March chat for locals

[Kewcumber]

for when the old one runs ou shortly

my loacl preschool told me names have to be down by age 1 to get a place - nice nursery but not Eton!

SJ afaik west London schools/ pre schools are always over subscribed, did they refuse to accept registration? for dd nursery there are no full time places just yet but they always manage some part time.

KC hope it is recovery for ds

mellow well done I can't quite bring myself to drive, have not picked up a car since my mid 20's and don't hold a valid license

ros I found the CPC website again and it does list changes they do seem to be pushing the parties as well

They didn't refuse to accept registration, but realistically he might not get a place. I was just surpised how long the waiting list was!

The pre-school that I'd like him to go to is really good and not over-subscribed due to small catchment area but won't take him til Sep 09, I will still apply there but that's why I'm calling other places where he could start this yr.

I have arranged a visit for another one now, have to call a few more places on the list & see what we end up with.

BTW nice piccies SFX

sj, have you considered a childminder?

Is it a nursery environment you want for him to prepare him for school or do you want childcare?

If a) then look up your lcoal montessori - they ussually have afternoon sessions part-time available with no waiting lsit becasue everyone wants mornings

If b) then as per paddle try a few local childminders.

thanks,the kid looks good in pics , they all do at this age don't they

best of luck with the schools it is such a worry and it starts so early

on another subject dd has found a new love for broccoli, peas asparagus and butternut squash she loved it when she was a baby but lately it has been 'vegetables are yucky'
guess what most meals contain these days?

Hi all. Haven't really had much chance to catch up. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend despite the wether, and everyone and lo's are fit and well.

We had a lovely if hectic/tiring weekend. Great to see all the family and had a fab party for mum's 60th, but having all the grandchildren "sleeping" (and I use that term loosely ) under one roof meant blearly eyed parents. We came home with far too much chocolate (I am planning on melting down some of the big hollow egges and transfering into ice cube trays to make storage easier, then use to make cakes/biscuits/ rice crispie snacks etc (they got so much I doubt they will notice).

Well done on theory test mellow.

SJ sorry to hear about pre-school problems. It is a real headache isn't it.

I have found out that ds won't get into dd's school as it is becoming very over prescribed (40 childrnon next sept reception waiting list - intake 60). DD only got in there because she started mid year and that year they had a low intake. They do apply the sibling rule, but as dd leaves in July to go to the junior school and ds is due to start the next Sept, he effectively has no sibling there. She will go to the junior school for certain as they offer all infants a place, but the sibling rule doesn't extend between the 2 schools.

It isn't the end of the world as ds will get into a very good school that is closer to home, but just makes school runs a headache. (the junior school is 100 yards from the infant, the school he will probably go to is 2 miles away from dd's current school). Never mind we will manage.

Yes I have PC, thought I might exhaust the nursery options first though. I'd like him to try nursery as they have a wider range of activites and increased social contact with other kids and carers.
He wouldn't start before Sept at the earliest so still have time to look into CM if he can't get into nursery. Have to say each time I start thinking about all this stuff it does my head in!

KC - the one I called in Teddington was Montessori, no vacancies full stop!

COV - what a pain re: schools for you. At least DS can still go to a good school

SFX - well done on veggie breakthrough!

I does frazzle your brain a bit doesn't it SJ. This weekend I had my mum asking about dd's SATs, what the junior schools last ofsted report was like and have we researched the secondary schools locally, and put down her name for any private ones or are we going to have her coached for the grammar entrace exams instead. She is just 6 and half way through year one. Am I hideously behind in my preparations for her/are we failing her as parents?

Exactly SJ in the grand scheme of things I have nothing to complain about, many people don't get the school of their choice and end up miles away or in a bad school. I just would have liked an easier school run and it would have been nice to already now most of the mums of the children that would have been in his class.

you mean you haven't thought about which university you'd like her to go to as well?

SJ, don't write off CMs for lack of social contact and activities.

My CM does heaps of learning thru play stuff and she goes to a couple of playgroups per week with other CMs. Next time you're over I'll show you dd's Year Book.

CMs are included in the Early Years Learning stuff so a good one will comply same as nursery.

I guess for me it was that dd was going to be going for 2 or 3 days per week so I wanted her in a smaller setting but with the benefit of lots of interaction.

Cheaper too

CM has called in sick today so dd is with backup and I find this very comforting too. Very nearly shoved out the door as backup CM has dd's favourite toys LOL.

Anyways, a good CM combined with a pre-school which is subtly different to nursery is a good combination IMO.

right, that's my 2p worth LOL.

btw, Woolies has a sale on. Just bought some boring filing boxes, nice photo frames, vests for dd and a very cute little trolley case for dd's holidays

You're lucky you have such a good CM & one with a back up that DD likes. I think I saw the year book, v.impressive. I'll be asking for your CM's number if DS doesn't geat nursery place this year

sj, it's true I am incredibly lucky with my CM. she still only has dd and a 1yr old for most of the day which is great.

talking of which, best i get outta here and go pick up the princess.

ps: whitton methodist have a very good pre-school i'm told too. again local CM knowledge is a godsend.

evening all,

back onto schools again are we? it really does make my head hurt! When you talk about pre-schools do you mean the ones where they take them the Sept after their 3rd b'day? Or is it something else entirely?

Ros pre-school generally takes them from 2yrs+ but funded places only start at 3yrs.

Nurseries attached to schools are more school-like and intake is around 3-4yrs. DD will go in '09 and will be nearly 4yrs as she will be one of the oldest in her year.

Not to be confused with a nursery which is child-care from baby to toddler iyswim.

pre-schools can be run privately often in church halls or premises etc.

Never figured out pre-school. Not an auspicious term. Not to me anyway! We'll find out about ds1's school in a couple of weeks. Is that exciting or what. I try not to think about it ....

personally I will delay school like stuff for as long as I can but as far as I can tell there is a curriculum to be followed from early on be it in Nursery or pre school.

Is it more to do with the type of setting? I had a look at the 'year books' of kids in the 3-5 room at nursery and it looked quite school like

all very confusing and still some leave school without being able to read

Paddle, that makes more sense now. I keep getting pre-school & nursery schools mixed up.

paddle your new FB pic is gorgeous

I love CMs - call me old fashioned but I prefer a "home from home" environment until they are about 3.

Ours has so many of her own lovely children its like a nursery anyway LOL!!! They certainly learn a lot of social skills there anyway.

Nurseries are great too - not knocking them, but having used several of both, I love CMs more methinks.

CoV its ridiculous isn't it? - having to think about secondaries this early No you are not behind. Most DCs only get tutored for last year, or two years if they are struggling, but its good to be thinking about it now and maybe researching who are the good tutors.

Mellow - well done!!! Thank Gawd we didn't have to do theory in my day huh?

Steppy - LOL at you being relieved you don't have to go out!! I know that feeling so much

Had a potentially stressful day which turned out evry well:

Woke at 6.30am to get DCs ready to leave house at 8am

Big drive across London in rush hour to single jabs clinic for DDs Measles jab in deepest Kent

Very rushed to my new dentist for a consultation on having a corrective brace

Then visit to McD's for lunch (post jab treat) and Wooolworths for post jab toy-bribe

Mega rushed drive across London, pronto BF Mof DS2 and then dashed to Hospital in Surrey for operation on a tooth.

All med visits went exceedingly well and when I got home there was a message from our holiday company saying there is no electricity in campsite, therfore they have to move us (probably meaning its under booked). The long and short of it is we are getting a much better holiday, in upgraded luxury accomodation, 4 hours less drive, indoor pool (yipee), much more facilities etc and close to Paris (I feel my shopping antenna twiching already). Am so pleased as it will be really comfy and relaxed - much better than the original venue.

Oh I soooooooo much need a holiday

Am getting very excited now as we will have a fabbo time even if it the weather is bad

Ros please cahnge your name now - don't you knwo I am a reformed chocoholic and everytime I read your name I nearly fall off the wagon!!

SFX I think the pre school reading is the Government's response to the poor literacy rates generally (ask your DD about it, she will know about Brown's policies))

I wouldn't worry too much about literacy in west London anyway

..apart from my typos of course!!!!

consider it done foxie, just for you! I've been very restrained with my easter choc, still got a G&B egg & 2 of their large bars in the fridge, untouched!

I do admit that if I could've found a CM I liked then I would have used that option instead of a nursery. There just wasn't one around Brentford that I really wanted to leave ds with. The staff at the nursery are brilliant and he loves it there now!