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EW Taekwondo at Honor Oak Community Centre

Horniman Dance School is fantastic.

Wavelengths in Deptford is another one.

Hi Susy, My sister has been in a similar situation to you. She lives in Australia and I haven't been able to help her practically, only talking on the phone. It was very hard for her to accept that the relationship was over but since she has done her life has only got better and although being a single parent is hard, it is not as hard as living in an abusive relationship was. Her daughter was 3 when her parents separated and since then she has gone from strength to strength. She is much happier and more relaxed than she was when she was constantly witnessing and listening to her parents fighting and her mother being abused. She (my niece) used to suffer from hair loss through stress which has completely stopped now. She and her brother (now 3, was 1 at the time) can only see their Dad in supervised circumstances because of his various problems with anger and drink, but they manage that and accept it and are really happy and definitely better off than they were. They are relaxed in their own home and can have friends round and stuff which was tricky before. It is a long road and my sister has found it far from easy. But it is definitely worth taking, things can only get better and they will. Please please try not to allow yourself to feel guilty. You have been damaged by the abuse and that is why you feel that. You are doing the right thing by separating and by talking about what's been going on. Lots and lots of love and good luck, Sarah

Hi Spanners, My children all had this and one got it quite bad. It lasts for a year to 18 months but does go all by itself in the end. Try not to worry unless one becomes infected, then go to your GP, but it is not very likely. Sew

What about the Harris Girls Academy on Homestall Road, by Peckham Rye? I think they include a bouncy castle in their hire fee.

Sorry, don't mean to be patronising! I was trying to express the view that balance is important as is constructive criticism and that message boards can sometimes whip up a frenzy of anxiety and emotion without achieving real results. Think will stop reading this thread as am afraid of getting whipped further into it!

Emily, you are obviously angry and upset but this isn't the place to air your concerns. Who do you think is reading this who can do anything about the situation that's upsetting you? The only course of action if you are worried about the overall picture at Goodich is to keep lobbying the school and the governors and obviously attending the next meeting that James Barber mentioned. The EDF is about supporting local businesses and institutions and scaring people away from local schools is not going to help any of us. The other thing is that in the face of such public and anonymous criticism I would imagine that Southwark Council will do everything they can to support and keep all the staff at Goodrich. How do you think it feels to the many staff there who work really hard every day to read this? It must be horribly demotivating to say the least! If you have got particular concerns about your own childs learning/happiness at Goodrich it would be far better for you to raise issues with them in person or in writing so that they at least have a chance to respond. Perhaps you feel you have tried that and got nowhere which would explain your frustration but I still don't think you are going to find a satisfactory solution with these kind of posts - more likely you are making things worse.

Hi James, What do you mean by "a sea of green" in terms of Contextual Value Added stats? Thanks Sarah

Hi there. I had a hard time potty training my oldest daughter a few years ago and she was similar to yours - holding on, refusing to go, and I too found it hard to be relaxed about it, especially when being relaxed didn't seem to make any difference. The turning point was a Bear in the Big Blue House DVD - I think it was called Potty Time. She used to like telling the bear when she'd been on the potty! Could have just been a coincidence and that she was only ready then but it's worth a try. I lent my copy to comeone and never got it back or I'd let you borrow it but you'll get it on Amazon. If it's any consolation, as with most things I've found it much easier with my two younger daughters. My youngest is almost two and a half and has only recently trained. She had loads of accidents and sometimes refused to go but I found I didn't mind as much and she got there in the end. But we definitely had at least one accident (often number twos) every day for about a month. And some days there would be 3 or 4 accidents! She started having completely dry days about a month ago but still has the odd accident. So it can just take time. My middle daughter on the other hand just stopped wearing nappies the week of her 2nd birthday, by her own choice. She only ever had one accident. So they are all different and nothing really you do makes any difference to how quickly they train. I would get the DVD, take the plunge, no more nappies and just ride it out. It is really annoying when they refuse to go and then make a mess on the floor but it won't last forever. Lots of luck!

Hi Abi, Have a look at www.babyswimming.co.uk. They teach at a lovely pool at the Michael Tippett School in Herne Hill and are soon opening a class in Dulwich. Sew

Hi Carol, You could try Theatrebugs. I don't have their contact details but youc an google them. Sew

Hi Vickster, I have been in this position previously with two older siblings and I would highly recommend starting with 3 days and the option of reducing it to 2 in a few months time. Your older child will appreciate the routine of still going to nursery and you will relish the chance to rest and be with your new baby. Your older child won't feel excluded because he has been used to going to nursery all this time while you've been working and you will find that the two other days you are able to spend with him will be of better quality because you will be less tired. It is hard dividing your time and attention between two kids to start with and you will all benefit from the initial time you have just with the new baby and to yourself. You can do all the things you did with no 1 when he was just born like relaxing with cups of coffee and walks in park and then be on great form to welcome him when he gest back from nursery. You can always collect him slightly earlier each day if you want to but the time he's away will fly. As I said in a few months time you can reduce the days to 2 if you need the money and want to have more time with both your children once the baby is sleeping a bit better at night. Good luck with your expanding family and enjoy them both, Sew

I was involved in putting pressure on the council this year to get my daughter a place - she starts at Goodrich tomorrow and although I am delighted that she eventually got a place I am concerned about the problems caused by the bulge class for her and the school community as a whole particularly as the school was unwilling. Regarding the comment about private school places and the recession, it has been reported in the national press that this is a bit of a red herring as Private schools have not seen a drop in applications this year and this is not a valid argument against planning in advance for extra places for the next few years. It was detrimental to my daughter not knowing for sure which school she'd be going to until only a couple of weeks ago. I have been told by Southwark council that the parents who experienced problems this year will be used as a focus group to improve the chaotic admissions system for next year but I have yet to be contacted for my feedback. I intend to chase this up though and will keep in touch.