Carbonara

glenfruin Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi, > I would like to pick up on the point of > completing all 6 choices on the CAF form rather > than running the risk of being allocated a school > by the LA should you only fill out a few.I > personally know of 2 families who filled out all 6 > choices and got none and were allocated schools by > the LA.One family being allocated a religious > school and they were not religious! The point here is to fill out the CAF including one school which you stand a v good chance of getting in to. I don't know what the families you mention did but I know people who put down 6 'choices' ALL of which were very long shots in terms of the admissions criteria they could meet, and as none of those schools could offer them a place they ended up being allocated another school. The LA doesn't find you a school off your list - the schools on your list tell the LA whether or not they can offer you a place based on their admissions criteria. Some people live in areas between 'catchments' so it is harder or they have less choice, or no security that their nearest school will admit them.

Charter has a 6th Form. Would you consider Dunraven within reach? They have an established and excellent 6th form. Kingsdale.

It is bizarre that any state funded statutory service provider can decline to publish results. Though of course they will be on the DoE website on due course. After the current admissions round. There should be more openess and accountability. There should be good routes for unhappy employees (and parents and children) to raise and discuss concerns. All this secrecy leads to gossip and the sound of grinding axes, none of which is good for the many children who are working hard, taught by hardworking staff. Or for parents who know that their child is doing well but keep hearing negative rumours of the kind which could easily plunge the school back into a spiral of decline. Which would be very sad.

There's a big difference between studying RE as an academic subject, learning about the religions that have shaped philosophy, art, literature, and an understanding of which can contribute to diversity and social cohesion, and conducting acts of worship - actually practicing the religion - in educational school time. People can practise religion in their own way at home and in their place of worship. What is it's place in a state finded community school? Learning about religions is inclusive. An act of Christian worship in a multicultural school is potentially divisive.

simonthebeaver - are you aware that under the National Curriculum all community schools are required by law to hold 'acts of collective worship', that these must be wholly or mainly Christian, and that Christianity must be taught as RE? http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6019874 But it is widely interpreted / flouted by schools. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jun/24/schools-not-teaching-religious-studies http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14794472

I think it's really important that children are introduced to Primary School through Reception class, though delaying until Easter could suit some children. The Foundation stage is different to KS1. More learning through play, teachers and TAs geared up to helping with life skills and the school system. From Nursery to yr 1 would be a very big jump. Also, applications for yr 1 could be even harder than in Reception, as you are relying on someone leaving. Many primaries (not necessarily just the 'dream' ones) have excellent induction processes. It's very common to offer a home visit for the teacher to come and get to know your child and answer any concerns you might have, some have staggered starts so that only a small number of children start each day so that the staff can look after them, and they can start with half days. Don't cut off your options - children who do not seem ready when you have to do the application can suddenly seem ready by the start date. Go and visit all schools likely to offer you a place and see how you feel.

furley-yap - thanks. I do agree that ther are black holes, and you would seem to be in one. However in campaigning for more provision, people will drill down into these questions. Some schools would become more desirable and achieve a better mix of children and results if parents did send their child to the closest school, as in etta's post of 4.13. The Dulwich estate factor is very frustrating, as is the provision of schools now in the hands of potentially maverick providers through the free schools rather than through LEAs. Madness. Good luck.

I thought SureStart and Children's centres were about helping familes who are struggling with things like parenting, rather than being a source of free leaisure and play activities? Though of course the two are often the same. It mmust be very hard for the centres to discern priority in a fair way.

"However, many parents in the area only put down the very over-subscribed Dulwich Village Infant School, and then use a private school instead if they don't get offered a place there. These children count in the stats of "received no offer of a preference of their choice". " And thereby lies one problem with statistics. Doubtless that situation then attracts the media in a shock horror expose, while the genuine shortage of available places further E on the Lewisham borders is far more of a real problem. It also demonstrates why it is important for parents to look at a school and talk to parents there, rather than following rumour and outdated reputations.

furley-yap: Did those 60 from the Dulwich area use all 6 choices? And did they all list their closest community school? Just asking for clarification as I saw that Cllr Hamvas posted that the majority of parents she helped had not used all choices. Is it being on the border of a borough that causes problems in finding a school, or the overall lack of school places and falling between catchments? Are there schools for which you would be eligible but which you do not like? There is an overall shortage of spaces in some boroughs.Dunraven, which is close to parts of the Southwark border, is consulting on becoming an all-through school, so providing more primary places. Is there an overall shortage of Southwark places, or is it that the distribution does not match the residential density of the borough?

Do make sure you list a school close by (in either borough) which you have a chance of getting into, or a faith school for which you have the necessary qualifications. If you use all your 6 choices to list schools for which you would be too far away from or do not fit the criteria, you will be allocated some other school in Southwark which has a place, possibly miles away. You are not guaranteed a place at one of your 6 choices unless one of them is able to offer a place. Some parents think they can trick the system by only putting their top choice down, or listing 6 over-subscribed schools for which they are too far away. It doesn't work like that. Good luck!

Yes!

It isn't necessary to be original, inventive or varied in packed lunches if your child is OK with the same old basics. And remember that 5 packed lunches don't represent the majority of her diet, so make up for protein etc at other meals and she'll be fine. Experiment at weekends with sandwiches made from: Marmite cold fish fingers avocado hoummous cucumber For a Reception child I would pack a lunch which is high calorie and will fill them up. They eat slowly and so spending time eating high bulk, low calorie foods such as carrot or cucumber batons may leave her short of energy and hungry. For the same reason I would avoid fiddly foods for Reception age. What about dairy-free flapjack?

Cllr Hamvas, you do a great job supporting parents in this schools application process. Good luck to all appplicants this year!

I think there is a delay in ParentPay log ins being issued, from ParentpPay (which is an external provider) rather than from the school. There may be a machine into which they can put cash and top up their card. The office will tell you.

Carluccios, St Christopher's Place http://www.carluccios.com/restaurants/st-christophers-place How special? Proper non-chain smart restaurant special? How young?

The Dartmouth Arms, Forest Hill, does an excellent Sunday Lunch. No play area etc, but will do small child portions, have high chairs etc.

Gill, 077364 00658. A qualified and experienced teacher, very kind and creative. Experienced in catching up and preparation for entrance exams. Off Lordship Lane.

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/media_nonmember_requests/1555557-Primary-School-Places should you wish to take part in the piece BBC LOndon news are doing on the subject.

Very shocking that with the backing of professional testimony your appeal was turned down. I saw a report about an academy in Hackney, Mossbourne, I think, turning down appeals by parents of children with SEN as they said they had 'too many'. I think it was successfully overtuned by parents who turned to lawyers, but I could be wrong. Was it an academy you applied to? Part of the issue was that academies have more leeway than community schools to control (aka fiddle) their intake, I think. I found a link: http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1074385/mossbourne-academy-loses-legal-challenge-failure-admit-sen-pupils and here: http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2012/08/21/mossbourne-academy-loses-challenge-special-needs/ and the IPSEA coverage: http://www.ipsea.org.uk/news/hot-topics/parents-win-despite-academys-refusal-to-admit-their-statemented-children.aspx.aspx I don't know whether this situation is relevant solely to statemented children or whether it could be relevant? Can IPSEA help you?

Medusa, your situation sounds terrible. What on earth happens now?

One trick with antibiotics and other nasty medecines is to give a chocolate button immediately BEFORE the dose, so that it is still in thier mouth when the nasty taste goes in. then another straight after.

I know lots of people were offered schools not amongst their top choices - has anyone been lucky in appeals or on waiting lists? Good luck to everyone for next week, whether primary or secondary starters.

Flat Ted has probably been to see his cousin where he went swimming a few times which cleaned his fur... I'm sure you can distress a bear in the washing machine and with some use of sandpaper. But fingers crossed that the previous poster spotted Flat Ted and he is still there.

Oh no...I hope you find it. Sorry if this reply got your hopes up, but at least it will bump your thread.