LizzieF

I also concur. Can't vouch for the fish - I've only ever had saveloy or sausage there - but Ken's do the best chips we've found around here. Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Asset Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Ken's - Half Moon Lane. > > I concur.

Sounds like a clever chap! How about further study at somewhere like Imperial, doing an applied maths PhD: http://mpecdt.org/ Or looking for jobs as an actuary in the City? Mr F.

Hi Everyone, Judith Kerr Primary is holding our inaugural summer fair on 12th July 12noon - 3pm. We have a sporting theme with a mini sports day in the offing as well as lots of games, bouncy castle and the famous German sausage man's bratwurst on the BBQ and beer supplied by Brick Brewery. Do come and join us and help us celebrate our first year of operation! We still have spaces for stall holders. Please get in touch if you're interested. ?15 stall fee. Thanks Friends of Judith Kerr Primary

I've taken my kids out of school nursery during term time before. We just told them we'd be away, didn't ask permission because it's not compulsory for a child to attend. Only done it for day or so at a time but know others have done a full week. Do it whilst you can!

Hi, Our son is in reception at Judith Kerr and we feel very lucky to have a place there. It's been a fantastic experience for all of us particularly as we were one of a number of families who originally got none of our 6 choices. The school has a friendly almost family feel. The teachers are fantastic and have put so much effort into getting it up and running and I can't praise the head enough - approachable, welcoming, with a wealth of experience. Max class size of 25 is a big plus as is the opportunity to learn another language. Our son is loving it and has already made some really strong friendships. Play dates can be an issue but those that travel a further distance to school mostly drive so it's not such a problem. Plus the Florence pub in Herne Hill has a play room so this has been used on more than one occasion for get togethers! I'm not concerned about the hot meals issue - if Southwark weren't doing free school meals he'd be getting a packed lunch anyway. It's obviously still a work in progress in some respects though not at all in the teaching or the school experience of the children as far as I can see. It's exciting to be part of the school as it grows and evolves. Admissions policy is 50% distance, 50% lottery. Hope that helps!

Thanks for the info, will come in useful. Shame they're getting replaced as they're nice-looking bridges... Mr F.

We potty-trained our two children in the same way at the same age(about two and a half). The first (a boy) just simply stopped weeing in the night with no prompting from us about two weeks after being trained, and this was with a glass of warm milk at bedtime. The second continues to soak her nappy every night a year on from the start of training, and doesn't have a drink at bedtime I reckon it must just depend on the child, like a physiological development thing...

Mr F here. Thought I'd bump this interesting discussion. Anyone have any more thoughts? We're also considering going carless with two kids (3 and nearly 5)... Mrs F wants to go the zipcar way

Epic seems to be aimed at slightly older kids (maybe at those who are starting to doubt the existence of fairies?), but it's good fun and quite pacey so it should hold her attention. Maybe the nasty insect lot will be a bit scary... dunno. I took our oldest to see Cars 2 at a similar age and he struggled to sit still (funny reading the toilet comment - he went for about five toilet breaks during the film!) if there was anything other than slapstick or action scenes. Mr. F.

Yeah, the new head said at an open evening that the teacher responsible for those maths results has since left the school! They're also considering putting the older kids into sets for subjects like maths, which is a good idea, I think.

I visited yesterday and was very pleasantly surprised. Lots of good stuff happening. If you've been given Langbourne and it wasn't one of your choices, as we have, I would urge you to visit. Now I feel that I wouldn't hesitate to send my son if it wasn't for the distance we'd have to travel.

Greekmum, who did you speak to at Lewisham? I've phoned twice about waiting lists and been told two different things. First they said, Yes, Southwark residents would automatically be on waiting list for higher choice schools in Lewisham. Then this morning they said only Lewisham residents automatically added and we have to tell Southwark we want to stay on waiting list for Lewisham schools and Southwark then send a list to Lewisham when 2nd May deadline for accepting school place passes! Utterly confused and scared! We're also in Highwood Close with the same schools applied to as you so Horniman and Eliot B are our closest and obviously in Lewisham - doesn't bear thinking about if it turns out we're not actually on the waiting list! Had no reply from the schoolpref email address but imagine they're very busy.

Gina, sounds like we're in exact same position. We're in Highwood Close between Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Common so Horniman our closest too. I want to turn down our Langbourne place but slightly nervous even though I know I don't want him to go there. My retired teacher mother has said she'll home school him if worst comes to worse. She lives in Devon though! When I spoke to Lewisham I told them we live in Southwark and they said we would be on the waiting list for our higher schools. They can't give waiting list position until mid-May which actually I'm pleased about otherwise I would only feel even more anxious about the whole thing if I was told I was 20th or worst for Horniman! We're 47th for Goodrich! I've just done appeals for Horniman and Eliot Bank via the Lewisham website - lewisham.com - education - schools admission - appeals button at bottom of page. It'd be good to know when waiting list places start to be allocated but guess that all depends on who accepts/declines what. I do see from the letter that if we don't accept by 2 May then it's assumed we don't want the place so perhaps that's when we'll start hearing.

I'm in Southwark and have just called Lewisham. You can appeal to a Lewisham school through their website. You are automatically put on the schools waiting lists for the high choices you didn't get ...assume this means those schools that are higher than the school you were given. Lewisham aren't giving out waiting list position until 14 May. I think this date is also the deadline for appeals. Trying to stay calm! Either way I'm not sending my son to Langbourne! Has anyone actually turned down their offer of Langbourne?

Yep, it would appear that Langbourne is taking the overflow for SE22! We got none of our 6 and were given Langbourne. As I understand it from various sources, Southwark automatically put us on the waiting list for our top choices. Most people do then get given a place at one of these. That could happen within the next couple of weeks or it could take up until (or beyond) September but the schools don't manage their own waiting lists until July. So maybe no point in calling the schools yet? I could be wrong, I'm waiting for the official letter so I can start officially ranting. It does seem like it's really no choice at all and we went through all that confusion and stress when doing the application only to have to go through similar again.