Jessie

They pre-empted me and sent a v apologetic email saying they'll sort from their end. Fingers crossed.

Talked too soon - the cheque bounced!! Any ideas what we can do now?!

Brixton Ritzy Kid's Club - 10.30 Sat mornings, ?3 to join then ?1 for child and adult from thereonin - not sure what's playing next week but we went to see Japanese animation The Cat Returns last week, which was loved by my 4 year old. Also Peckham Multiplex is good when big blockbusters are out.

Yep, mine too - phew

We've got Rye Oak - I really did like it when I looked around, and thought the teachers seemed great. And it's a million times better than the trek to John Donne we initially thought we'd have to do. I just feel sad for my boy!

Thanks for the post, Laurie, but I must say Lisa Rajan was one of the more disappointing of the Council members I came across in this year's fiasco - her response to the email I sent her was both lacking in empathy and in information. The heartache of it all continues for us, after watching my son's face when it dawned on him this weekend he won't be joining his nursery friends at primary school - he was distraught. It renewed my feelings of anger about all this, though I plan on making the best of the situation and putting a brave face on for the sake of my child. The best person to come out of all this from a politcal standpoint in my experience is Tessa Jowell, who responded to me personally the Monday following the release of the school admissions info, and remained a source of support as the weeks and months went by.

I think the offers were made at least a month ago - they (Southwark C) kept v hush-hush about it. Sadly - in our case anyway - there's been practically no movement. We've in fact gone from no. 1 on GG waiting list to no. 7!!! Lots of late applicants apparently.

By distance and where you are/were on the waiting list I think - we suddenly jumped up by 25 places at Goodrich a few weeks ago but still way way down

Thanks for this, Smiler. Have they given any details re. the return of deposits? I knew nothing about last night's meeting. Though my son goes to school in Sept and would have been leaving Bojangles next week anyway, I find this really sad and empathise with the other parents, and of course the children.

I got my boy a lovely navy duffle coat from BHS last year. It was only about 20 quid and lasted the winter.

Does anyone know what time the parents meeting is tomorrow?

My son night-trained himself at about 3. Had the same experience as you - noticed his nappy was completely dry every morning so just seemed silly to putting on nappies.

I had a brilliant Albanian HV but that was 4 years ago - she was the only good one I have ever come across, and the advice my sister-in-law has received (not to feed her newborn too much as she said it had colic. It was in fact just v hungry!) shocked me to the core, not to mention it was potentially very dangerous. Luckily her GP stepped in (though this was Kingston, not ED). I second the What to Expect books, other parents, the Internet. Also practise nurses at GP surgeries as well as GPs themselves.

Regardless of the Admission Code, I think a key thing to come out of this year's fiasco is that East Dulwich is in need of a new primary school, that there is a gap (AKA 'black hole') around the Gardens/Peckham Rye/Forest Hill Road area of SE22 which is not really v close to any school. Nick Stanton (Chief Exec of Southwark Council) said this himself in one of the many meetings I've been to this year. Sadly there seems nowhere for such a school to be built.

Though I hope what you say is true, and there are places freed up at schools this Sept in 2009!

But Tessa Jowell is the local MP - do you mean the councillors? Yes, I was disappointed by them too but unbeknownst to me they had put pressure on the council on my behalf, just didn't tell me till much later. The admissions at Southwark have been just awful in my experience. Perhaps they've upped their game due to this year's catalogue of errors. But 2009 admissions need to be sorted out still; though you mention the 'bulge' class I know nothing of this and am in regular contact with someone senior in children's services at Southwark, and though you think Goose Green is an unpopular choice we're still at no. 6 on the waiting list!

Which school was this done at?

yes, am interested to know, too. There were 15 plus parents who had a meeting with Tessa Jowell. Our 'solution' was to get on a waiting list for a school I didn't particularly want my son to go to due to its location and the fact he is being separated from ALL of his friends. Eventually after much hand wringing and sleepless nights we got a place at the school. Not so much a problem at 4 that he won't know anyone at all and all the other kids will be from Nunhead, but still not a solution as far as I can see. I still feel VERY let down by Southwark Council. Where we are on our 4 chosen school is so far down, I just laugh now as it beats crying.

If you have kids/thinking of them, it's a bit of a primary school no-man's-land (I've recently found out)

Sorry Helena I pictured a tiny little goat guarding the door for a second. Made me chuckle. Endless problem I have, this in-the-bed business. My little one is 4 and I am single and also way too soft on him, so he gets away with it. Not too bothered though - don't think it's the end of the world he's in my bed some nights. We talk about him not doing it and he agrees big brave boys should stay in their own bed. Looks like we've reached a compromise to have a torch next to his bed and our bedroom doors open so if monsters do come he can easily find me. Hmmm. We'll see.

I fed my son till he was 2 (albeit he was down to 1 feed a day by then, before bed). British people were v disapproving, but we were in NZ at the time and wasn't as unusual over there. He wasn't a good sleeper either, but don't think it was the feeding. Once he'd dropped his daytime naps he really started sleeping through.

I don't think you can over estimate the importance good employers can make to the working mother. The week I've had and the battle I have on my hands with my bosses makes me really wish I had more choices than this! How I long for a sympathetic boss. I can see how the stress of working and mothering can have a major impact on a woman's psychological well-being.

Thanks KM and Mellors - will ring both organisations tomorrow.

My employers have made a new rule up this year stating none of us are allowed to take annual leave in September or October (it being traditionally a busy time of the year). My son starts school in September and there is half term in October, so I have requested 3 days off in September to settle him into school and 3 days off in October to cover my share of half term with his dad (we're separated). But my work are not allowing me to do this, and not being at all empathic/sympathetic. Can anyone help me out as to whether they are in breach of some kind of law here? There's nothing in our contracts about this new rule; I have 19 days of annual leave to take before Xmas so it's not like I've run out of holiday to take. My own work-load is busier now and in August than any other time in the year so the reasoning behind it is not even relevant to me. Very stressed/distressed about this (more school problems for us arggh) so if anyone can give me advice, I'd be v grateful. Thanks, Jess

Walking my son to nursery along Barry Road i am continually shocked by the cars speeding down the road, and the amount that actually go through the red lights and the traffic light crossing near the Barry Off Licence shop. I'm surprised there aren't more accidents.