Billy

Just a quick note about GG school and those results. I am a parent with a child at the school. I was horrified by the results - they are appalling. The results also seemed so out of step with my perception of the school that my child goes to and loves. Having spoken to the head and governors I understand that there are various reasons for what happened - the outgoing year 6 (who joined the school when it was in special measures) had apparently been a difficult year group, but more importantly there had clearly been an issue with the leadership team who had taken their eyes off the ball. The new head (whom I think is fantastic) joined a week before the outgoing year 6 cohort took their sats and so bears no responsibility for the results. She has however very quickly implemented her own new way of doing things at the school (based around growth mindset) and the school feels really directed and energised. She expects to turn round the school's academic performance very quickly. The music, art and IT provision at the school remains outstanding. And it has a wonderful community feel. The ks1 team is already great and this is reflected in the ks1 results. I am keeping faith with the school and will be applying to send my younger child into reception there next September. I am really hoping that other parents with children going into reception next September, who visited the school, listened to the head, who looked around and liked the look and feel of the school, can look past the SATs and do the same.

From our summer meet ups it seems there are a lot of girls going into Goose Green reception!

Hi We are going away mid august for a week. But we haven't booked anywhere! Does anyone have recommendations for somewhere in the UK/France. We would he up for anything that is reasonably priced - camping, glamping, cottage, hotel. Thanks v much

Hi all My 19 month won't sit in a high chair or a booster seat. He will climb onto an adult chair and sit there - any thing else induces a tantrum. I am not sure what to do. I am prepared to be strict but I don't want to do this if this is the age that children tend to graduate to an adult chair anyway. Those with older toddlers, what age did your children move to an adult chair? I am tempted to get a Trip Trapp, but suspect that my son will not agree to sit on that either as he is fiercely independent and just wants to sit in the same seats as we do and to get up and down himself. Thanks

Hi all Thanks for the above, its really useful. We are still negotiating!

Hello I currently have a very good nanny who is employed on the basis of a nanny share with another family. She looks after 2 children, both 15 months. She has recently sought to increase her salary. She currently gets ?10.50 p/h net. I do not want to increase the rate if I can help it, but I also do not want to have a row with our nanny. If you do a nanny share could you tell me what you pay your nanny and what level of salary you think is reasonable. Many thanks L

This was my big obsession before my son was born. I was sure I would get it wrong, but don't worry you will know what is right for your baby. I found swaddling great for the first few months when he was too small for a gro bag (just vest, sleepsuit and sheet swaddle and when really cold a cellular blanket). Now he wears a 0.5/1 tog bag and a long sleeved vest, but when winter comes we will up the toggage and get the pjs back on.

I was in Kings post natal 6 months ago. In my experience the staff were all really nice, there was lots and lots of bf support (possibly too much!) and it was all clean. Definitely bring lots of yummy food to keep in your cubicle - hospital food is rank and does not aid recovery. Good luck. x

To add to the above yes yes yes - put your name down now. I put my name down at 20 weeks pregnant and so far nothing at all.

Hi - Sorry to hijak your thread snowboarder. I also have trouble with naps for my 5 month year old. He sleeps well in his cot, but only for up to 45 minutes at a time and I can't resettle him. He sleeps well in his buggy as well but again usually for only 45 minutes. I can't see how to extend to the magical/mythical 2 hour lunchtime nap.... How do people resettle their babies? He is always so wide awake after his 45 minute nap and doesn't understand why I am trying to get him to sleep. If he is happy, should I just let him be?

My baby is 4 months and has been on a bf strike for the last few days. He is solely breast fed and he had refused all of his feeds for 2 days. Tonight he finally fed properly again hooray. I went to the doctor and wailed this afternoon - he was not very sympathetic and told me to pull myself together and stop being so silly. Hopefully he is right. Hope it gets better for you. X

Hi - I am a new mum to a 14 week old. I was terrified before my husband went back to work but I actually enjoyed it because it gave me and my baby some peace to start to settle into our own routine (although we are still trying to find it!. Showers and getting dressed ARE tricky at first. But you find your own way. Until I knew that he would sleep a bit in the morning I used to shower last thing at night. Even now if I delay in the morning, I know he's going to wake up just as I get in! I ate lots of junk food in the day and I am regretting it now so get lots of nice food in so you don't need to think too hard re lunch. With regards being alone, I think it is hard at the start as most of the mum and baby activities are for bigger babies and I was not ready for any of it at 2 weeks. I am only just getting round to joining things now. But I agree with the above posters that its great to get out the house every day - go for a walk, go into town to see your partner, see NCT buddies etc. You will be great so don't worry.

Thanks for your messages. He took the bottle from my husband last night so am going to try to keep going with one a day. What is silly is that I hate the faff of expressing etc but I need to be able to keep him taking the odd bottle. Otherwise I will never able to go out again! LorraineLiyanage - had your daughter been accepting bottles all the way up to 5 months before she refused?

Hi, my eight week year old has just started refusing a bottle - I am reading the list of different bottle options in horror! Trying again tonight. Am hoping perseverence is going to work...

Thurs good with me - 9am is very early but can try!

Hi. I am a new Mum looking to join a mother and baby group and Wednesday sounds great. Look forward to hearing more.

Didn't use half the stuff in my bag but multiple cartons of Ribena and boiled sweets were essential during my marathon labour.

Hi and Congratulations. I am currently doing legs bums and tums at JAGS gym and its brilliant - about 1/2 hr low impact cardio, 15 mins strength with weights and then 15 mins of pregnancy specific stomach exercises/pelvic floor. It costs ?8 for non members and is on Mondays at 6.30pm. I did try to continue doing the normal exercise classes that I did pre pregnancy but the problem is that a lot of teachers do not know what alternative exercises to give you especially when they get to the abs section and so you don't get a full work out. Also I found that they were not that keen on you doing their class in case you do hurt yourself.

I went on a Monday and it was great. Cheap and strong cocktais so I couldn't go wrong! Admittedly if I was in a more discerning mood I might go elsewhere. But I will give it another try on a night when there isn't a 2 for 1 deal on.

It drives my absolutely wild when people dump stuff outside the charity shops because they are too lazy to go to the dump or turn up when the shop is open. What they are essentially doing is fly-tipping which is illegal although no doubt they ignore the very clear signage telling them not to leave their stuff as it will have to be thrown away and drive off feeling that they have done a good deed by giving stuff to charity. In fact it costs the charity shops lots of money as they have to sort out the mess left in front of the shops.

Just flicked through these posts - bit confused as to how flats for key workers (i.e. teachers / police / nurses etc) can stir up so much angst. Surely a good thing. And its going to be wonderful for the community to have a much improved library. Its a shame to lose the garden centre though.

Agree with all the general joy on the forum and if the new restaurant is anything like the fabulous (but far away) Song Que I will be very happy. Keep us posted.

Sad to hear it has closed down but we ate there once and it was a terrible meal and cost a fortune. Good bar area though. Looking forward to a nice Italian restaurant if the rumours are to be believed. And incidentally, has anyone been to Lorenzos near Peckham Rye and how does it compare to the fabulous Crystal Palace branch?

Referring to dc's post above - the Herne Hill scheme is the one I was referring to. It works really well.

I live very close to the station and parking is a nightmare because of the commuters who leave there cars in the road. Often I have to drive around for 20 minutes before I can find somewhere to park near my house. I would therefore welcome controlled parking. That said there are ways to deal with this without it being a revenue raising exercise. What about a residents parking scheme where there is an hour in each day when only residents in a street can park? That catches the irritating commuters who wouldn't be able to leave their cars there all day, without affecting shoppers who are parking for an hour or so and then leaving. I know that Lambeth has a similar scheme in place.