FEB 2010 Three is a magic number, yes it is......

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Come and take shelter from the DC here, folks!

Hate to say this but the weekend is going very smoothly so far without dh here... Wouldn't want to be without him of course but sometimes he complicates things unnecessarily just by his presence.

NK are you me?

With the news today that there will be a serious shortfall of primary school places next year, do any of you consider HE?

No, I wouldn't do HE. I simply don't have the skills. Or patience. Or inclination

I'm hoping that DD2 will get into DD1's school on a sibling rule. However, this year there were 26 siblings for 30 places, so it isn't guaranteed. We were lucky to get DD1 in. Although the school is round the corner (4 minutes walk), it is Church of England. We are not. But they put on a bulge class for DD1's year.

Quite calm here considering DH's absence too. Sounds like a lot of us are solo parenting this weekend. We're like superheroes of goodness

No, I wouldn't HE unless there is obvious problems at school.
Actually with DD2 I can see obvious problems with her being at home, I do understand her made language too well, she needs an environment where she has to make the effort to "fit in".
I can't HE DD1 too stubborn for me. I can extend both of them but I need the bases covered.

I would not HE DS neither. I will not have the bases or the patience to do it.

He is already registered in the school we want hm to go (has been since October 2012). In fact I am not sure Guernsey will be having the same shortage (if yes, the States is keeping it quiet).

I have been solo parenting today as DH left for work before 9am and is not expected home before 9pm ish.

But DS has been good today and even had a 1.3 hours nap at lunchtime and guess what He played by himself, we baked and played 'hiding' under the duvet cover as there was a black bear coming (he likes watching Rebelle - Brave in English - and I think that's where the bear is coming from; but he is not affraid of the bear!)

As DS is now in bed, I am enjoying some

Enjoy SB! I'm on hot squash and snacks because u can't be bothered to cook dinner for one and didn't fancy eating with the girls earlier.

I'm eating a tinned soup because I don't fancy the beef curry DH will be eating once he gets home.

I am sort of considering HE. Feel that 4 is too young for full time formal education plus the nearest primary to me is full of v deprived kids with social probs. Will apply for the two bettet schools but if only offered a place at the crappy one will turn it down. There is q a big HE community round here with lots of social groups and trips out so wouldn't be lonely. Will see what DS thinks too of course and will attend open days.

Had beef stew and dumplings.

I used to think I would like to, but perhaps for secondary rather than primary and with DH taking half of it. I think between us, we have the skills to just supplement their learning. Try to show them the applications of the boring school stuff. Although largely I am sticking my head in the sand with the school thing, especially as we may again in October. There is town halfway between here and work that also supposedly has better schools. Seems that if you can't go private here schools aren't great.

Saturday is beans on toast night

I feel able to supplement school education (at the moment, anyway) quite well at home, which is serving the girls well so far. I also go in to DD1's class once a week to listen to reading (much needed for some kids, there's quite a bit of EAL and we live in a really mixed area socially). Not sure how I'll fare at secondary level, especially if the DDs choose a non-science route, very impressed that you feel,you and your DH could CP.

To anyone worrying about primary school admissions, we live in an area where it is considered pretty tough but it pretty much always works out. I was convinced we'd end up somewhere awful, so studied the application guide and became an expert (unnecessarily as it turned out, though many of my friends found my encyclopaedic knowledge useful - the joys of a semi-photographic memory ). So try not to sweat about it too much, it does usually work out.

Interesting that there's quite a bit of home ed where you are BC...

Had beans for lunch CP

Cashew nuts and (Ok, so I ate with the girls earlier...)

I'm quite worried about the school thing now. We are currently paying for dd1's education because we couldn't bring ourselves to put our painfully shy, immature, summer born, virtually deaf and mute due to glue ear, wonderfully creative but very stubborn pfb daughter into a reception class of 37 - which was the offer at the time. It's worked out beautifully for her and she has caught up and progressed beyond our wildest dreams. (The other school is now one of only three in town reported to have serious weaknesses in all areas and failing spectacularly, so I am glad I listened to my instincts). We got a lot of stick for our decision at the time... interestingly from people who moved into a better catchment area, paying a premium on their new house, so that their dc could be in a nice middle class primary and others who suddenly found God and quietly had their dc baptised just before applying for a school for their pfb who duly went to the oversubscribed CofE school. hypocrits!

dd2 has just joined the nursery class at dd1's school and is guaranteed a reception place next year. Our problem is that there is no easy way we can pay school fees for two! Our plan at the moment is to move somewhere else, probably back to the Midlands, and start both girls in a new school next year, dd1 in Yr 3 and dd2 in reception. Doesn't look like such a clever plan now I guess.

Hoping IC is okay, she's been awfully quiet this week.

Are there any bursaries on offer, NK? You'll have looked into it of course. I kind of think when it comes to our children's welfare you do what you have to do to make things as good for them as possible, sod the principles. Would never judge someone for going private even though I consider myself fairly left wing.

(And would do it myself if we had the means and the school was what we were after).

NK, what a quandary Sorry for being insensitive with my comment about it usually working out. Obviously every child is different and you have to do what is best for them. With DD1 I was quite relaxed about where she would get to go to school (in a control freakery looking at loads of schools with notebook in hand as I am a strong believer in "forewarned is forearmed") because she has so much confidence with the added bonus of an October birthday. DD2 doesn't have either of those things, but I've yet to meet a child with her combination of charm and stubbornness

SR I think you are right that it usually does work out but dd1 was quite an unusual case and we couldn't afford to move into a better catchment area (not something we looked into when we bought our house!) because I wasn't working but we can afford school fees because of renting out our old house...

I do wonder about IC too.

I''ve posted on the fb group to IC in case she's more on there. Fx all well for her...

SB me too on fb bit haven't had a response yet

Dd2 is having one of her mega lie ins again. Such a shame dd1 doesn't do lie ins!
Last night dd2 insisted on eating her dinner wearing mittens because her hands were cold . I let it go because she was using knife and fork but I do wish I had taken a picture!!