Mrs TP

I don't think there is any flexibility at the primary school nurseries, you get free either 5 morning sessions or 5 afternoon sessions Mon to Fri during school term time only. Note they are closed in school holidays. They are state run and not private, which is where you can buy more flexibility. Think of it as like being at school for half a day i.e. fixed hours.

It is so annoying and contradicts itself. As LondonMix says 'Technically, there is no such thing as joint-tax assessments in the UK' - the gov't are using this line in their defence of not considering household incomes but on assessing individual wage earners. However, where there is a single higher tax earner it is usual for the other partner to apply for and receive the child benefit. So the non-working partner looses their benefit or if they continue to receive it then the wage earner is taxed on it - so in this instance joint taxing is allowed. It's bullshit.

WorkingMummy - 'honesty-lite' love it, which I would take to mean Susyp 'oh thanks but no my daughter is not too keen / up for play dates at the moment'. Only if pushed do you have to come up with a reason and this is where you need to deviate and say something like 'I think it's all a bit too much for her after the school day remember last time she was really upset'. You need to be minimal and not over chat, which it is easy to do in such a situation. Your only real problem here is if your daughter gets invited somewhere else that you are more comfortable with ... A friend of mine has been going through similar recently in trying to avoid particular play dates and it makes for a worrying school run and an added hassle in life you can do without. Some people seem to do millions of play dates all the time. It was something I hadn't even contemplated when my eldest started school but like everything in parenting you get more used to it with experience. Good luck negotiating the playground minefield! I think the kids are probably better at it than us parents :)

GinaG3 It's not the procedure or care that is worrying me but the state of affairs that the NHS is paying for me to go private and that that is the best option for them - just doesn't seem right that it is the most economically viable option.

Oh dear. One of ours used to bite when she was a toddler and we used to separate her from her older sister and have a time-out situation. She hated it and screamed the house down. But we just would not tolerate this at all and it seemed to work and it passed quite quickly. Kids do odd things when they are tired etc but they have to understand that such behaviour is not to be tolerated no matter what brings it on. Detailed discussions with little ones re right and wrong do go over their heads but they do understand positive responses to good behaviour and negative ones to unacceptable behaviour.

I'm having day surgery via Kings on Monday but they are shipping me out to a private hosp in W1. All v. bizarre but apparently it is cheaper for them to pay for me to have op privately than to pay a fine to NICE / Gov't if they fail to meet their waiting list deadlines. It all seems v. wrong and I'm not really comfortable about the whole situation. Anyone else experienced this?

Defo Shot by the Sheriff. It was a tenner when we went a couple of years ago and you need to make an appt but you get a free keyring with an extra pic of your bubba and they more patient and skilled in the photo dept than your average pharmacy assistant. Pharmacy assistants = for medicine Photographers = for photographs

You should be aware that if they miss school the school do not go over what they missed including all the early intro to basic maths / phonics etc. They are just expected to pick up from whenever they start. Also the child may find it difficult to 'break in' to existing friendship groups and will have missed out on play dates, b'day parties, school trips etc. All kids settle down into the learning side when they are ready and for some this can be into the juniors! There is loads of playtime in reception and a gentle intro to the formalities of how school works. I have an August born daughter, who is now in secondary school, you would not think she is almost a year younger than some of her year group. She was quiet and shy in reception (started January as that what her school did at the time) and the learning kicked in for her in year 1. It is a worry, especially as it was a bad experience for you but can you not use this experience to help her through it? Good luck.

If it proper stinks it is defo foxes - the smell lingers and lingers. And also if looks like Gillian McKeith would turn her nose up at it then another indicator it is foxes - they don't have the best diets. Nightmare :(

Have you lost weight? I always had to keep a little bit of weight about me to keep my supply going.

Will depend if others have applied for multiple schools and which is their preferred choice if get offered more than one place.

Note they don't do children at E Dul - took my 8yr old there yesterday after being specifically referred by GP. Took our numbered ticket and waited 45 mins to be told no go to Kings but they did phone Kings for me and I got appt for later the same day. Kings said they get about 20 children each week who have been wrongly advised to go to East Dul.

How truthful can we be? I ended up with pin down for my first two children - stresses all around. No 3 who is 3 has irregular brushing when she is in the mood so can be 3 times some days and 3 times some weeks - I do it, she does it, her siblings do it for her all with permission and no pin down and sometimes noone does it for a few a days. Older two both had teeth out and fillings and younger one as yet untroubled - irregular sustained brushing working better for us.

Oh gosh I am probably going to be a bit miserable as in like us all applying this year it's going to be a case of where there is space rather than choice but no harm on you having feedback on both from parents involved in those schools and you developing a preference. Heard good things about them both. And on reflection just really grumbling to myself as we should have a sibling place elsewhere to your considerations but there are so many siblings at our school I don't feel that is a cert either. Many schools popular and all doing their own flavour of good stuff!

Great guys n' gals exactly what I needed, some good leads. Cheers and quite open to expanding our postcode horizons.

???? - I laughed out loud, v. funny :)

Open to a mix on Lordship but was pleased the Cash Converters by Goose Green Roundabout didn't last - don't want anywhere too handy for all those thieving scum burglars to cash their loot in - make them drive to Beckenham, in our nicked cars!

I have a keen 11yr old, who has previously had lessons on smaller indoor courts with soft balls and has some experience of out door, all weather surface, full size courts but is looking for a club to join. Any recommendations welcome. Thanks in advance.

Wow - contact your building insurance people and discuss with them.

Just watched this on catch up 4 on Demand from last night as a friend told me about it. Phil Spencer interviews his clients in the summer house at the museum - no point to make, just a general interest point for all the family roomers who like me have spent many a day there.

Of local interest: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/education/school_tables/secondary/12/html/210.stm

Is that why noone has mentioned the 36% figure in the exam league tables published yest?

Fiona Foster ballet teacher does classes at Push Studios off Lordship Lane on Mons and Weds. Mainly girls but a smattering of boys, whom she actively encourages. One boy yesterday around 3yrs old did a class in his superhero costume. Fiona is very relaxed on outfits. I think most little girls do it because they want to prance around in pink but if you see the older classes and the girls who have stuck it out there is not much pink in sight.

I think little children don't remember holidays but holidays can contribute to part of the way you bring your children up - for example letting them help you pack, the journey and the things you do when you are there etc. They are all new experiences for the children and it puts them in good stead for preparing for holiday upheaval when they are older. They may not remember a specific holiday but they do have an awareness of something else that you do as a family and is (hopefully) fun. I would say all holidays with kids are hard work. They don't stop needing help with their daily lives just because you are away and particularly with 2/3yr olds who seem to be obsessed with going to the toilets in new places. Have fun.

Crumpets cut into four to expose the inner part - the edges get treated like toast crusts in our house!