caterpillars music classes

[gottasmile]

Hi,

I'm new to Wimbledon and found Caterpillars music classes on the internet. Has anyone tried them? How did you find them?

Are there any other interesting toddler things that you would recommend for a 2 year old?

Thanks!!

Welcome gottasmile!

Haven't tried Catterpillar Music. Did try Monkey Music, which was v. disappointing. We now go to Musical Express which is great - new songs, an amazing range of instruments to play and unacompanied singing, which I prefer to singing to a CD (can do that at home for free...)But I think it's quite a personal thing, so best to try a few.

Where in Wimbledon are you?

Hi HouseofMirth and thank you!

I'll go and take a look at Musical Express. Caterpillar Music is quite near our house, which would be very handy (one of the resons it sounded so good!)....I'm in Lake Road.

Do you live in Wimbledon too?

I'm in West Wimbledon where Musical Express is a walk away. They also run classes in Southfields so either of those locations would involve you in a drive (the one near me has a car park though).

The YMCA on the Broadway has different activities each morning for toddlers. There are also playgroups at St Marks church hall (behind library in Wimbledon) on Mondays ( I think) and at St Marys in the village on Fridays.

Hope that helps!

It does!! Once ds (6) is in school, we'll need more to do during the day.

The YMCA sounds good and both churches you mentioned are walking distance, so we'll definitely look at both of those.

I think dd will be very happy with so much to do.

Thanks again for your help!

The other thing she might like, whch is v.popular (so has waiting lists usually) is TJs Mini Gym details here.

Which school is your DS attending & have you moved from far away?

That looks amazing and just what dd likes to do! Thank you once again.

We don't know yet which school ds will be attending. We're waiting to find out (very stressful when school starts next week)

We've come from Canada, where getting ds into school seemed a whole lot easier. I'm Australian and dh is Italian.

We're hoping to get ds into Bishop Gilpin as it's so close and I've heard it's a great school.

I've just posted about school uniforms too, not knowing which school ds will be going to makes it so hard to get organised.

I was wondering if there were some things I could buy that are common to all schools?

DS's best friend is at BG, just about to start Year One. It's a lovely school. Gosh, that must be quite nerve-wracking, not knowing. When do you hear?

Most schools have different sweatshirts/jumpers/shirts/polo shirts (many with school logo) so you'd need to hold off on that but as far as I know grey trousers and black shoes are kind of standard for boys.

That's what I thought about the uniform. Thanks for that!

We won't know anything until someone is actually at the school. When I spoke to the LEA, they told me that 3 schools had places available, but they didn't have any information about the faith schools.

My dilemma now is whether to apply for one of the schools that has a place (Hollymount, Pelham or Wimbledon Chase), or wait until the last minute, hoping that BG will have a place.

I was trying to hold off on getting a car here (dh has one but it's too big for me!!) so a one minute walk as opposed to 25 sounded good to me! (thinking of the winter weather, not because I'm actually that lazy!!)

So if someone doesn't answer the phones in the next couple of days, I'm going to be tempted to go for one of the schools that has a place for him, especially since before the term ended, BG didn't.

Hope this all makes sense!! I'm glad to hear that BG is a lovely school (but won't feel this way if ds doesn't get in!!)

Thanks for taking the time to read about my dilemma!!

I'm, assuming, from what you say that you haven't had a chance to look round any school yet? I know BG doesn't start back until Wednesday though they will be doing teacher training on Monday and Tuesday (and maybe tomorrow and Friday too) so someone should be there, Pelham, Hollymount and Wimbledon Chase have teacher training days tomorrow and Friday and term starts on Monday.

If I were in your position, I would try to go and look round all these schools on Monday and Tuesday so you have an idea of which one you like best if it comes to it. They are all "good" schools but all quite different. Hollymount is very close to where I live and very popular but I did not choose it for DS as it has no private outside space for sport (though it is opposite a nice park which the school uses). It is also about to undergo a massive building extension programme. Wimbledon Chase is a big school but in a nice location an with great grounds. I don't know much about Pelham. I do think though that you kind of need to go on your gut feeling about the atmosphere and personality of the school as much as exam results etc and of course what suits one child may not suit yours

I definitely will. I think initially I was just so focussed on ds starting school on time, that I didn't worry about which school (having checked out ofsted reports first though)

But you're right, it's now time to go and look at each school. (It is hard with dd though, she's not great with staying in the buggy and has started screaming that she wants to get out after 5 minutes)

But we will try!!

Thanks so much for your helpful and very informative replies!

Like the previous mum would definitely suggest you try it out for yourself. I tried 3 different Music classes with my toddler and Monkey Music was streets ahead of the rest. Great structure and limited class sizes. I go to one of two venues they have in Southfields. Fantastic teacher! I think Monkey Music has just won an award.