mrs.lotte

Sadly, I don't think that any of the state schools in ED have grassy fields/playgrounds. Goose Green school does however have a green screen of absorbent bushes and trees, a lovely wildlife garden, vegetable patch, gardening club, mini beast mansion and basically does everything it can to encourage an understanding of and love of nature within the constraints of the building. Cyberia, if you ever get the chance to come into the school come and take a look at the nursery playground which can't be seen from Grove Vale very well or from Tintagel at all. It all looks different from the inside! I think most schools are keen to encourage children to walk to school, personally, when I can do the drop offs and pick ups it seems to me to be a really fun part of the children's day, waving to their mates and running in or out with them at the beginning and end of every day. Those who drive when they don't absolutely have to are really missing out on this.

No surprise at all to those of us who have children at the school. We've been telling ED all of this for some time. Hooray for those parents who came, saw for themselves, applied for a place and were lucky enough to secure one, you can be confident that your child is going to a good and happy school. Very proud to be a GG mum.

IMO it's the very best. I am sitting in the school reception waiting for my daughter to finish ballet, i have just take a straw poll of the children around me and the 100% response was "I love school". Check out the ofsted when it comes out, I am expecting it to be happy reading. Come and see for yourself, next open day is 3rd July.

Can anyone recommend a good company to purchase plants from online? Not inspired by the local garden centres and have used Crocus but the plants were all v.small and then they sent me daily spam emails Thanks

Sainsburys, complete with bearskin!

I'm so sorry to hear that the council won't let you free up the place at Goose Green when I know that there are lots of parents in the nursery who really really want to stay at the school have failed to secure a place. Madness.

I have two children at GG, one in Y2, one in reception. We are very very happy. Quite happy to be PMd with any queries

Snowboarder, that depends which schools you put on your list I guess. ???? did you put Goose Green, St John's, Bellenden (has a bulge this year) or Bessemer (also has another bulge) I would have thought that you would have got into one of these on first round and, if you didn't put any of them down, I would do so now and hope for a waiting list place, you are geographically close enough I would have thought. Fingers crossed for you

Oh quids that's rubbish. Happened to us a few years ago (although then you could only have 4 choices then so you have been really unlucky) However the advice we were given was that if we refused our allocated place then the council would effectively take us out of the system and we would not be able to remain on the waiting lists for the schools that were on our list or go on to waiting lists of schools that we hadnt originally applied for. Naturally Southwark admissions will be in total disarray but you can email to find out where you are on waiting lists. There is always movement, you will be fine. But I would take some advice before refusing a place, I really wanted to do that as a two fingers up to the council when we were offered John Donne (uh?Where?) but it would have meant cutting off our nose to spite our face and council woudlnt have given two hoots. Hold your nerve and good luck.

Ok, I see moths everywhere at the moment; carpet, curtains, bed linen. How do I get rid of them? Always thought mothballs or sachets are for drawers or wardrobes, doesn't really meet my needs. Advice appreciated. Thank you!

Pam Hulme, if she has availability, Pam50 on the forum. Utterly brilliant and lovely.

I have a 7 year old boy in Y2 at GG. I think it would be a rare child who didn't pick up bumps and bruises during playtime but if your son doesn't want to go to school then it doesn't sound like a simple case of boys will be boys. My lad can be boisterous at times and sensitive at others so I guess he's pretty average. He has always been content at school and happy to go. I'm certain that the school has a bullying policy, I thought all schools had to. They have friendship spots where you can go if you don't have anyone to play with and someone will come over and ask you to join in with them, they also have play facilitators who organise games etc. discipline and respect for one another is very important and bad behaviour is dealt with swiftly. Sorry to hear that your boy has had a rough time, heartbreaking for you too. I wish you well

What about Bessemer fidgetsmum? I know parents who have children there who are very happy, the ofsted and sats are both good and it sounds like they are having another bulge class so likely to get a place if you wanted it. Sounds like your end of ED should be fine for school places with Bellenden and Bessemer taking extra classes.

We are Goose Green; Y2 and reception, excellent dynamic leadership and teaching. With excellent sats results. lots of male teachers for a primary, full time dedicated art teacher, an amazing music teacher (think of a cooler Gareth Malone) on site wrap around school run breakfast and after school clubs, wide range of very cheap after school classes, silver eco school award, brand new kitchen and loads of other stuff. Have a look at the website and you can click on to look at past news letters to see what's going on. I'm still shocked when I hear that parents who do not have children at the school and bemoan a supposed lack of local primary places slag Goose Green off, I can only presume this is borne out of an ill informed snobbery. Having said that, it's horses for courses and there's no substitute for judging for yourself. There's a school tour on Tuesday 6th come and have a look. I suspect that all the schools on your list are more than fine but you'll have an instinct which suits your child/ren. Good luck.

The catchment area varies from year to year but are all pretty small, if you put schools down which you live too far away from then the local authority will place you at the nearest school with places which is unlikely to be in East Dulwich but more likely to be North of the borough e.g Old Kent Road. Puting down schools that you won't get into is just a pointless waste of your choices really. If you haven't already I urge you to go and see all your nearest schools; from where you are probably St.John's, Bellenden, Lyndhurst, Goose Green, Bessemer Grange, Dog Kennel Hill and Rye Oak. All of these schools will have parents who are happy and parents who are less so, it's very much a personal and often instinctive thing. I suspect that you will find them all pretty similar. Good luck and try not to worry, there are lots of good options locally provided you are canny with your list.

I took very little leave as i'm self employed; 6 months with number 1 and 9 months with number 2 but can pass on a few coping strategies. Totally endorse that good childcare and general delegation is the key. I work full time but my job is such that my hours vary and I can take them to school and even pick up sometimes. When I get in I try not to answer my phone, look at the internet or do anything but concentrate on them until they are tucked up, I figure 2 hours of total attention is as good as a whole day never really giving them full concentration at all; quality not quantity. The fact that the nanny has fed them by the time I get home is a massive bonus. I am very involved in their school as part of the PTA and our PTA is very well supported by the head and teaching staff which means I have a really good handle on school life. Make the most of your day off, not signing them up for millions of classes or playdates just spending time together. I'm sure that if I was at home all day I would be a helicopter parent and it's therefore good for them and me that I'm not. Being able to actually make phone calls, post letters, eat lunch, drink a coffee whilst it's still hot, re gaining your identity in preparation for them leaving home one day - all good things. Last year I didnt make my daughter's nativity play for the second year running, I had raced back from work early and then circled ED looking for a parking space, very frustrating and I cried buckets, she wasn't in the least bit bothered. They will be fine. Good luck.

Yep just checked again with the school and the tour days have been changed to Tuesdays so that the next one is Tuesday 6th December.

So surprised was I that dollyjo had her calls unanswered that I have just rung the school to ask if there has been a problem with the phones. It is answered by an automated service which gives you a number of options, press zero and it will take you through to the school office. My call was answered straight away despite this being the busiest time of day. The receptionist told me that there hasn't been any problems on the lines and that they aim to answer every call by 2 rings(!) although that is not always possible if all 3 lines are engaged and/or they are dealing with parents. Best time to ring is after 10am. They confirmed that there will be a tour at 9.15 on Monday 5th, hope that helps.

Hi Dollyjo, I am amazed that the phone hasn't been answered, I ring regularly as my children attend the school and it is always answered immediately and whenever there has been any problem with the phone system parents have ,been informed by text and we have had no such text! Do check you have the right number just in case it is 020 8693 3568. The last tour was this Monday just gone and was advertised on the forum. The next one should be the first Monday in December (Monday 5th). Have a look at the website too, that will give you some info and you can click on to view the school and PTA newsletters to find out more. www.goosegreenprimaryschool.org

Planning on trip to science museum with a gang of 7 year old boys for IMAX etc birthday trip. Bearing in mind they will be hyper and I will be grouchy so need minimal travel time, changes of transport and interaction with the general public, what route would you recommend? Thanks

Goose Green primary's after school club is ?32 per child per week or ?7.50 daily rate for occasional attendance. It is run by the school (as local authority pulled funding for wrap around care - nothing like discouraging people from going to work eh?) and is on site.

My tall 4 year year old daughter (wears aged 5-6 clothes) has a pink salwar kameez and a cerise bejewelled 2 piece (skirt and top) brought back from India by one of her lovely school friends which you are welcome to borrow. No sari I'm afraid.

Well done indeed. Having been out of special measures for well over a year (as can be seen from the start date of this thread) Goose Green school has seen it's 3rd year on year rise in sats results putting it well above most local schools last year and with even better results this.

Have been thinking about this too. Had thought Dr Who exhibition but it is v.expensive, London eye or IMAX plus lunch on south bank? Is there a go kart track in burgess park? Paintball? Sorry for stream of conciousness. Watching thread with interest!

I won't be going again. Went for lunch today with 2 kids. 45 minutes after ordering there was no sign of our food. Only because we asked were we told that there was a problem in the kitchen that they were trying to sort out, in other words they hadn't started making our food. Problems happen but I can't forgive not telling us and giving us the option of going elsewhere before we became starving and fractious. Big thumbs down. Just come to park cafe, food arrived in 5 minutes. Order restored