mrs.lotte

I know that there is a Woodcraft folk group at Goose Green but can anyone tell me day/times they meet? Ditto nearby cub group? Thanks

I believe that Goose Green is very likely to take a bulge class.

As I understand it, and am no expert, the figures include a value added which allows for the improvement between the end of key stage one and the end of key stage two; effectively how good the teaching is. The brilliant results at Goose Green, the highest of the local community schools, achieved whilst those poor teachers were coping with the strain and scrutiny of special measures is to their eternal credit. I agree that SATS are only one aspect of a school but in GGs case it is, in combination with it being the first school in Southwark to achieve the every child matters award, solid proof that it is going places fast thanks, in no small part, to a refreshed teaching staff and strong leadership. So academic performance is not the be all and end all but hard to ignore! If your confidence in your choice of primary school is knocked by the poor results of your chosen school then, if you haven't already, go and see it and others again speak to parents with children at the schools and ultimately don't be fooled into thinking that certain schools are "good" and others are "bad". Goose Green has an open day on the 11th January (4 days I believe before the closing date for applications for reception places. We are told that we will be accomodating a bulge class so we are looking like quite a good bet.

Goose Green's next open day is, going to be on Monday 6th December and there will be another one in January before the deadline - I believe that will be on Monday 10th January.

Are any trains running into City Thameslink from Denmark Hill or Peckham Rye? Thanks

Goose Green school open as usual.

Given that I have a son who has no inclination towards handicrafts I bought teacher some posh shower gel last year and a nice candle this year but at the end of reception year we did a collection and bought all the teachers and TAs a huge bunch of flowers. Can't believe that I hadn't thought of wine - that's next year sorted.

As I understand it you are able to put down 6 schools this year cross borough. It may be worth waiting to see if the local councils can confirm the siting of bulge classes before the deadline for applications which may give a better idea of where you are likely to be allocated. Have to confess we are on a sibling place at Goose Green where we are very happy so not stressed at all but I do remember the nightmare of 2 years ago. All worked out though.

Goose Green open as usual. As of 9am only 2 staff hadn't arrived but they were on their way. Top marks to the teachers and the caretaker. I do hope the council prioritise gritting the roads around the schools, I think pick up might prove treacherous/embarrasing!

Dear McE, Sent you a PM Good luck with your decision. Mrs Lotte

The term after they turn 3.

We use milkandmore and are near Goose Green. Found them to be very reliable, can amend order at short notice and get the occasional promotional freebie (dont get too excited; like a yoghurt or some orange juice).

Would any lovely forumites save me ringing around and advise as to any local ballet classes for my 3.5yr old girl currently running sessions on a saturday? Preferably pay as you go! many thanks mrs.lotte

I have a daughter at GG nursery; she is very happy indeed and I think that the staff and facilities are wonderful. I also have a son in Y1. We did not apply for the school 2 years ago as it was in SM but were given the allocation in the shakedown and I can honestly say that I wouldn't move him (indeed we had the option last year when offered our 4th choice and didn't take it) in my opinion the school has very high expectations of the children in terms of academic achievement and behaviour. The sats results and every child matters award evidence their success in achieving those expectations. In my experience the children are taught to the level of the highest achievers and are also streamed to a greater or lesser extent. I believe that parents need to get behind the school; it is the partnership of school and parents that make somewhere good or outstanding. I believe that Mrs Marland and her staff will achieve that but if parents wait until then they may find it rather more difficult to get in! Hope you enjoy your visit, please feel free to PM me with any queries.

Ta

Is that 9.30 first session, 11am second session? Thanks

Does anyone know the times of the first and second sessions on a sunday? Thanks

My daughter started at Goose Green nursery in September and she loves it. I have a son in year one so she was dying to join her big bro at big school. The teachers are just wonderful, she has made loads of friends and brings home lots of art work, cakes/biscuits that they have made and other "creations"! It also has a fantastic playground of its own where they are involved in lots of gardening projects. The inside space also seems pretty generous. Highly recommend. You have probably been to one of the nursery open days but, if not,(I noticed from a brochure for the nursery that I spotted in John Allen flower shop today) they have one on the 18th October 2010 9.40-11am and on 6th December 2010 9.40-11am.

Thanks James. It does occour to me that if all swim school places are taken up on monday and/or tuesday and by those with the time (and stamina) to stand in a queue for half the day then the children of working parents do rather seem to lose out. Isn't the answer on-line enrollment? That is, when the computers aren't down.

My husband tried to enquire about children's swimming lessons this morning but wasnt willing to stand in a 2 hour queue, went in for a swim this evening; the computers were down so no info re swim school, pool too cold and it just doesnt suit anyone; too cold and boring for children and too shallow for serious swimmers. Tried to call them later, no-one answering phones. Same old fusion. We were so excited, very disappointed. JB - Thanks for giving them a nudge about the temperature, it's a deal breaker for the kids

busymum, I don't think the wraparound care at GG is available to nursery children, there are however a fair few childminders and nannies dropping off and picking up (mine included!)so although it is not as straightforward for working mums it is certainly possible. I think that children can go full time in the term commencing after their 4th birthday. Also I believe that there may be some vacancies when a raft of children start reception in January 2011. Glad you enjoyed the open day - there will be another one soon - a chance to show off some of the refurbishment which has been going on over summer. Also GG not only out of special measures but also acheived its best ever sats results (10th highest in Southwark I have heard)

I don't live in Ryedale I'm afraid - we are fortunate enough to be very near our chosen school; Goose Green. However I do have a 3 year old and am aware that although you can start applying now you have until the end of January next year so plenty of time to look around schools, get some information from other parents and perhaps have a good idea where any bulge classes are likely to be (not Heber or Goodrich as they have taken ones in the last 2 years) From what I hear and see the problems with the '10 intake was nowhere near as a bad as 09 when there was a ED wide dearth of places. I think that there will be a large over subscription at Goodrich next year as they took a bulge in 09 and so there will be additional siblings for the 2011 intake. Have a look at all your local schools - you might be suprised as to which ones you like. FYI - if you havent been before, Goose Green has an open day on the first monday of every month which includes a tour of the whole school by the head teacher and an invite to the PTA coffee morning afterwards which gives visitors the chance to speak to parents with children already at the school. Other schools will do similar. Good luck

Latchmere - Battersea; lots of middle class parents (very dad heavy on a saturday) 2 slides, both toddler aged, wave machine shallow entrance, car park (usually full) toddlers pool but usually closed for swim lessons on a saturday. Woolwich is much more of a leisure pool; 1 huge slide which goes right outside the building, 3 practically vertical slides side by side, several kids slides, toddlers pool, wave macine, shallow entrance, water jets and probably same level of busyness as Latchmere with a really high lifeguard count.

Having been to Depford, Latchmere and Bromley in order to search for something comparable to the pool (sorry, sub-tropical swimming paradise) at Centerparcs we have found a winner. It's a bit of a hike but well worth it - Woolwich leisure centre (just beyond the woolwich ferry turn off) it has LOADS of slides, several pools, a wave machine decent changing facilities and a car park. It is brilliant.

The schools are all closed for summer at the moment so I'd be suprised if anyone answered the phone! However I believe that the allocation of places will still be in the hands of the local authority at this stage in the academic year so give Southwark education dept a call and ask for advice/to be put on waiting list for your closest schools. Be warned; they are not terribly helpful or efficient but keep pestering them and/or try contacting your local councillor direct. There are lots of children in this area and school places are hard to come by so you may not be allocated a close one straight away but as your daughter is a January start you may find that places free up between Sept and Jan. Good luck and welcome to the area - you'll love it