prdarling

Katherine - in August my son will be 2 y 11 months. Would you consider him or do they have to be over 3 for insurance purposes?

Hi James, I really need to see if you can help me. Can you read my PM (don't have time to go back through everything) but I could do with some advice about what my school options are at this point Thanks PRD

More excellent tips thanks redjam Mine haven't quite grasped that Mr Tumble will actually be there in person and not on TV. I'm so excited at the prospect of how excited they'll be!!

When we go camping we always take loads of books, favourite fire engines, football, cricket set, puzzles etc - basically a whole bag of toys. Made the mistake before of thinking they would be constantly entertained and had to drive to local town and spend a fortune in a toy shop!

They are week long courses - ?80 for the week??

James I have PM'd you again regarding my school situation and my frustration with the Admissions team. Would you be able to get bac to me when you have sec Thanks so much PRD

Thnaks redjam great advice especially re the wheels! Mr Tumble is there all 3 days this year so I'm hoping that will keep them amused! We re regular campers so my boys are great with that side of things but I think they won't know what's hit them when they hear the bands. I'll let you know how we get on and please do PM me if you think of anything else! PRD

We are off to Camp Bestival in July with a 4 year old and a 2 and a half year old so would also welcome any pearls of wisdom please!

....my boys have previously gone to the one at Buds which takes children from age 2 but unfortunately they are not doing it this year. I'm really panicking about what I'm going to do with them for 6 weeks when I also need to work a few days a week from home My sons are 4 and 2 and a half - any thoughts???

Hi all Jags does have a session for little ones. My sons go at 11am on a Sat and they are 2 and a half and 4 years old. We are non members and it costs ?3 per child. Curlykaren re LK I'm sure it depends where you go. We were doing the East Dulwich gropu at 8.30am on a Saturday morning which was initially in St Peter's church hall on Friern Rd which was a nice big space, but then it got moved to the East Dulwich Community Cntre on Darrell Rd which has 2 pillars in the middle of the room and is totally rubbish for little boys to run arond in The EDCC has outside space so now it's summer they may be outside. In the winter though, with 2 teachers, 20 kids and 20 Dads and the odd sibling/mum and newborn at the side of the room (which was scarcely bigger than my knocked through living room/dining room) it was an annoying waste of everyone's time. I think they have another venue on Rosendale Road. When they were on the phone trying to get me to sign up again and I was complaining about the lack of space on Darrell Rd, this option was suggested to me but the LK franchisee couldn't even tell me where it was and suggested I could google it.... I think it was at this point that I realised there must be other organistaions out there who don't completely take the piss out of their customers and that was the end of our relationship!

My boys go to Jags. It's ?3 per child and there's no obligation to sign up for any period of time which is perfect for us as we are often busy on a Saturday. We did do Little Kickers in East Dulwich but it's really expensive - about ?7 per session and although the boys enjoyed it, I found that they crammed an outrageous number of kids into the church hall where it was based. The kids kept banging into each other and there was loads of waiting around while each kid had a chance to shoot a penalty - my 2 year old was bored stiff and kept wandering off. Also I found their admin really annoying. They have a "hotline" which is basically sonmeone's home phone and is NEVER answered. You simply can't in touch with them straight away, unless they are trying to get you to sign up for the next block of lessons, when suddenly they are on the phone all the time. We did the 8.30am session on a Saturday morning and at least once every 4 weeks the teacher didn't turn up till 8.45, which was infuriating in itself but horrendous in the winter when we were waiting outside and the "hotline" remained unanswered. One Saturday all the parents showed up at the crack of dawn to find a notice on the gate to say they had been evicted from the premises for not paying their rent. Imagine my delight on a snowy Saturday morning with a disappointed 2 year old. Personally I think Little Kickers is a great concept but, in my experience a shambolic organisation and actually a huge waste of money when there are other clubs which do the same job for half the price

I'd like to think so but I'm beginning to be convinced that my house is in an actual black hole rather than a metaphorical one...

Is there anyone else who still doesn't have a place or is it just me?

sglanzer Loads of kids stay on until school age. My elder son is 4 and will stay there until he starts school next January (he'll be 5 in March) and that is the plan for all of his peers to my knowledge. In fact when children start proper school and the first few weeks are only half days for settling in purposes, most children come to Buds for the afternoon session as they and their parents are used to full days! As far as preparing for school I think you will find that unless you send your child to Oakfields nursery or similar, no pre school does too much in the way of academia. At Buds they focus on letters and numbers and the children are encouraged to learn to write their own name (but only with a lot of home input). It certainly isn't anything like school - not sure about state school nurseries but I believe they are very much about playing as well. My friend's child has done a year at Oakfield (he will be 5 in September) and he can already read - they have a much more formal approach. However when he starts Reception class (at a state school) and they will be starting from scratch I think he'll get a bit bored.

You have probably seen my enthusiastic posts! My elder son has been there for 2 years (he is now 4) and my younger one since January. They both absolutely love it. In a nutshell POSITIVES: Fabulous green space for children to play Caring loving staff (esp the manager Ida whom the children flock to) Lovely activities - outings to Horniman/Dulwich Library etc You can use your 15 free hours from the government They are open longer hours than school nurseries 9-1 Mon & Fri/ 9-3.30 Tues, Wed, Thurs Extra activities like coffee mornings so the mums can meet up and you can look at what the children have been doing Not vastly expensive approx ?24 for am session ?16 for pm (not exactly sure) They take children in nappies and assist with potty training Very flexible, I have put my sons in for an ad hoc day every now and then when i needed to NEGATIVES: Not very good on admin Not open till 3.30 every day! Some of the toys have seen better days You have to take packed lunch PM me of you want more details but to be honest the negatives are not things that are of primary importance to me when looking at who I am going to leave my children with day in day out! Make an appointment to view and you will know if it's somewhere you can leave your child. In 2 years I have never heard of anyone removing their child from Buds (as I did with mine from another horrible establishment) and all the other mums i have spoken to are really pleased with it Good luck with your search

Every time she saw me, my mother said "ooh you've put on weight" (you don't say) but worst of all was my mother in law who grabbed my bump at any/every opportunity. Even now I can't bear touching her as it reminds me of being mauled

I'm up too. Number 1 son woke at 6.40 which is annoying as he's never up before 7.30 on a weekday. Pleased to hear everything's OK with you Fuschia

I hired from Mothercare. Found it amazing. Something to focus on. Doesn't remove pain but gives you such a strange sensation it detracts from the here and now. Got me to 5cm with mine before having to call midwife. Slap it on immediately you realise things are happening because you need to build it up. If it goes on too late it's like sticking a bag of frozen peas on an amputated leg!

Brilliant news for ED!

My advice with anything prenancy related would be never assume they will call you back about anything. I'm afraid it's chase, chase and chase again!

Please let us know how you get on Fuschia. If you want to have a scan and you are not getting any joy with Kings, then call the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley St... all doctors have trained in ultrasound scanning and fetal medicine under Professor Kypros Nicolaides. They will see you next day (same day if you're lucky). Is ?150 for nuchal and bloods, but you get results on the spot and all profits go to Fetal Medicine Foundation so worthwhile. Tel is 020 7486 0476

Renata I will email you all the details. Victoria Mills has been trying to help as well but I can't see what can be done, other than find me a place at a school I don't want. To be honest I'm pinning my hopes on Lewisham as I'm far higher on the list for both of my schools there. They see to have come through for all the other people I know who border both boroughs so fingers crossed

Buds pre school on the south circ (in the cricket field opposite The Harvester) may have spaces from September. I know they are busy as my two boys go there, but if it's just one or two mornings they may be able to help. 020 8299 2255

Southwark have finally called me back and the picture is even worse than I anticipated. Goodrich - we have gone from 4th - 7th Heber from 13th - 15th Ivydale from 8th - 12th I can understand going up or down a place but this is horrifying What is going on????

Anybody else frustrated with Southwak admissions team? When I phone Lewisham admissions to enquire about my child's place on the waiting lists, I am asked his name and date of birth and told on the spot his current positions. When I phone Southwark I am asked my postcode, door number, surname, first name, street name, child's name, child's date of birth and after all that I am told that someone will call me back in 3 working days. This is RIDICULOUS and what makes it even more ridiculous is that I last made an enquiry at 9am on the dot on Tuesday 1st June - it is now 5.45pm on Friday 4th June and I have not recieved a reply. I called the admissions number just before 5pm to be told that my call has been escalated and will be answered in...you've guessed it - 3 working days. IT IS BEYOND A JOKE AND I AM VERY ANGRY. I feel like crying with the frustration of it all and the sheer inadequacy of the council