mrs.lotte

We went to Sardinia with two kids in september 2 years ago. It was sunny about half the time. The people are lovely and the sea is quite the most amazing colour but the food wasn't as good as sicily (imo) and when it was overcast there wasn't terribly much to see or do. I would go with Eygpt. Good weather pretty much guaranteed. Treat yourself - keeping a 2 year old entertained in the rain is no fun at all. Wherever you go, have a lovely time.

llama, I'm sorry to hear that your son had bad experiences and don't blame you for finding another option at all. I don't have any experience of the nursery past or present but do know that a new head has been in place for some time and there are lots of new teaching staff and investment. Of course you should share your experiences; that's what this forum is all about but things do move on, people have different experiences and rather than tell people not to touch a particular school i would advocate that people keep an open mind and go see the less popular schools and decide for themselves. I wish I had; we put down the 4 most popular and ended up with a school some considerable distance away. After much heartbreak (and deposits to the prep schools) we have been offered and accepted ... Goose Green. Given that our options (like many others in ED) are very limited we are willing to give it a chance; we've been very impressed with the head, the changes we have seen and the pta and naturally I hope our experience is better than yours. I'm not nitpicking or seeking to hijack this thread to be about GG - it didnt fail the original ofsted on everything, the early years was rated as good at that stage, it subsequently had an ok interim report and then an inadequate one (about the same time st john's was rated satisfactory and dkh fell from outstanding to satisfactory) So I think what I'm trying to say is not to get too hung up by ofsted. I didnt even go and see GG because of that first ofsted but when I did and spoke to staff and pta I was very pleasantly suprised. Same is true of others I expect; they get a reputation and then it's a self fulfilling prophecy and everyone wants to add classes to "satisfactory" schools which is hardly likely to help them improve. I'm not saying I know the answers just trying to make a suggestion that people should cast their net a little wider in 2010.

Thank you Fuschia Very interesting - do you think they are planning on telling any parents about this?!

This year st.john's catchment was less than 300m from the school. I am intrigued by this one off solution - what was it? I live in east dulwich, my son did not get into any of his 4 choices, i was associated with a group of diverse parents lobbying and publicising the issue but have not noticed any "real progress". I understand that the council believe that there was a babyboom in 04 and this year was a one off. Looking around; I doubt that. No new schools will be built by 2010, all the schools we applied to (st j, h, g and dkh) seemed dead set against expansion. One solution may be to support the less popular schools eg goose green, rye oak, bessemer grange. It may be that with a wider demographic, involved parents and a bit of goodwill they could be good options for 2010 and beyond.

Crazy Bear in stadhampton, oxfordshire; very cool rooms, great restaurant, just off M40 nice countryside and biscester village nearby. Or malmaison in Oxford (in the old oxford prison) also cool rooms nice restaurant in house and nearby, beautiful walks through city and by river. [my mum lives nr oxford so kid free nights tend to be nearby so that no time that could be spent sleeping, reading something other than Mr Men, not sharing what i am eating and drinking is wasted!!) However perhaps easier cos this side of town; hotel du vin in tunbridge wells? Enjoy

"please might be nice", "what did you have for lunch today?" (the most boring question in the world for a 4 year old who cant remember anyway) "I want never gets" "play nicely" Going from 0 to 100mph in terms of reaction to low level irritation. More to come I expect.

Has anyone had any success?

Gowlett, Ganapati, The Rye (well done SE15)

Bethnal Green museum of childhood. Can park nearby for free on sunday; great cafe little shop selling fab stuff and loads for kids to do - tinies to about 8yrs I would have thought (mine are 2 and 4 and both LOVE it). Not too packed and FREE!

sainsbury's good, toys r us on old kent road - always finding stuff there that have just paid twice as much for at soup dragon. Also amazon - love that free home delivery and choice bewildering