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Original poster

Moving to Highams Park area October with five month old baby

31 replies

Lovescourgettes · 01/09/2012 21:53

New to the area and wondering if anyone would be kind enough to share baby friendly activities or groups around Highams Park/ Chingford etc ? Would anyone be interested in meeting for coffee ( possibly cake) and a chat . I have a child starting at Reception too. I would love to hear from any Mums who live nearby particularly those who have any knowledge of local primary schools as I have been thrown in at the deep end .

OP posts:
happy2bhomely · 01/09/2012 22:07

Hello! I live in Highams Park, but will be moving in October too. Where are you moving from? What school is your child starting at? My children go to Selwyn Primary, and I have one starting reception.

Baby friendly activities? There is a mucky pups toddler group in the church on Winchester rd. It's run by a very nice lady but I don't really do groups.

The library has rhyme time on a Wednesday morning.

There are quite a few things going on at Ridgeway children's centre in chingford.

We mainly use the local parks and forest.

What would you like to know about the schools?

Original poster
Lovescourgettes · 02/09/2012 08:08

Hi Happy ,
Thanks for replying .We are in the catchment for Handsworth but it is full so have been offered Selwyn or Longshaw . How did your kids find Selwyn? Do you have any experience of Longshaw? Area looks lovely we really can't wait . We are moving from Cambridge.

OP posts:
happy2bhomely · 02/09/2012 11:53

I don't have any experience of Longshaw. The most local schools to us are Selwyn, Handsworth and Oak Hill. We moved when our eldest was starting yr1 so we had to take what was offered. My first choice would have been Handsworth.

Our eldest is now leaving for Highams Park. We have 2 daughters starting reception and yr 4. The nursery is excellent and our youngest will be starting next Easter.

The school have had some problems with management and has lost lots of staff recently. This has been a very positive step. The new management are amazing. The children are making great progress. Sats results were excellent this year and an incredible improvement on last year. I love the school and so do the children.

We are only moving locally to Woodford Green and the children will be staying at their school.

It is a lovely area. Great transport links. Lots of green space. I hope you are all very happy here.

poppypowers · 02/09/2012 21:42

Hi mums, welcome lovescourgettes!

I live in highams park too. I have a 6 month old as well as 3 & 4 yr olds. All boys. Eldest will start Oakhill reception in a few days and the other will start nursery there too! Yikes!

My eldest went to handsworth nursery and even tho we live in the catchment area - this yr there were far too many siblings (30) so he missed out on a place. But, I think it was a good thing (although he loved handsworth nursery) as I just love oakhill - small school - good community links. Well - I hope I still love it in a few months lol!

There's a good babysensory group and I liked mucky pups as above. Our library is good and there are a lot of good groups/activities in nearby south woodford and chingford too.

PM me if you would like to meet up. Would be happy too. When are you moving here?

Original poster
Lovescourgettes · 03/09/2012 20:35

Hello ladies, thanks for your advice we will be on the waiting list for Handsworth and Oakhill but have Longshaw as our third choice . I had a long conversation with a lovely childminder today about Selwyn and she said it was doing really well now in the SATs. Would be great to meet up Poppy I will PM you when I have moved in mid October and if you are free it would be nice to get the lowdown on the area. Thanks so much!

OP posts:
poppypowers · 04/09/2012 17:59

Look forward to it x

VMC04 · 12/09/2012 16:55

Hello! We are in the process of buying/moving to Highams Park as well. We have a 6 month old and a 4.5 year old (boys). Thanks for sharing the info on the schools and groups. Will be eagerly awaiting our eldest's placement. I don't suppose many people move during the reception year, do they? (We should have done this last year!)

I would really love to meet up when we get there and a bit settled. I will post back in du course. Good luck with the moves!

Original poster
Lovescourgettes · 12/09/2012 21:57

Hi, great to hear from you too VMCO4 please get in touch when you are ready. We have now been allocated a place at Longshaw the other two are full up as I suspected. Longshaw looks a lovely school but it's a bit further away for us . Good luck with your application and your move.

OP posts:
beanie75 · 19/09/2012 10:30

Hi there.
I have a facebook pg " Lets inject some life into highams park" for local people. Lots of info for local mums. cheers!

Original poster
Lovescourgettes · 19/09/2012 11:33

Hi Beanie I could not find you on FB . Any chance you could inbox me your details so I can fin your group ? Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lovescourgettes · 19/09/2012 12:41

Found it now Beanie . Sorry was being a bit dim !

OP posts:
JackandJillMusic · 02/10/2012 13:55

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Lozza70 · 02/10/2012 15:05

Hi Lovescourgettes and VMC04

I live in Highams Park and love it here. I tend to use some of the groups in SouthWoodford which is really close but the parks and forest around Highams Park are great.

I have a 4 year old DS who will be starting school next Sept so am starting the application process at the moment. Also have a 3 month old DS so am on maternity leave at the moment. It would be great to meet some local Mums so PM me if you would like to meet up!

Original poster
Lovescourgettes · 12/10/2012 08:34

Great we move next week I will be in touch.

OP posts:
Lozza70 · 20/10/2012 20:21

Lovescourgettes hope your move went well and you are settling into Highams Park

Sandifoot · 16/01/2013 14:51

hi

hope your move went well, I like in Highams park and there are some lovely preschool groups. There is one at Selwyn primary school on a Wednesday at 9:30 run by local childrens centre. I think someone has already mentioned mucky pups on a Tuesday. The library is small but has a good range of kids books and decent baby change facilities. I have not been for a while but at larkswood leisure centre they do a tots water world on wednesdays and fridays which is s drop in fun swim for under 5s 2 30 min sessions 12-12:30 & 12:30 - 1pm.

There are lovely parks and the chingford model railway in ridgeway park starts up again after Easter I think so fab for kids. Highams Park is a lovely family friendly area so I hope you settle in well

Obirudi · 28/02/2013 20:58

Hi ladies !
I'm 35 and have two boys 1 who is in reception ( transfer to ainsle woods or handswirth primary from march ) and 1 who is 22m

We are moving to highams park in march and leaving our friends in n16 behind
we are keen to meet new friends in the area !
Does anyone with children fancy a play date?

Sandifoot · 12/03/2013 21:48

Hi
if you do not work on Wednesdays there is a good playgroup at Selwyn Primary school. I usually take my 23 month old girl and I have a boy at Selwyn Primary reception. Otherwise the Oh My cafe is a good place to meet other mums with kids as the a child friendly cafe with a play area in Highams Park.

Kinguska · 15/04/2013 15:30

Hi to everyone,

We will be moving to Highams Park area around June/July, I have a girl age 2,5 ( turning 3 in Aug) I would love her to go to Handsworth Primary or Oakhill. I am full time mum so I will be looking for childminders or nurseries who can take her and pick her up from school, do you know any childminders/nurseries you can reccomend. And also by any chance do you know how strict these schools are in terms of age as my daughther only turns 3 in august there is probably low possibility she can start pre-school in september? I am sorry I am new to all this, first child going to pre-school its a bit scary? Any advice info how this work around in that area would be BIG HELP, thanks

OrchidFlakes · 24/04/2013 18:07

Hi everyone. W are moving to highams park, south chingford borders in May, I have a 9 month old DS and would love to meet new mummy friends.

Can anyone recommend a childminder in the area?

Vic12345 · 13/06/2013 22:03

There is a brand new nursery being built opposite the newly built tesco opening August I think. Hopefully will b nearly as good as the Lloyd park one if we're lucky!

Vic12345 · 13/06/2013 22:06

Hi if you haven't already found it I recommend going to Oh My cafe on the high street it's for parents and young children. I've met some nice mums on there and the owners are super friendly too with plenty of advice on events / Child minders etc
V x

sammyjo1978 · 01/09/2013 13:23

Hi there
I know its been a while since the first comments were posted about schools, so I just wondered if any of you ladies could provide some recent info on these schools. We are looking to move to Highams Park over the next few months and will be applying for schools for next year. House we are looking at is near Oakhill and Handsworth (which I understand are very good) however if we dont get into those the next closes is Selwyn. Ive heard very mixed things about Selwyn and can see on Ofsted website it currently 'requires improvement'.

I can see some very positive views about Selwyn that date back to 2012, so just wondering if anyone has any current feedback or experience of this school?
Also, I can see that the intake for Oakhill in 2012 was 60 and in 2013 will be 30 - does anyone know why there are less places this year and what the intake will be next year (2014 intake which applications will open for soon)?
Many thanks! Any info, feedback or advice will be greatly received!!

Sansta83 · 17/09/2013 21:44

Hi sammyjo,
My little boy starts reception in 2014 and I too am living within the catchment for Oakhill primary and handsworth. Did you manage to find the answers to either of your questions? I also was curious as to whether the 2014 intake would include 1 or 2 classes.

katese11 · 03/10/2013 22:25

Hi everyone

Shhhh....don't tell anyone (not even my parents Wink ) but we are looking at houses around Highams Park. I know some people in Walthamstow but no-one in Highams Park itself, so will cruising playgroups with a sign saying "Please like me" if we move there. We have a 4yo and a 1yo.

Any good local tips?

Kate (soon to be se11 no longer...sob!)