Digbina

Set him a tech project to design a company website for an architecture firm? Et voila, work experience - in being self-employed!

DKH adventure playground? - not a guarantee, just a guess.

They are not on over the holidays, but I can really recommend Wise Kids Yoga - they do mindfulness activities and some meditation within the yoga sessions.

The Dulwich Picture Gallery has a collection box for the Doorstep Library charity (http://www.doorsteplibrary.org.uk.) at the Art Sundays venue. Last time I went there was an appeal for more non-fiction. I would imagine you could just drop them off during the regular hours if you were able to pop in during an Art Sunday session.

The exact same thing has happened to me. Sometimes we (British spouse and children) get to go through the EU queue, sometimes we get sent to the non-EU queue. Perhaps the US embassy could advise?

I use a brand called Neutral which you can get at Sainsbury's. It's worked very well for us: https://www.neutralsensitiveskin.com/neutral-0-white-laundry-washing-powder-1.188kg/11313215.html. We also use Epaderm ointment in the bath instead of soap.

You might wonder where my post about the Villa went. Apparently they claimed it had "legal implications" and got the Admin to remove it. Funnily enough, in my original post, I was going to say that I know the staff there monitor the edf (I've seen them reading it with my own eyes when in the office - note, for the purposes of the Defamation Act, that's a fact/the truth - and I'd be prepared to state that in court) and that I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to suppress my report of my experience and information reported to me by other parents (note, for the purposes of the Defamation Act, that's my honest opinon). I deleted it because I thought that was perhaps being unfair, but QED (again, my honest opinion).

As a former pre-prep parent, I'd think very carefully about sending your child to the Villa pre-prep. It is still trading on the reputation established under the previous head as a warm, nurturing happy place. But it has changed under the new head. The 7+ talk starts in reception and the new head spoke openly to us about counselling parents about halfway through Y1 to remove their children before the 7+ looms. I also found that school was keen not to take responsibility for anything and almost obsessive about referring children to outside specialists for "assessment" (not just my experience, but that of at least two other parents in my child's year - I'm also aware of this happening in the nursery). This could be inexperience in child development, or maybe a lack of willingness to work with the children in question on the basis that it's easier to outsource any "problems". Either way, I don't think this reflects well on the school. A third of my child's year have now left and I know others are considering leaving too. I think that 7-8 children in a class is too small for a friendship group. My child's self-esteem and confidence suffered a great deal as a result of attending the pre-prep and I still feel guilty that I thought it would be a kind and welcoming place.

The two hours is the total time, including clean-up. If the children take about 30 mins to eat and then depart, that will give you enough time to clean up in readiness for the next party. I have had two parties there and if you think of the party as being more like an hour and a half, it'll be fine.

There are a couple of Sunday art drop-ins, one at the South London Gallery (free) and the other at the Dulwich Gallery (?3). 3 hours is quite long for the younger age group, I think the other two are 2 hours. There's also this art class in the Kennington Park cafe which is similar to the idea you have about discovering different artists and art styles but I think it is a course you have to enrol on: https://www.picassosinthepark.com/what-we-do.

The hills of Burgess Park?

I would imagine that refers to the baby room, most likely due to the higher staff ratios required. We took up a place only a few months after inquiring. They are also expanding - I had a look at the new room for the oldest group this week. It's very smart and will have all new equipment and furniture. I'd give them a ring and see what they say.

Ruskin House School is a lovely warm and caring nursery in Herne Hill. I don't know if they have spaces or not, but it's worth a call. My son loves it - they have Theatrebugs and Spanish teaching and good outside space as well. If you search online (ie mumsnet) you may see some negative reviews, which did put me off, but they relate to the previous management who are long gone. Their recent Ofsted was 'outstanding' - although for me the critical thing is that the staff obviously enjoy being with children and treat them very well.

There's JAM - venues at St Johns and St Clements in ED and at the United church hall in Herne Hill.

WE have these: https://www.happybeds.co.uk/domino-maple-and-white-finished-sleep-station-childrens-kids-bunk-bed-frame. There's a shelf for nightitme essentials, big gaurds on the top bunk (these are detachable), and the steps are nice and wide (and they have a refelctive strip). The lower bunk is also high enough for an adult to sit in and read stories. We are very happy with them.

I wonder if schools realise how much the little things count. We toured one of these schools. In one classroom, there was a misplaced apostrophe in the lesson on the board. Why would the school think I'd be happy paying ?4500 a term for that?

I spoke to the school office yesterday. Furthest distance offer in 2017 in the first round was 842m and has gone up to 1100m at the start of the school year.

Also near you are Dog Kennel Hill and Lyndhurst primaries.

I would strongly recommend We Care Childcare (just off the Camberwell New Road near the Co-op). It's a bilingual Spanish-English nursery. There's not much outdoor space (but they do use it very creatively) but the really important factor is the warm, loving atmosphere and the caring staff. The food is cooked daily onsite by the Spanish manager and is amazing - Brazilian feijoada and raspberry sorbet for lunch anyone? It's not too expensive either. Both my sons went there and I have very fond memories of their time there. They left with a near-native understanding of Spanish. http://www.wecarechildcare.co.uk/

Are there any Spanish immersion holiday clubs? Seems there would definitely be demand for it.

My child was referred to Southwark OT by the Sunshine House physios. However, he was not considered to meet the threshold for help after he'd been assessed. This was basically because he could perform various tasks, even though he was below par in a lot of areas - the OT said that it was really for children with very serious needs. As I recall, they didn't offer sensory integration therapy, only the more traditional OT. Maximum Potential in West Norwood offer sensory integration therapy privately and I think there are some OTs in Clapham that do also.

How about the Mulberry Pre-school in Myatt's Fields: http://mulberrypreschool.com/

Have you tried Theatre Peckham? They have lots of Saturday ballet claases although I don't know if you can start mid-term.

Well, I feel similarly about my nanny but I also am aware that my feelings make no difference to my legal obligations or her employment status! It seems convoluted to me to agree a net rate and then go the additional step of grossing it up. Just offer the job at the gross rate.

It might be a typo on tortor's part but I would strongly advise to make the pay arrangements GROSS like any other employee. Nannies are not in some special category of employee. Offering a net rate of pay leaves you liable for an unknown amount of tax liability depending on whether the nanny has a second job, a student loan, other tax issues etc. Why take that on? Speak to reputable tax/paye agency who can advise.