New to Norwich from USA

[BrigidC]

I've recently moved here with my husband and 2 and a half year old son. I'll admit I'm a bit overwhelmed by the newness of everything at the moment. How does one go about finding playgroups around town? Are there any good ones around the "Golden Triangle" area? I would like for us both to get out and meet some people locally.

Many thanks!

Hi - don't have much info about local playgroups but just wanted to say welcome to Norfolk! Your best bet will probably be from a Health Visitor, so you could ask at your local doctor's surgery. Otherwise, probably noticeboards in local shops etc may advertise groups. You'll probably find some groups like Tumble Tots (gym and exercise for children) or music groups etc as well. I'm sure there'll be others along soon who can offer more advice.

Keep bumping, there are a couple of MNers out Golden Triangle/Eaton Park way. Have you discovered Eaton Park? I used to work at the university and liked to have lunch there. I think there are lots of toddler groups around there. I'm sure a friend has mentioned one near Colman Rd. But yes, do ask your health visitor who will be a mine of information.

I live the other side of the city in a village on the Broads but grew up in Norfolk and have lived around Norwich for 6 years so can answer any other questions you might have.

What do you think of Norwich? Have you discovered Elm Hill and Tombland (if you've found cobbles and thatched buildings near the cathedral, then that's where I mean). It's beautiful. And the library? There's a council info desk in there that will help you and there are lots of free sessions for parents and toddlers in the children's library.

Please let me know if there's anything you want/need? And welcome.

And if you need shoes, go to the Start Rite outlet shop on the Broadland Business Park (round the ring road, take the Postwick Park and Ride exit off the A47 and follow the signs for the Business Park). Shoes are much, much cheaper there than in the city. That's my top tip for now!

Thanks for the tips!

We have had a chance to walk around the city---DH and I visited a couple of weeks prior to our move and were really impressed. We're coming from a totally car-dependent location in the States, so it's been nice not having to rely upon a car to get around.

Welcome to Norwich.

We are the other side of the city so I'm not sure what toddler groups are in your area, but there is a mothers' and babies' music session in the Forum on Thursday mornings. There is also a good notice-board there of things that are coming up, so worth a look.

Welcome to Norwich! A good playgroup in the Golden Triangle is at St Thomas Church on the Earlham Road. It's every Wednesday 9.30 to 11 and you'll meet lots of Mums (and Dads) there and hopefully find out more things to do. I second the music session at the Forum library -- Thursday at 10 and starting again on the 9th Sept.
Eaton Park is great and Heigham Park is a good place to chat to local mums too. Hope that helps.

Thank you again for all of the great tips!

Brigid - have a look at \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/local_norwich/909384-New-to-Norwich\this}

Welcome to Norwich Brigid! It is a great place to live, I have lived here for 12 years altogether.
Agree with LibertyJibbet about the Start-Rite Factory Shop. Tis fabuloso! Yesterday I bought a pair of school shoes and a pair of boots for only £35. They have a ticket system so you're not vying for the sales assisants' attention, and a room next door where you can watch a DVD while you wait and they call you in when your turn comes up. Very civilised!
Can't advise about toddler groups in your area because I live the other end of the city.
Also I can recommend buying an annual museums pass from the county council when your LO gets big enough - it cost us £58 for 2 adults and 1 child and there are 11 museums you can visit including the Castle Museum, Strangers' Hall, Gressenhall Workhouse and Farm (Dereham) and Time & Tide in Great Yarmouth.
In less than half an hour you can be in the Norfolk Broads or at the seaside.
Great Shopping too, 2 big shopping centres and loads of small independent boutique.
No, I don't work for the Norwich tourist board but I have never regretted moving here!

Playgroups - St Thomas' Toddlers is good - the church hall on Earlham Road, near the end of College Road. Wednesday mornings from 9.30, I think. Then there is Trinity Street here. There's also one at the Jessop Road Methodist church hall.

There's a distinction between playgroups, where you leave your child and are usually for children aged 2.5+, and Toddler Groups, where you stay with your child - most of the playgroups also have a morning/afternoon that is for a Toddler Group. In theory this site should provide all the info.

And welcome to Norwich - it is indeed a fine city :).

Thanks again! So am I right in assuming that my son (who is a little past 2.5 is too old for the "toddler" age groups? I should be looking for playgroups and nurseries instead?

No, no, Brigid, probably not too old. But... keep in mind that most people in Golden Triangle have to work full time to afford house prices, or are students -- and with the high property values there aren't a lot of famlies in the area, and therefore not a lot of toddler groups. This is why the Avenue's Reception class tends to be under-subscribed, too.

St. Thomas (Meth church on Earlham Rd.) was the best group I ever found, I also went to one at the Baptist Church on Dereham Rd (I can't remember what day).

This late in the day you may only find a preschool place at the Jessop Rd. playgroup -- that's where DS went. Some of the popular preschools have very long waiting lists. The preschool at the top of Park Lane and Avenues (Presbyteriean church?) used to be the most popular one.

I am American, too, btw, but have lived in UK for 19 years. Where did you grow up? I'm out in the sticks (North Walsham).

ps: Heigham park? The one on the Avenues, another good place to meet other parents of young families and to pick up on local child-related gossip, like which toddler groups to go to.

ragged - things have changed in the Golden Triangle :o. Avenues First is no more - now amalgamated with Heigham Park to become Recreation Road Infants, which is always oversubscribed by 50+ children. And Avenue Junior is oversubscribed these days too. Two of my DSs went to Jessop Road playgroup - it's a small world!

Brigid - 2.5 is fine for a Toddler Group and would be a great way to meet some people and get a bit of a social circle going.

So how many reception places at Heigham Infants? In theory there used to be 120 places at the 2 schools, so probably only 60 now? It's still not much of a family neighbourhood, whichever way you look at it.

I would love to live there again, btw, but only if we had another £300k to put down on a house.

What year were your DC at Jessop Rd, Hassled? DS was there from Feb-July 2004.

105 intake at Recreation Road now.

Jessop Road - DS3 was born 2002, so I think would have started 2005. DS2 would have left in 2002. When did you leave the area?

I think I disagree about the family feel - possibly it's too expensive for students these days, and seems to have a good sense of community.

I don't recognise ragged's description of the Golden Triangle at all! It's a lovely place to bring up a family and there's a good sense of community, especially based around the toddler groups and (rather over-subscribed) schools. Wishing you the best here Brigid :)

I live in the Golden Triangle area, and have an 18month old DS. DC2 is due within the next month some time.
I've therefore collected together all the info I could find on toddler groups and things like that. I know I'm going to need them once I have a newborn and an active toddler to look after!

I've put them in a word doc (geek, sorry!) and could send this to you if you want. Big apologies that I don't have CAT, but if you are willing to put your email address here, I can send it to you.

Good luck finding your feet. It's a lovely area :)

Ragged, I grew up in Ohio (Cleveland area).

With regards to the Golden TriangleI have seen plenty of listings for student properties around this area with the inflated price tags that come with them (I am amused by the idea of squeezing 4 bedrooms out of the tiny 2 bedroom terraces around the area, for exampleso the students continue to populate the area.

But it's a nice area, for sure. We're just renting at the moment (nobody seems to want to give us Yanks a mortgage... ;)

sent :)

Maybe I was just unlucky when I lived there. Good luck BrigidC.

Bump, bump!

Brigid, I moved back to Norwich earlier this year, and I'm still kind of finding my feet with DD (turned two in June) whilst DS is at school - if you fancy a toddler group buddy, let me know! I'm renting in the Golden Triangle too and honestly, there are tons of young families in the area, it's just that we're not as loud or visible as the studes are

Picc, can you share your knowledge with me? Pretty please? [email protected] :)The Colman Road group is just around the corner from me, but so far I've only managed to venture there once and seem to spend most of my time at the Colman Road library instead!

sent :)

There is also toddlers & Notre Dame Prep School on Dereham Rd on Tue 9:25-11 am and Thus 13:30-15:15....toddler groups are great up to school age and you get to meet other mums.