mrs.lotte

What a sweet post citizenEd. My 5 year old boy does this too, babbling 5 year old nonsense at the same time and I love it. He also hugs me a lot and tells me I'm the best mummy in the world (I'm not btw) I dont want him to get any older!

A big thank you to EDSNUB for the seed givaway at the Spring Fair at Goose Green school; we are looking for signs of life in our pumpkin in time for the 9th! Oh and thank you Ladymuck!

Swimming, Cinema, Bethnal Green museum of childhood, Imperial war museum, Godstone farm (big indoor play area if raining), Army museum.

Thanks for the tip verds, I did track mini down but she has moved out of Catford to Gloucestershire so including petrol money would cost ?200 which I thought was rather a lot of money to be spending on a 3 year olds party so am back to drawing board.

I am looking for a clown to entertain at my daughter's 3rd birthday party but not one who is going to splat a custard pie in their face or blast a horn unexpectedly in ear etc as I'll just have a load of crying kids on my hands. Any ideas?

Can anyone tell me anymore about the JAGS saturday drop-in? Is it suitable for a 5 year old who hasnt done anymore than chase a ball around the playground, has no football boots but is suddenly obsessed by playing football?!

Really pleased to hear that worked out for you clux. However our experience was rather different but I hope no less heartening. Our son did not get into any of our 4 choice schools (I have a vague recollection that we may have been offered the same school on initial allocation - JD?) we were eventually allocated Goose Green. He started in September and by November we were offered our 4th choice school. He is so happy and settled and doing so well that we did not take up this offer and he remains, thriving at GG reception (The same thing happened with the same results to at least 2 other children in his class) We have barely moved on the waiting list of our first 2 choices, but thankfully it hasn't mattered. So - different story BUT same message - there is hope!

Thank you for your reply pipling and wish you the best for your venture but not really what I am after; we have a full time nanny and my daughter also goes to a nursery 3 mornings, it was really a structured class which teaches a specific activity that I was hoping for. There seem to be a lot of local mums that dont work on Fridays so I was presuming this would be a busy day for such things...

Looking for something for my daughter to attend on a Friday while her bro is at school. She is 2 1/2 and very chatty. I think she would like gym or ballet or maybe something musical. She has done Diddidance, Tiny Gym and Little Bubbles in the past and loved them all for a while then interest waned so maybe something a bit less "circle-time-ish?" I would really appreciate your suggestions - thanks

I had my sons 3rd birthday party at Gambado and was very worried about the limit on the number of adults etc but in reality there was no questions asked and they even produced goodiebags for the uninvited siblings that rocked up. Also my son got to sit on a throne shaped like a tiger. It was fab.

Just got text; Goose Green school also open.

Text from school7am; Goose Green open as usual again today. Very busy on london bridge trains.

Goose Green school open but Tintagel Crescent not gritted. Buses running well from Grove Vale through to Elelphant. That's the spirit!

Another vote for Davina; the thirty minute ones are perfect length for busy mum (put kids to bed, jump around living room, make supper - sorted) I once got a dance one and it made me feel about 100 years old and rather prudish! Davina's one has some good tunes on it too.

No it doesnt but there is pay and display in the adjacent road; never had a problem getting a space MrsL

Last time I went, the flumes at Bromley were closed (and the parking was a nightmare) Depford wavelengths has a 'beach' (shallow walk in), waves and a little slide, it does have flumes but I've never seen them open!

There will be a number of current parents including pta members at the coffee morning at 9.15 on Monday 7th December to which all taking the tour are also welcome. Tour of the school will then be conducted by headmistress Mrs Sharron Marland at 9.45. There will be another tour on Monday 4th January 2010

Going to church "for a little bit" is unlikely to cut much ice with the priest when you go for your interview for a foundation place and given that you have to opt for a foundation OR open place then it seems to me unwise to go for a little bit and hope that will do. Whilst the evening standard report was, I thought, rather unfair on Belllenden in light of its good results for English and science the actual tables of sats results they publish are I presume FACTS. I note that Bessemer Grange's results rank higher than Goodrich (ofsted satisfactory), St John's (ofsted satisfactory) and heber (ofsted good) so why then is BG literally half empty? Goose Green in special measures and with 3 heads in as many years got english 68, maths 79 (better than heber) and science 82. It is higher in the sats results than Lyndhurst (ofsted good) and Bellenden (ofsted outstanding) I dont say those things to do any school down or promote one over another just to say that every part of the jigsaw is just that; a part. You could send your child to an ofsted outstanding school and they/you hate it. You could send your child to a school with the best sats results but their methods of teaching or pastoral care don't suit. Of course you want to look at sats and ofsted as part of your decision but I would advise going to see the schools (not meaning to sound preachy, this is advice in hindsight, I didnt and regretted it)and talk to parents with children in those schools. make a realistic (i.e geographically close) choice which you think will suit your child

Hi Steph, my child started at GG in september, I won't be at coffee morning as have to be at work but happy to be PM'd. We are very happy with his teachers and the leadership of the school. He didn't go to the nursery so I have no personal experience of it but it has the most amazing playground and seems a happy place and benefits from being involved in school events; xmas fair, cake sales, summer carnival, abel and cole scheme etc. I have put my daughters name down for a place when she is old enough.

Rosie I'm no expert and stress that whatever the position is this year, it may not be the same next. Bearing that in mind it is my understanding (as a local parent not in education or work for an lea) that last year if everyone in ED had put down a local school including the less popular Goose Green, Rye Oak and Bessemer Grange then everyone would have got a local place. Lots of people - me included - only applied to the most popular schools and - suprise - didnt get any of them, was allocated a distant school but (not without many sleepless nights) was eventually allocated Goose Green, which as I stated above I am very happy with. I havent heard of anyone who was allocated a faraway school that did not get something local on the waitlist. However there was a bulge at Goodrich and a extra half class at Lyndhurst in Camberwell although in saying that I believe that this has left Bessemer Grange half empty. Therefore as long as you put down ONE local school that you have a chance of getting into then you would be highly unlikely to get a school that is less popular AND miles away! Like I say I'm not an expert I'm sure there is someone with charts and graphs and statistics who could give you a more precise answer. Good luck.

It rather depends when you would be applying. Certainly in the last round you would not have been allocated Goodrich (pre bulge class) maybe Heber, not St.John's unless faith and only Goose Green if you applied for it as one of your 4 choices. If Goose Green continues its improvement you may find in a year or two that you are outside its catchment. It seems to me that Tyrell Road is a bit too far from everywhere at the moment. However things change and it's hard to predict what will be the most popular schools even a couple of years from now. There aren't many safe bets as far as catchment is concerned; if you love the house go for it! Wouldn't it be awful to buy a house that you weren't that keen on but thought was in a catchment only find that the particular school was no longer a "good" one or just didnt suit you? By the way I'm a Goose Green mum and think it is a super little school; my son is getting a great education and is very proud to be a goose greener. It really wouldnt be the end of the world if that was your option!

EVERYONE logs on to the forum! I do understand what you say toast but from a personal point of view when we were in the depths of despair over primary allocations Tessa Jowell was the only person of any influence who gave the impression that she gave a toss and we really appreciated it.

Mrs Katsu, only a fortune teller could really tell you what will be the school fate of mini katsu in 3 years time. It looks pretty likely that by then we will have a Tory government who could change the admission procedures. Schools reputation and popularity wax and wane. Bellenden primary is currently ofsted outstanding (i think) st john's is very popular, you may like a school even though it is not currently the in thing. There may be another school built (well you never know), an exodus of kids from the area etc etc You may also be in catchment for Dog Kennel Hill and Lyndhurst. Oh and the Villa although private is lovely and nearby. Chill, it's ages away and you cannot guarantee entry to a dead cert 2 years hence (not state anyway) Keep an eye on things, chat to parents who have children at your nearest school, go visit them in a year or two and when the time comes choose wisely. Enjoy your new home.

Fiona and James; thank you for your messages, you obviously understand and agree with the point that i make which is great. I do hope that parents making applications now are not mis-led into thinking that bulge classes will automatically be added to the most popular schools or we will see even more disappointed parents next year.

I agree Beth. The LEA appear to be encouraging parents to apply to oversubscribed schools in order to create a demand for a bulge class. I am very concerned that this is misleading people and that it could only be at the expense of the up and coming such as BG and GG. No doubt it's a vote winner but hardly sensible or principled.