sarahf

For pre-reception girls, definitely start with summer dress which can be worn until October half term. We stuck to the red PE tshirt and blue polo shirt plus skirt or tracksuit bottoms in the winter. Our daughter did have the shirt but buttons were fiddly for her and she liked to get dressed independently in the morning. For boys, navy shorts, joggers, blue polo shirt, round neck jumpers and red PE shirt. These can all be worn in reception. Ido have a random assortment of uniform if you?re thinking about buying second hand?

I also wanted to post a glowing recommendation for Colin who assembled our son's new bunk bed on Saturday. I found him during a handyman search on the EDF and felt that the recommendations for his services seemed the most consistent. I can see why. This is a genuine job for Colin (rather something he juggles with other things) so he prioritises his clients. We found him to be efficient, cheerful and professional. He's coming back next week to hang some pictures for us.

Hooray! Steve has just fixed our dishwasher with minimal fuss and expense. He was punctual (called before arrival), friendly and professional. Really delighted. Thank you.

Hi My son has been attending the Little Fingers on Burbage Road since September. The admin is atrocious an I have posted this somewhere on the forum, although not on the link referenced above as I think this was purely a discussion about the Barry Road nursery. Thankfully, the quality of care seems to be inversely related to their administrative duties. It's a small, caring environment and I have found it to be the perfect place for my son who was going from one-on-one care at home. The broad Montessori principles also seem to be well adhered to and I think it really encourages a child's natural curiosity whilst instilling independence. Very happy to discuss in person if you want to PM me your contact details. Sarah

I like our Uppababy G-Luxe

Have had the opposite experience to most of the posters. Our son (at age 2.5) took to his BB immediately but still can't scoot. We bought his from Bon Velo in Herne Hill and I gulped at the price (think it's was about ?110) but they assured me that it would be worth it. The main positive is that it is made from aluminium so will actually rest on the top of the umbrella pushchair when I'm taking him and his sister to the park. It is also much easier for him to steer. The average toddler doesn't have a great deal of upper body strength so find it hard to control heavy wooden or steel bikes. I guess that the short answer is that it depends on how much you want to spend. You can get an excellent scooter for ?60 but have to pay almost double that for a similar BB. The advantage of the latter is that it's meant to leapfrog stabilisers as it's harder to learn how to balance than pedal. Am sure your toddler will be thrilled by the Scuttlebug upgrade!

Oh well done CocoC on your home birth! You bought some maternity clothes from me a while ago and am so pleased that you also had a wonderful home birth experience. I had a home birth with my second because my first birth had been so straightforward. In comparison, I thought that the midwife support with a home birth was incredible (I was under Brierly's care). In particular, the post-natal care was faultless and they offer so much emotional and practical support - incl. feeding. The one positive if you have to transfer to hospital is that your midwife will go with you (unless another home birth that they have to attend), so it's a bit like having a doula. With our first birth, I did a hypnobirthing course with Kristin Haywood. I found that this helped both times but impossible to say how I would have been without the techniques! I planned to use a pool both times but thigs happened too quickly! All the best.

Our son goes to Little Fingers on Burbage Rd. It is a gentle and caring place with a really high staff/child ratio. I know they have another branch on Barry Road, which will be closer to you. Be warned, however, their admin is disorganised but it was the quality of care that really appealed to us - particularly after a bad experience with a nursery who just wanted our money but didn't pay any attention to our son. Good luck!

Thank you so much for taking the time to write your comments. It's really meant a lot to hear such sensible and abortive advice. I was feeling a bit upset and muddled by it all (especially as husband has been away on a business trip). It's also helped me separate the emotional (why don't they care why my son didn't start?) and the practical (have written the nursery, the debt collectors and their solicitors a letter for burden of proof). Thank you again.

It was a very last minute decision in terms of not sending our son to this nursery. The nursery he goes to now, I only contacted and visited once the Autumn term had stated. I was just a bit unnerved that there had been no communication from the original nursery in regards to our son's start date, settling in etc. To be honest, it was more done on instinct rather than anything else. Naively, I assumed that we had dropped off the original nursery's records - hence the lack of induction information. I admit that I was suffering from severe new baby brain when and if I signed a contract. However, the nursery hasn't sent me a copy of this as proof that payment is due. I have actually just written them another letter requesting a copy of any documentation that indicates that we are liable to pay fees for Autumn term 2013. I would rather not mention the nursery's name until I get proper legal advice. I guess that I just wanted to see if this is normal practice before I look for a solicitor who might be able to assist in this. Is this technically contract law? In fact, if anyone has a solicitor recommendation, I would be really grateful.

Thank you so much for your post. It's reassuring that I'm not alone in thinking like this and - agree - fully expected to lose my deposit but shocked to be charged a term's fees. The letter from the debt collector arrived on Friday so my brain has been going round in circles all weekend as haven't been able to contact them to get clarity. Feel a bit muddled. Thank for sounding lam and reasonable!

First of all, thank you for taking time to read this post. I'm a bit stuck as to what to do. Will probably try call around for some legal advice next weeke but would be interested if anyone else has had a similar experience or, in fact, knows a solicitor who might be able to help. Just before my son turned two, I looked into nurseries that he could attend 2days per week. One of the ones that I liked was a fairly new place but had a more established branch that I had visited when my son was quite small. Anyway, I put his name down to start after the summer half term (2013) but, a month before he was due to start, I called the head office to defer his place as my husband had suddenly been made redundant. This seemed fine, although some of the communication was slightly off as they still tried to invoice me but were ok when I contacted them to remind them that my son would not be starting in June. Anyway, when the September term drew closer, I was really surprised not to have received any information at all about our son's start date etc. In the end, I decided that it didn't seem to be the right place for us. They never called (or wrote) to check our son's attendance but very cheekily billed us! I assumed that it was another administrative error and was, frankly, a bit sick of their readiness to send invoices but not to show any evidence of child care. They're now threatening a CCJ. I'm unsure as to what my obligation is as they haven't sent any copy of a contract and haven't answered a letter that I sent via recorded delivery. In fact, they have employed a debt collection agency who are impossible to communicate with as they don't have any information to sensibly discuss the situation. They did say it was to reimburse the nursery for loss of earnings but they still have lots of places left. I suspect that I did sign a form to register our son. Unfortunately, I don't remember (I also had a new baby at te time so my memory was all over the place!). However, I guess that if I had filled out a form, it would have stated a June start date for half a term and not the full Autumn fees that we are being chased for. Feeling really frustrated although a bit relieved that we didn't send our son somewhere who have been so obtuse and, also, never contacted us about our son, only money. If anyone has experienced anything similar, it would be so helpful to get any advice! Happy to discuss over the phone if easier. Just PM me with your number. Thank you so much.

Does anyone have a child attending the Little Fingers Montessori on Burbage Road? I've found a couple of reviews online but most of these are at least 2years old. However, the general gist is that the administration side is slow but the care is good. I'd much rather the balance be that way round! If anyone has any experiences that they would be happy to share, I would be delighted to hear about them. We are thinking about sending our 2yo son there for two mornings per week. He is a fairly active and exuberant little boy, although quite clingy as he is used to me being his primary care giver. Thank you in advance.

I grew up in York and have taken my 2yo son there. There's plenty of museums - Railway Museum, Jorvic (possibly not old enough), a farming museum and the Air Museum at Elvington. There are also a few farm parks but you will need to get in the car again. We used to go to the homestead park near Clifton although after a recent revisit, realise that London playgrounds are more advanced (I guess that most people in York have decent sizes gardens with their own swings, slides etc). On a sunny day, a trip to Scarborough on the train is nice in a retro kind of way. On a rainy day, the designer outlet is a good bet - incidentally, the playground there isn't bad. Food wise, there's plenty of the casual dining options. If you have a child who will sit through a tasting menu..., The Blind Swine is worth a visit. Hope that you have a lovely holiday!

We had walnut on white gloss in the old house, which looked lovely but a bit high maintenance. We now have white corian on white gloss, which I really live although send longer than I would like wiping down surfaces to ensure that it is still mostly white (tricky with 2 small children). Found a co that did it very cheaply as they wrap the corian around mdf rather than it being solid. So we have our worktopd in double thickness at a cheaper price to our old solid wood. The co is based in Yorkshire but they work in and around London a lot. Google 'Interstyle, Castleford' and it should come up. PM me if not!

It's also a good idea to go to the loo before you board and have your own refreshments, books etc to hand. The chances are that your toddler will fall asleep on you (and your bladder!). I hope that you have a wonderful holiday!

Does it have to be Norfolk? My friend has just finished refurbishing a place in Southwold, which isn't too far from the Norfolk border. A it's new to market, it might have availability for your dates. Sleeps 4: http://www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk/suffolk-cottages/3chesteroad-southwold.asp and the larger flat that sleeps 6 + 2 (the 2 being a bunk room) http://www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk/suffolk-cottages/3achesteroad-southwold.asp

I know this recommendation is too late but in case youvate looking for somewehere new for next year! My friend has just renovated a house in Southwold into two beautiful holiday lets. She has two young children so the focus is very much family friendly. The decor is beautiful and the location is fabulous - about 2mins from the beach! I particularly love that area of Suffolk. Beautiful countryside, coastline and lots of great restaurants, pubs and shopping. Sleeps 4: http://www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk/suffolk-cottages/3chesteroad-southwold.asp and the larger flat that sleeps 6 + 2 (the 2 being a bunk room) http://www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk/suffolk-cottages/3achesteroad-southwold.asp

Hello CocoC! How are you? We met a few months ago re maternity clothes. I hope that you are feeling well and not too exhausted in this heat. I used hypnobirthing (fabulous course with Kristin Hayward) and had a natural hospital birth with my son and a planned home birth for my daughter. We were under the care of Brierly who were amazing but I also hear wonderful things about the Lanes. The most significant difference for me was the level of ante and post natal support from the midwives. I would have loved that level of care with my first child; especially with breastfeeding. I know that individual midwives have sat through with mothers for hours in he middle of the night giving them support on this. It's not that hospital midwives are any less committed or caring but they're more overwhelmed by the demands of busy labour wards. I have a book on water births if you would like it. My actual delivery was fairly fast and I didn't get to use my birth pool (husband didn't have time to fill it up). However, it was great not having to drive over every speed bump in South London whilst in active labour (Dulwich to Tommy's) and I did appreciate having a fridge stocked full of food - well, mostly maltesers and lucozade. We bought in lots of sticky plastic sheeting online (builders' merchants stock them to protect carpets) and our sitting room looked like a scene from 'Dexter'.

Another recommendation for Kristin Haywood. She's wonderful and I attribute my two lovely births to her classes. Good luck!

Just received our disc of photos from Annie of TwentyNine Design (http://www.twentyninedesign.co.uk/). The photos are beautiful - no mean feat given my 2yr old son was full of cold and very grumpy! Annie was just as good at getting smiles out of our 3month old daughter. The session (at home) was lots of fun, the photos are stunning and thought the price was incredibly reasonable given Annie's patience and skill. Beautiful!

Thank you very much for your response! I'm really glad to know that your son is very happy at Dulwich Oaks Montessori. Yes, it's the outside space that really appeals to us but also nice that it is open plan inside. Also think tht out son might have issues settling as he is fairly clingy so will send you a PM re that and how the staff helped. Thanks!

We're looking at Dulwich Oaks Montessori for our 2yo son. We've had a look round and really like the space. As it's fairly new, there doesn't seem to be much information other than the nursery's own web page so wondering if anyone ha personal experience. Thank you!

Brilliant that you are playing it cool. If it's impossible to confirm the existence of the other (and conveniently higher) offer, just ignore it. If there is indeed such a good offer from a cash buyer, you already know you can't compete. Also, if that offer really does exist and the market is still falling, there is no guarantee that said buyer will see through the purchase. This happened to us. Six weeks after losing at sealed bids, the successful bidders pulled out and we eventually bought the home we are in now. Good luck! It's such a stressful process but ultimately very exciting and rewarding. Also - from experience - nice to live somewhere less cluttered until your sale and ultimate purchase go through!