West London chat into Autumn

[sfxmum]

let us see if anyone finds their way here

Obviously that's not two each term. It's roughly something like that ...

Tilly - we have one today and another one just before half term. Not sure about rest of yr as have not checked school calendar.

Slng - this is my argument for Dh going solo tonight, otherwise I would have to go and drag in tow which is not v. wise at that time of day.

Sfx - hope minisfx feels better soon. Life does seem to go at double speed, I really don't know where the time goes and I never get to the bottom of my to do list!

DS1 has a film night on Mon at school, I'm

Just a quickie - doing the school apps online, can anyone tell me do you have to select 3 schools or can you just select 2?
Thanks

Eeeek! School apps!

Not doing online this time because last time we had to print the bloody thing off and send it anyway.

Sorry vbus - don't know ... But last time we just put in the 3 nearest schools ...

I put the nearest 2 and I don't mind which he goes to, but didn't know if I'd be disadvantaged by putting down a third school esp if I don't like third choice - does that makes sense?

vbus I only put 2 down and made clear the 2nd choice was 'just in case' by not listing one criteria of being near
I did do it online and it was straightforward

tilly we too have 2 official school evening per term then PTA events and class parent events

• tired already

dd sleeping now refusing meds food and drink
I expect sleep is the best now

bloody hell, do we have to do school apps now?! Anyone know if its the same system for church schools?

it is the same system for all schools but you can register with your preferred school afaik

Am feeling a bit like I'm treading water now

Tilly, for church schools you have to do two application forms: one direct to the school and one council one. The good thing is that when you write your preferences, you can put a church school AND a community school and they are not competing requests, as they have different admission systems

Our church school have just given out the forms for next year and I think the deadline for completing them is Christmas/New Year.

We have one parents evening per. term only, which used to seem inadequate, but once you have several children in school it suddenly seems quite enough meetings to go to

OK quick and dirty ballot going on regarding night out. Please click and register your vote re venue:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/local_richmond_upon_thames/824953-Richmond-night-out

VBUS you don't have to put three - I just put one

Did DD's online last time so I could track it and don't trust postal service

OMG as well as I have to start viewing Secondary schools this year!!! So we can have a shortlist prepared to take DS1 to visit next year...yikes am really not feeling ready for 2ndry school angst ridden admissions scrum

thanks auntie. Guess I'd better get on to it in terms of council application.

Tilly - remember, we are in a different borough to the others, and things can be different. I would go online and double-check.

Auntie - secondary schools! I am worrying about that side of things already! Are you in a good catchment or are you going for selective or private? If these questions are too personal feel free not to answer! But certainly you must be v busy with it all.

How is everyone else? Tilly, how is ds1 getting on at nursery?

Hope everyone is well. We've just submitted application for dd. Thanks for the reminder.

I'm mad busy here. Hope to catch up @ half term.

PPC I think I know which three we are going for, but of course have to go and look as well before deciding:

Two catholic and one which is CoE but very local and our primary is the link school.

The two catholic ones are VERY over subscribed and intake is pan-London: London Oratory and Cardinal Vaughan, but we do have a chance with LO. Downside is they are both train journeys

If not, would be happy with local CoE one I think as it has become a very good school and is walking distance, so DCs could walk to school, with their friends and all three could go there.

TBH honest it is a nightmare - just thinking about the standard of secondary education in this country and the competitive scrum to gain admission makes me want to emigrate to somewhere where all schools are good, population is lower and all kids just go to their local school automatically.

Can anyone suggest anywhere please?

good morning all

secondary schools have been a topic of conversation at the school gates [school] they have only just started reception

dd is better but kept her home today as she did not sleep much and still has a hacking cough

Morning!

Where is that fog that BBC weather forecast said there would be? It's all lovely sunshine here.

We are not thinking about secondary school till DS1 is in year whatever-it-is-two-year-before-secondary-school. I refuse to get drawn into any discussions at the school gate.

Griselda - if you find such a country you'd probably find that there's a scrum to get in it .

sfx - hope DD is better. Last year DS1 had quite a few of these coughs and colds. Even now he's got a bit of a cough too. They meet all these new germs together with their new friends...

sfx, hope dd is better

I'm also refusing to think about secondary schools!

PCW, ds1 is settling in fine, thanks, he's really enjoying it. Though he's shattered in the afternoons! But we've had our first playdate after school today which was nice. The parents did a proper lunch as well, so have set the bar high!

Hello

Hope everyone is enjoying this extended summer

Thanks all for school help, much appreciated. Also avoiding school chats at gates/park
Auntie - I think you'll have to move to Sweden

Tilly - the pressure's on then!

PCW - lovely to see you ealier with DS. Would be keen to go there next Fri as it's v.relaxing and the DC enjoyed it if you/anyone else would like to meet

DS1 got his 1st school report at parents evening last night, he's only been there 10days FFS! Thankfully he still seems to love the place

DH set off on his challenge so I'm looking fwd to a few girly self indulgent evenings which could include a nice hot bath seeing as our boiler got fixed last night, yay. Simple pleasures....

lovely out today shame we only went out briefly for a bit of fresh air

dd better thanks for asking she is still coughing but the temperature came down in the early hrs

vbus hurrah for hot water

auntie I do not envy you the task of finding a secondary, good luck I think we are seriously considering going private or at least making some provision for it just in case but who knows what will happen before then

have wine opened it has been ages since I had a glass but it goes well with ratatouille and ciabatta loaves

lost internet access earlier for a couple of hours, felt queasy

SFX your dinner sounds lovely -

Slng thats what I have done, kept head firmly in sand until 2 yrs before transfer to 2ndy, which is precisely NOW (Yikes emoticon)

Vbus that sounds as tho it might be a Welcome to our school meeting - very useful IMHO

Tilly - ooohh that means you have to cook a proper lunch then lol?

Ds1 has gone to school dance without us, with a friend and their parents

had mucho crappo day - took afternoon off work to take DD to dance shop for dance gear - drove there, spent 20 minutes looking for parking and aftre all that it was SHUT

....Don't use On Pointe in Sheen its opening hours are very limited

Hmmph and Blardy Hmmph

Hello!

We had nice afternoon at DS1's friend's house - kids played, grownups chat, and tea was laid on. We generally take turns feeding the kids, and it generally works quite well - fish fingers, speg bol, sandwiches etc., though with one of my friends we tend to do Chinese-style food or sushi because her DS is gluten intolerant. Proper cooked lunches are easy if you do Chinese food . Pot of rice, plate of meaty things, plate of boiled carrots or broccoli. What can go wrong?

Aunty - hate it when that happens. Poor you! Have a glass of something.

This is the first evening in weeks I'm going to NOT work. Now to the washing up, since DH out and about ...

Auntie/vbus, I actually thought that if its ever my turn, I'm not even going to try & compete!

sfx, glad dd is better.

Ds2 isn't very well though. The dr thinks it could be viral but then there's nothing they can give for it. Poor thing keeps coughing all night & waking himself up

Vbus, meant to say I won't be able to make jolly tots this week. Dh is playing golf. I might go to Kew though if you fancy that?

Sfx - glad dd is better. We're all taking turns to have colds here.

Auntie - we bought £50 worth of ballet dance kit for dd before deciding class was too far. New class now needs kit in different colour.

We're in building site hell, down to 1 room for living and sleeping and bathroom. I don't know how long I'll be able to take this. May crack and decide to move in with in laws.