going again. And we sound fabulous (even if I do say so myself).

Anyone have an update on this? It's July and they still haven't moved back

Hi PeterW Did you find a solution to this? Like you, I have a bag full and after several sessions was only about 10% of the way through.

There's been some fantastic feedback on this! It's only booked in for this term, but if lots of people use it and like it, it may well continue.

From September I will have both children at Hollydale and can second tallgirl that it really shouldn't be overlooked. It's a fabulous little school. I appreciate, Chantelle, you are focussing on Ivydale as it us your closest school, but if others are reading this are closer to Hollydale and want to find out more I (and I'm sure lots of other parents) would be more than happy to chat.

Don't be obsessed by stats. My husband and I are both analyst types by profession, so as you can imagine, we looked at it very numerically. We had a spreadsheet!! But just remember, this is about your child's individual outcomes that they get from the school, whether they be academic or otherwise. If only 60% do well, it doesn't mean your child has a higher chance that they themselves won't. There are many other factors, one of the most important being you. Having said that, one of the stats that I did look carefully at is on the good schools guide website, and it's the "Do bright children do well here?" stat. Visit the school, go to the concerts and events, meet the parents (lots of Ivydale mums sing in the Nunhead Community Choir, so you could have a sing song, come to the pub afterwards AND find out about the school).

Try posting on www.nunheadforum.co.uk as well. Ivydale mums use that forum and there are a couple of threads already there. Welcome to Nunhead!!

I went to the Bill Bailey gig and it was fantastic. Bring back EdFest!!!

I was offered a place at a very popular school 15 mins walk away, after the first term. A neighbour was also offered a place there (from being 9th on the list) and at another school 20 mins walk away. It really does depend on where you are on the list but there is a lot if movement in the first term.. In my experience schools are quite good about telling you where you are on the list. It's also a good idea to keep regular contact with the school so they know you still want the place. Good luck!

I had a home birth through kings and it was wonderful. The midwives there are absolutely brilliant. Having friends who live elsewhere, we are very lucky to live in an area where home birthing is so well supported. I'd really recommend considering it.

Hi Jaffe. Always good to find out what your options are, but I'd be interested to know what has made you change your mind so much. Unfortunately it's impossible to know if a school is right for your child until they attend. And two people can give very different views of the same school. If you want to change, I'm sure the Admissions team at Southwark would be very helpful. It's meant to be parents choice after all, and many children move around in the first year. What i do know is when you join a waiting list, your place is determined by the Admisdions criteria, so you will go above those who live further away.

There is a new surestart session for under 5's starting in Nunhead (I know a lot of Nunheadians use the EDF). It will be on Tuesday's from 10am to 11.45 at the Buchan Road Tenants Association Hall. There'll be music and singing, arts and crafts, games and storytelling. All parents and carers with under 5's are welcome. Flyer attached.

Definately worth looking at Camberwell Early years centre. My daughters both went to Nunhead Early Years Centre and it was fabulous. I hadn't thought of the council run nurseries until someone told me how good the Southwark ones are. The Nunhead one was Outstanding, but sadly it was closed in 2009 :( My youngest is now at Puddleducks which she absolutely LOVES, and so do I.

Anyone know anything about this dance school? Looks good from the website but that's all I can find out about it.

The soft play at Peckham Rye is good for tiring them out although a bit frustrating if they can't climb up to the top. Worth a try though. If you go at 9.30am you get until 10.50 for ?2. It's not too manic at that time either and the cafe's not bad.

Nymom I can only tell you what I did that worked for me and my daughter. She was about 5 or 6 months and waking up every hour. If I put a dummy in she would go back to sleep but only for an hour. It became clear that the time had come to help her learn to settle herself back to sleep. We used the method where you let her cry for 1 min, then soothe for 1 min (but no eye contact), then leave for 1 min etc. And gradually extend the time between soothes, taking the cues to do this from her. We did not just let her cry until she stopped. I was in no fit state to do this so I slept in the other room and my husband looked after the baby. The first night was awful. The second night she woke a couple of times. The third night she woke once. She always knew we were there for her, and I can't tell you how much happier we all were after just a couple of days. The result was a much happier baby who had learned how to sleep. Obviously if you don't feel comfortable with that method, for whatever reason, then I really do hope you find a way that works for you and your family. But please consider it.

Sounds similar to the one in Peckham Park. Again, not a big standard playground and does have support workers there. Where people come from is completely irrelevant. However, much as I disagree with charging for play areas, I would rather pay a discretionary donation than see it closed. Much as I do for museums like The Horniman.