juliap

Hi our au pair couldn't make the first meet-up but I am sure she would love to come along, if there is another.

I agree drinks would be a great idea.

We also have a new 25-year old Italian au pair who would love to make contact with others in the area. I will PM you both.

Thanks for this info NewtoEDF. This sounds perfect. I had found previous course info on their site but nothing for the summer so this is great.

Hello Does anyone know of a gymnastics summer camp running in Dulwich or nearby? Thanks very much.

I thought that's what does happen with banding, LondonMix, although not an expert so happy to be told otherwise. I am going to contact Lewisham council admissions team to find out their view. Will report back.

You can read about the change here: http://www.southlondonpress.co.uk/Sport.cfm?id=30828&headline=Five%20schools%20to%20drop%20%27ability%20banding%27%20entry Sorry I don't know how to make it a hyperlink but it will work if you c&p into your address bar.

Sorry to hear that INMCD. The situation seems to be getting worse each year, which makes me worry even more for the girls who are currently in year 5. If the new school opens, all will be well but if not...?

I am very concerned about this change to Harris Girls admissions coming in before there is an absolute guarantee of Charter East Dulwich opening to pupils in 2016. The Lewisham community schools have announced a change to their admissions (coming into force for the next round of applications) to distance only rather than distance / banding, which seems to make it less likely that ED girls will get into Sydenham. At a time when there is already an acknowledged pressure on school places in the area, it doesn't seem fair for the Lewisham change and the Harris change to hit us as well. In my view, this proposed change to Harris Girls admissions should not be allowed to go ahead until the following year, when there will definitely be an alternative local option for girls who don't get a place at Harris via the lottery.

Try also London Campers in Streatham. They deliver the van to your door and are really reasonably priced.

Hello You have my sympathy. I suffered from OC in my first preganancy and it was hell. I know quite a few other mums who've had it too - I don't think it can be as rare as the books suggest! The urso really worked for me - is it worth going back to the consultant at King's (am assuming that's where you're being seen) to see if they can change the dose? The only other thing that helped me was getting the chemist to make me a mixture of aqueous cream with 1% menthol. The cream this produces is so cold it nearly takes your breath away when you put in on your skin, but I found it gave me just enough relief to be able to get to sleep. I'll never forget sitting in the bathroom with the windows open on a freezing cold February night, with my feet in a bath of ice cold water, though! The itching makes you do really crazy things. Your description of it is perfect - it really feels like insects under your skin. I also found that diet made a big difference - I was really careful about what I ate once I had the diagnosis, and also drank a lot of water to help my poor old liver. Good luck - at least you're near the end now.

Hi there We are a group of mums looking for an experienced Italian teacher, specialised in teaching young children. We have five children, aged 4-7, and would like to set up a weekly Italian class for them in East Dulwich. Is there a teacher who specialises in teaching young kids? Many thanks in advance Julia

My daughter's at Oaktree nursery on Melbourne Grove and we're very happy with it. It's very small, with caring staff.

Hello Does anyone know for sure whether or not we'll be getting phase 2 of the ELL extension now that there are so many cuts? I've googled but can't find any information about progress on this... thanks

Hello Babble & Squeak at the Magdala on Friday mornings is great. There is an hour of really active play and then half an hour of singing / stories. All for ?3! Not sure if it's started back up again after the summer break, though. Julia

Hi there We found a woman's watch on Peckham Rye this afternoon. Please PM me if you think it might be yours. thanks

Thanks for all that interesting information, Huguenot. Am I the only one wondering if we'll ever actually get phase 2b of the ELL extension, though? Surely any transport work that has not already been started is under major threat now? I can imagine that we might end up with no more LB - Victoria service, and no ELL extension to compensate. That would be awful.

For anyone who's planning their birth - listen to this. A very informative report on community midwifery in this area, with interviews with Katie Yannousis (head of midwifery at King's and a wonderful woman) and Ruth from the Brierley - she was one of my three midwives when I had my second and is an absolute star. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qplyv/Case_Notes_Maternity/

I'd absolutely recommend the Brierley midwives. I had my second with them and they were simply wonderful all the way through (I ended up in hospital after considering a home birth - was not able to for medical reasons in the end). Listen to this - was broadcast on Radio 4 today. It's all about the community midwifes who work under King's with interviews with Katie Yannousis (head of midwives at King's and a wonderful woman) and Ruth from the Brierley, who was one of my midwives. It's very informative. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qplyv/Case_Notes_Maternity/

I'd absolutely recommend Puddleducks nursery. It was lovely when it was at Goose Green but is even better in the new premises. My daughter had a wonderful couple of years there and has gone into reception a happy, confident girl.

My daughter is about to leave Puddleducks after two wonderful years there. The staff are fantastic, really caring and committed. The new facilities are excellent - there is a lot of room and the whole place feels bright and modern. We've loved it - I'm just sorry that we're now too far away for my younger child to go there too.

Hello Just read through most of this thread and there is a lot to take in. Certainly feels like this year's experience is unlikely to prove a one-off so good to see that provision is being made to cope with further increase in demand in the coming years. I am wondering about a couple of things: 1) presumably it costs an awful lot of money to set up bulge classes. If Bessemer Grange is suffering from a lack of pupils and would be considered by many parents if they could actually reach it, would it not be possible to set up a school bus system to take East Dulwich pupils there and back each day? I have no idea if this is feasible or even desirable, but it seems like another option. They used to do this at my primary school. 2) Will the local religious schools be considered for bulge classes alongside the community schools? Or are the exempt because they have different admissions criteria? thanks in advance