William Tyndale Islington - any views?

[choucroutegarnie]

We've been offered a nursery place at William Tyndale in Islington.

Do you know kids who have gone there?

I'd be grateful for reviews!

Thanks

I know loads of people who've had kids at Tyndale. It's considered one of the 'desirable' schools (in the eyes of the arty liberal Islington-telligentsia -- those who don't go private, that is) so I think most people would be very pleased. Went through a rockyish patch about 6 years ago, but most people stuck with it. Is now meant to be even better than it was then, so I hear.

Of course Reception entry is done separately, so nursery place doesn't mean you're guaranteed a place in the main school. Says she, smarting from dd2 not getting a Reception place at Y school (same borough) despite currently being at the nursery. But hard to see how you could go wrong for nursery. Do they do full days?

Thanks for that. Good to know.

Yes Tyndale do full days - till 3.30pm that is.

Sorry to hear about your dd2 not getting a place at your 1st choice of school. Islington is a strange place for that sort of thing. Good luck with it - any chance of an appeal??

God, I thought at first this was a name thread (though have see worse!)

Arf at diplodocus.

ccg, we're not that worried as she has a place in the perfectly good school her brother attends, and will probably get a place at Y eventually if we stay on the waiting list. There aren't really grounds for appeal when you've lost out on the distance criterion, unless you think they've measured it wrong or something.

Hope you have a good experience with Tyndale -- it seems a very jolly school with a good mix of families.

Not much to add but fwiw my niece and nephew went there and were very happy - my sis would fit arty liberal Islington label but one of the things they all liked about it, afaik, was it feeling genuinely inclusive. They left only because they moved away (& are much less happy with the school they've got now). Good luck!

we looked around WT for our DD and were really impressed with it - real homely feel and very strong in the art department. All the children seemed really happy and the receptionist there was really good regarding any questions. We put it down as one of our preferences but knew we wouldn't get it as the catchment area is very small.

Someone on my teaching course did a practice there and they rated it.

becks any update on yr waiting list position? You might get WT yet dd was offered place there a few weeks into term.

It's very strong on arts, not so good on sports (my ds went there).

don't think we'll get that one frogs - now awaiting our appeal date for ST Judes and are number 3 on the waiting list (started off at number 10) so there is some hope of getting her in eventually. Irony is that next week we have to take her to the open day at the school she has got a place for that we don't her to go to! Any news on your place at Y?

No. 3 in early June is good, becks -- with luck you should get a place before the schools go back, so you won't have to start her in the other one and then move. IS your allocated school deB? Most reception classes are nice places to be, whatever the intake of the school, it 's only later on that the disparities can start to cause problems, so even if you have to start and then move, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

We're 14th on the waiting list for Y, so really not going to happen before September. I'm not fussed tbh -- I know the head likes dd2, so once they have control of the waiting list, I'm sure we'll be offered a place sooner or later. Meanwhile she has a perfectly good school to go to, so it would be churlish to complain. Dd2 is a bit confused about what's going on, but I'm sure she'll get the idea once she starts.

[ingratiating smile]

I am so out of inspiration atm.

frogs,hadn't realised dd2 hadn't got a place at Y. poo.

how's your leg?

Slightly more bendy, bundle, thanks for asking. But a long way from normal, am still on crutches.

yes i think you're right and she will eventually get a place and I'm hoping once the school gets hold of the list we'll get offered a place as all my phoning them has left my mark me thinks!! The lady there told me it she had looked at our application and it was very regrettable that we hadn't been offered a place. Yes DD will start at DeB in Jan whereas the other schools starts all of them in Sept. so that is also an advantage as we have from Sept - Jan for her to get offered a place without having to start her at DeB. I am very impatient though and want it to sort itself out so I can have myself organised. Our au pair leaves in September and she currently looks after DS who is 1.5 and who's name is down for a nursery but won't find out until at least Sept if he's got a place or not so everything is all up in the air which I don't like! Typically another nursery have offered a place but I'm not sure its the one for us - bit too hippyish for me I think, despite great reviews.

What have you done to yourself to be on crutches?

Came off me bike and broke my shin/knee into lotsof little pieces. Don't recommend.

Is the 'hippyish' nursery Bath House by any chance? If so they are mad, but truly lovely.

Up in the air is really maddening -- we had that last year when we moved house, but it all came together in the end. I'd put money on you getting a place before sept.

ouch that does not sound good and there was me thinking of investing in a lovely bike for the summer!!

yes you are very perceptive it is Bath House - friends have kids that go there and they are overall happy with it but it all seemed a bit too laid back to me! Ironically the nursery we want him to go to (Factory) in Newington Green is much more rough around the edges and not as good in terms of Ofsted but I just really like the feel of it and DD1 loves it there!

Well I've been cycling in London for 20 years without incident, so don't let my experience put you off! But yes, complete bummer.

I'm a Bath House fan myself, dd2 was blissfully happy there. But 'laid back' is a pretty accurate description -- dd2's nursery record (when we finally received it) consisted of several pages of photos, mainly of dd2 at the very top of that climbing pyramid in Clissold Park playground. That was it. They are very creative and very imaginative with fantastic staff, but record-keeping is not their thang (nor is keeping track of children's clothing, grrr). It has a very loyal following, and they are amazing with the children, (though not that interested in the parents). Def not everyone's cup of tea, though.

came home to our appeal date - 24th June - I can tell by the papers they sent that we have 0% chance of winning but we'll go for it on principle!

I'm getting my DH to go and look around bathhouse as i went on my own so may not have given it a fair chance as it got off to a bad start when the manager revealed she had lost my application form so he wasn't actually on the waiting list!!

Hope the knee feels better soon!

Arf at Maggie losing your application form -- why does that not surprise me? She is really not gifted at parent-PR! But she is great with the children and her staff, and as long as you're okay with the whole creative, free-flowing thing and don't expect your child to do reading and writing, then it's fine. But mad. You turn up one Friday for pick-up to find the place deserted but smelling rather appetising. On closer inspection you realise they've decided to have a party, all the kids are stuffed into one room, cramming handfuls of popcorn into their grubby little mouths while bopping like crazy to a thrash metal CD. Or you will turn up on a wet Tuesday morning to find that the activity of the day involves cooking a huge vat of spaghetti, dyeing it pink and blue and chucking it over a washing line strung across the room.

Barking, but inspired.

Does sound like fun - after thinking about it some more i am now leaning more towards him going there - it would certainly be one of my many scheduling/schooling nightmares sorted out and one of my concerns was that my friend said at drops off and pick ups its all a bit casual and I was stressed about being late for work etc. but on reflection it would be the au pair doing it so it should be fine. It does sound a great fun, nuturing atmosphere though - pink spaghetti sounds fantastic!!