Indiana

My work pay for 5 days a year for emergency childcare....but it can be booked in advance. It used to be via a nursery but now its via a childcare provider where you can nominate local servcies/nannies....so they will basically pay the day rate for an emergency nanny for 5 days. Check whether your/your husbands work don't have a similar policy?

I've always experienced good customer service from him - including some free advice and thread on how to fix some shoes (he said I could easily do it myself). To be fair, the guy has to earn a living...

Haven't been for a while but recently returned from trip to Paris and all of our friends were using airbnb for apartments - might be an idea?

For the Lanes you have to be a patient at DMC Crystal Palace Road. Even then, there is a huge demand and they can only take a certain number of cases each month so you have to refer as soon as you get pregnant to have a chance. After I had my first baby I moved from DMC Chadwick to DMC crystal palace in order to get the Lanes for pregnancy no 2. I was also living much closer to Crystal Palace Road anyway so it made sense. As soon as I had my second I changed again to a different surgery as DMC Crystal Palace is the worst surgery in the area for getting appointments (see a number of other threads) Good luck

On your first day the brochure tells you that you can access the parc at 10am and they tell you the pool at 2pm However - you are able to access the pool after 10am too....which means you can have the quietest swim of your days there as everyone is leaving and those arriving think they have to wait til 2pm. So - if you are arriving in the morning, pack a swim bag - head to the pool, then have some lunch and a look around before going back to get your car and bring to your lodge to unpack after 2/3pm. We bought lots of M&S food/meals to cook in the evening as the kitchen's have limited utensils etc and we didn't want to spend all the time cooking Our kids loved the pool, playgrounds and a bit of the nature/animal activities but don't overbook... Also - if you want a spa treatment (spa is lovely) pre-book those as the time/treatment you want may be full. Take a box set of DVDs and lots of wine for the evening!

There seem to be a lot at Heber!

I have PMd you

We went to Insotel Punta Prima (the Prestige section) in Menorca via Sovereign in June of this year with a 4 year old and 1 year old. Perfect weather, large apartment style rooms but with half board (food was excellent)....Prestige section has its own pool including a small kids part (so all the under 4s played together). 5 mins walk to the beach with a few restaurants - 2 ish hour flight with 30 mins transfer. We had a great relaxing time. It's linked to a much bigger hotel but the Prestige section is worth paying the extra

Thanks for posting this. We defintely plan to come and look forward to meeting everybody

Heber's catchment area in recent years on first offer has been c 250m...this obviously may change (especially with the new Harris school) I think Goodrich (which is 90 entry vs Heber at 60) has been about 470m on first round in the last few years. So if this doesn't change hugely you would probably get Goodrich on first offer, if not waiting list but Heber more unlikely unless the catchment loosens next year Then there is Harris which will be on the site of the old Police Station by next year - that could be a good option too. Bear in mind, the first round offer distances published don't include offers then given after April via waiting lists

Moved from dmc for all the usual reasons - now at 306 and really rate it - have always got an appointment quickly - think dr chowdhury is brilliant and the nurse too You can get through at 8 am! A breath of fresh air

We are trying insotel prestige in menorca this year with our small ones....seems to fit your bill - not been yet so can't properly review but google it.

My brother and his family moved from ED to Hassocks 2 years ago - it's near Haywards Heath, and also near the villages of Hurstpierpoint, Lindfield, Cuckfield etc. It's a direct line to London Bridge (45 mins I think) and they really like the area - easy reach to Brighton, good local schools and community and lots of lovely walks on the South Downs...Hassocks not as picture book as the other two villages (which I think made it a bit cheaper for them) but that partof Sussex definitely worth consdiering given the slightly quicker commuting times

I have used Nannypaye.co.uk for a few years - all good Make are you price match though - I think I pay about ?130 rather than ?165 per annum - if you ask them they will do it

Thanks for that David - I had come across that and was wondering if it was good - looks lovely.. Any other recommendations people? Thanks!

Just wondered if anyone has a recommendation for a family friendly Greek hotel for a June holiday? We are a family of 4 including a 1 year old and 4 year old and looking for a hotel/resort near a beach and preferably near a town with a kids club and one or two bedroomed suites... I have heard of Sani & Elounda which look good - any other recommendations? Thanks!

Thinking of it for my lively 4 year old daughter who loves musicals and films.... Any views?

Thanks so much for posting this Emski - really useful and I actually managed to follow your instructions!

Good choice... I also moved from dmc and can't fault them.. Especially like the female doctor for my baby and 4 year old.. Nurse good too and appt system actually works!

http://www.newparkmanorhotel.co.uk/family-friendly-hotels/ Had lunch here recently - looked quite nice - though tbh with a 7 week old you can pretty much go anywhere I guess!

You could add Dulwich Village Infants too - their office told me for 2013 the distance/non-faith first round offer was 552m?

Just worked out.... Scroll down the page to below map, click on 'measure distance tool' You can then plot exact crow flies distance by touching map ( ie your house location) the adding second point as school location. Much more accurate Press clear last point or clear map to try again More accurate than just postcode

Thanks, yes the school office says 544m in 2012 and 552m in 2013 - these are both first round non-faith offers. If someone on the waiting list had an offer in the summer from danecroft road etc then that increases it to c 700m by my crude estimation!

Thanks Etta - that does seem quite far - does anyone know the distance in metres?

Resurrecting this thread Does anyone know catchment for non-faith places for 2013 intake? Thanks