bluesuperted

Tiddles - agree. My sister is a secondary teacher and she was on jury service for two weeks. Every single night after court she had to go into school for one reason or another, working for several hours. All the teachers I know work every school day evening and at weekends, the recently reported stats are true.

Nope, we are totally not agreed on that! She touched upon a lot of the above but it's a bigger (massive) issue clearly than one poem. Just because it's simple doesn't mean it's nonsense or not valid as part of the wider debate. Like the student nurse's speech from the nursing conference last year, I think spoken word performances are powerful and often very accessible ways of bringing issues to the fore.

By progressive I personally mean: Creative, engaging/motivating, useful in real life, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, child-centred (which should all make it pretty effective). And not: Dated, irrelevant to modern world, rote-learning, exam-only based, elitist. Ken Robinson's speech/TED talk on creativity is really insightful re: what education should/could look like, he talks about how the traditional approach basically prepares us to be academics/professors, which clearly only a small proportion of the world end up becoming. He argues this in turn extinguishes a lot of true creativity and talent at a very young age. I find this fascinating, and I say this, personally loving exams, academia, further/higher study. But I know that the world is made up of plenty more people who don't - and quite right, if everyone was researching niche areas and reading endless research papers, we'd be rather stuffed - and in trying to push everyone in this direction, many are left disengaged and disenfranchised... Re: schools getting better, I think that trend is likely to reverse, as more and more teachers leave the profession, and teaching morale is low NOW, it wasn't anywhere near this bad a few years ago (pre-2010 election) in my opinion.

The sad thing is there is no need to exaggerate any of it, it's like a bad joke/bad dream but it's real.

Yup. I cried watching it. Just crap for teachers, crap for kids, particularly disadvantaged kids. This plus Ofsted's latest non-evidence based codswallop re nurseries and 2 year olds makes me anxious and sad about the future of our society, education is everything and it's being treated like it's nothing at all.

Another EDF forumite (she knows who she is!) posted this on FB today and it has stayed with me all day. This spoken word performance is beautifully put, passionate and infuriating that this is what is happening in our schools. Anyone who supports children, progressive state education and teachers, please watch: http://bit.ly/Pp0X3E

Jan/team from JT Enterprises would be fab for this, they did lots of urgent handyman jobs for following us using them for our house move last year. Since then he's fitted our kitchen, decking and flooring always to a great standard and a thoroughly nice person! Have recommended him before, he's excellent. His number is 07850 716079 And website: http://www.jtenterprises.co.uk

Hi there, this sounds like classic separation anxiety which is totally normal and actually a sign of a very securely attached baby, so actually a cause for celebration! It's to do with realising that you are a separate entity and can leave - but that you can also come back! My son was like this (briefly, at about 9 months) and outgrew it, with occasional brief returns - again totally normal behaviour and makes sense they would have moments of wanting only their most trusted person to comfort/be with them. My daughter started with the same at about 10 months and still has moments/days like this now at 12m especially if ill/teeth/growth spurt - again I know it is a normal and good part of her development, first babies learn dependence and (often much) later comes increasing independence. All babies are different of course and my daughter is very confident but not as confident with separation as her older brother, eg she wanders away from me but her circle of exploration is smaller than her brother's was (I was constantly chasing after him and still am at 3.5!! Hope this helps and reassures a bit!

That's great Etta, hope she can find the best solution for you.

Great news Undiscovered! It's such a brilliant service and have had a good number of PMs too so I'm really glad I posted!

I'm in SE23, worth joining the SE23 mums, SE6 mums and possibly SE4 mums Facebook groups, loads of info and mums to befriend on there. Blythe Hill Fields is a gorgeous park, the playground is small but has a lovely sandpit and the view and sense of space is invigorating, I love it up there. Not sure which bit of Catford you are in but further down in SE23/26 towards Sydenham is Mayow Park which is really changing in a good way at the moment - talk of a cafe soon and a lovely Monday Forest School group run by Hugh who is great (10am behind the wooden play area). Towards HOP there are the small scale swings/mini park opposite Dalmain school which is handy for a local change of scene. Ladywell Fields are also wonderful, loads to explore and the paddling is excellent especially in the bit of the year where it gets hot but the councils don't deign to turn on any of the sprinklers (Sydenham Wells Park is fab when they do). Lots and lots of playgroups in FH/HOP in general, at locations like St Saviours, Ackroyd Centre, Methodist Church, Kilmorie Children's Centre. I visited Catford library once but only very briefly but think they had a fair few parent/child activities on too. The Phoenix cafe is cool, was a bit of an OAPs haunt but they are really trying to make it more family friendly. I haven't been since they made recent refurb changes but even before that they had a toy area etc. It was a great resource to me when our kitchen was being refitted (I live in SE23, Catford side of Forest Hill station). I love the streets between FH and Catford, they are lovely. I hate the South Circular and it does cause me stress with scooting 3yo but you do get used to it and I walk/bus everywhere. I also seek out nice, non-main road routes and have chosen my doctor's surgery/ideal primary school accordingly (well it was one factor!). There are some great schools on that note, Kilmorie and Rathfern are doing really well and Holbeach has been doing well too I believe, I went to a playgroup there today which was lovely, ?3 per family and very chilled/nicely stocked/non-manic. Catford itself does still feel a little down at heel but I would agree with Ratty that is getting better everyday and there are loads and loads of families moving into the area for lovely housing stock and proximity to other places. I think it is a great place to buy in and will hopefully keep improving. I think you may find you ping about a bit to neighbouring areas to begin with, especially if you like to keep busy, but I expect more and more will spring up in Catford proper.

Can't believe I'm here with a nearly reception child already... Remember reading these threads when my boy was weeks old... Saila, wonder if worth changing the title to Southwark and Lewisham as lots of people will be affected by both boroughs. I'll be shocked if we don't get our first choice as it's 3-form entry and we live very close by... But you never can tell and it's a very kiddie place near me these days!

I think that 190/195 is to take into account in service days. Sorry to hear about that Pickle... Not very sensitive handling. Hope the memorial goes smoothly for all.

Me too, remember you being a vocal proponent years ago, ahead of your time! It's such a great service/idea and Margaret really REALLY knows her stuff. The more we talk about the massive benefits of ERF the less it will seem like a niche choice, which it absolutely shouldn't be! And Margaret's service makes it far more preferable than schlepping to a specialist retailer. Also, worth saying that the price of these seats seems to be coming down, ours was ?170 (there were cheaper ones too) which is a lot but given it could easily last 4 years/to 18kg (Hauck Varioguard for my youngest child) it's a small price to pay x

I have no advice but I'm so sorry about this and I had hoped there would be less of this crap these days... Maybe I'm hopelessly naive. I think the school should be told - there was a big campaign (think Stonewall-related?) to eradicate the use of the word 'gay' as an insult in schools so they should have plans in place... I'm sure wiser FRers with teens may have some ideas but just sending sympathy to your boy who sounds awesome!

We just bought our second Extended Rear Facing (ERF) car seat using a fantastic local service that two friends had previously used. I was thrilled we could manage this in our small Golf. Margaret is passionate about ERF and car seat safety and offers in home (yay!) consultations - free if you buy from her large selection, ?30 if you don't - and is incredibly knowledgable and approachable. A breath of fresh air compared with the lack of knowledge and misinformation from high street retailers, online guides and even sources such as Which?. She has a thorough website and Facebook page: http://bit.ly/1l0323v And her number is: 07752 253499 She is a local mum and her service is second to none. Having previously trekked to Milton Keynes for an ERF seat she offers a brilliant alternative, will fit the seat correctly in your car and brings a selection (based on initial chat) to your home. Cannot recommend her highly enough and hope her service enables many more people to enjoy ERF peace of mind. My 3.5yo loves his seat, has a great view and never complains in the car, he was a crap traveller as a baby but is proof that ERF car seats can be enjoyed even by babies who are not fans of their infant bucket-like seats!

We have Cath Kidston (cowboys and dinosaurs sets - space theme is nice too) in our girl and boy's shared room. I wanted to avoid getting a boy cover and a girl cover but wanted something fun at the same time. They are lovely, soft but not cheap. Our spare sets are a pair of 1980s Care Bear covers that were my husband's! Interestingly enough there is hardly any pink on them (one or two bears) - how times have changed!

ED to London Bridge is super easy with a pram and the ramps/slopes are fine! Baby carrier even easier but that's another thread :) Good luck, everything's daunting to begin with but it be worth the trip, I loved going into town when my eldest was small :)

Saw this yesterday and keep thinking about it, definitely a film in the making, one of life's true innovators!

Just saw this, may help... http://www.mumsnet.com/education/primary/world-book-day

There are absolutely loads on here, including your recent posts advertising 'neighbourhood midwives'... Search: midwife, midwives, lanes midwife, Brierley, oakwood etc. Not sure what you searched for when checking...

My husband is usually in his classroom for 7:15, rarely leaves before 5/530, later with meetings, school performances, parents evenings, governors meetings... On Mondays he leaves the house before 7, gets home at 6, eats dinner and helps with bedtime then marks til 10pm. An hour or two marking per night is standard, several hours of planning at the weekend. One half term is usually entirely taken up with report-writing. He is *really* efficient, he has to work this hard to get it all done. Don't get me wrong, the summer holidays in particular are amazing for family time but I would say on the whole it's not that great to be a full-time teacher for work/life balance. We are lucky as I'm a SAHM (although I work in evenings/weekends from home) but I think a two-teacher household would be really tough. And morale is pretty low in teaching at the moment... Michael Gove et al are chasing some brilliant people out of this most important of professions... canela Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ole, I?ve done some primary school drama days and > it seems that most teachers are in by 8:30 > absolute latest, and lots at 8:00...

Pickle you should look at adults Occupational Therapy - often means working with elderly, reasonably paid (well, comparable with teacher, nurse, SLT etc) and so rewarding. It's a two year postgrad conversion and you could end up helping people get back into any kind of physical or mental activity, including exercise! Have a friend who does this and she works with elderly hip replacement patients who want to get back to doing things they were doing before. Amazing career that I seriously considered when looking at SLT. A good general resource is the prospects.ac.uk 'types of job' section - really useful info collated on many careers, case studies and salary info etc. Here's the OT one as an example: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/occupational_therapist_job_description.htm

Oh I'm so easily led... On strength of this and few other threads I went to Alexandra Nurseries today as the sun was shining and I fancied a change with my two, it was lovely, such a hidden gem! I had yummy cake and soup (in that order, what of it?) and as much as a potter and I could with two inquisitive little people. Very much recommended and easily accessible from FH, took me 20 mins on the bus/walking door to door. Sorry Otta no idea!

I retrained to be a speech therapist (from career in advertising/marketing) and when I've finished having children and doing my PhD I would like to actually practice or lecture in that, it is a truly fascinating area of work! Or something to do with psychology, possibly psychotherapist... I expect when I'm ready to enter the workforce a clinician I will have to do a refresher course in SLT and get some experience but I do feel lucky in having a qualification under my belt that I can return to fairly easily - like midwifery a lot of people switch to Allied Health Professions (physio, occupational therapist, SLT, dietician) later in life and it's not a major issue with employers if you're older/wiser when you start your new career.