Local nursery fees hit £30k!

Dear NappyValleyNetter,

We’ve had more comments on that local garage that allegedly hasn’t been repairing cars as promised (read more).

It reminds me of when Mr NVN and our daughter took visited a well-known chain of garages whose name rhymes with “Slick Hit”.

Never one to miss a life-lesson opportunity, he explained they would try to ‘up-sell’ him to spend even more on the car and she should try to spot when they do.

Half way through the mechanic’s explanation doing our daughter, who so far had been totally silent, screamed like a banshee.

“THATS THE UPSELL! TELL HIM TO STICK IT!”

I’ve no idea where she learned that last phrase but it did the trick as the ‘up-sell’ very quickly became a “it’ll-be-ready-tomorrow-sell’.

Here’s what you’ve been talking about this week on NappyValleyNet:

R. has children at a nursery in Clapham which has just raised its fees for under 3’s to over £30K per child! R. wonders what the fees are like at other nurseries in the area? (read more) I wish I’d seen this post a week ago. For Halloween I’d have dressed my children up as a nursery invoice. Much scarier than any zombie!

Argos in Balham is being demolished to make way for a new development (read more). Where will I steal buy my free little pens when it’s gone?

E. has always thought she would need £2 million in her pension pot ready for retirement. However, she is now wondering if this is correct? Good question given the current rates of inflation and interest rates – over to you Jeremy Hunt! (read more)

B.’s daughter is in Year 3 at a private school where she is academically average amongst a group of high-flyers and her confidence is suffering. Is this normal in private schools, she asks (read more)?

H.’s seven-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with ASD and as a result attending school is becoming very stressful. She is keen to hear from anyone who has home schooled in a similar situation (read more).

Last call to book your free advance tickets for the Independent Schools Show in Battersea Park this coming weekend. Ideal for any parents or guardians considering their choices – over 200 schools plus Q&A sessions and seminars all in one place (read more)!

D. asks is anger in elderly people a sign of something more than just being frustrated? Her mother, who is in her 90s, is increasingly angry about almost everything and her GP is not very helpful (read more).

Lots of helpful thoughts and experiences coming in for M., one from an orthodontist no less. Her daughter is borderline for NHS braces and has been refused both the NHS treatment and a referral for a second opinion (read more).

We also have a local orthodontic practice which has not received a sparkling review (read more).

B. wondered if it’s the norm for an after-school nanny to cook and eat with the children, even if there isn’t enough food to go round? NVN has served up a plateful of responses! (read more)

C. needs to get their mouldy buggy deep cleaned following a stint in the shed. Oh dear (read more).

P. is looking for women walkers interested in a walk around Wandsworth Common and Spencer Park (read more)?

Q. needs recommendations for a BUPA interpersonal therapist (read more).

S. is keen to hit the right note with your piano teacher recommendations (read more). Take it away S.!

C. asks if anyone has photos of the signage in Clapham Junction station’s carpark from 2019? They have a hearing coming up and any photos could help support their case (read more). Or they could just shout “sidebar” and “sustained” – that seems to work in movies!

Clapham Junction station is getting a £35 million makeover. Wonder if that includes making its parking signs any clearer?! (read more)

If you fancy going all Scandi this Christmas then take a look at Dohur’s reusable Nordic advent calendars, called a Dorte. The Dorte features 24 embroidered and numbered wreaths with room for mini surprises in the countdown to the big day. Plus, Dohur are offering 15% off purchases for all NVN users (read more).

And if all our talk of Christmas is making you think of this season’s family ski plans then Camp Suisse are ready to talk to you. Especially useful if you don’t ski but don’t want your youngsters missing out! Camp Suisse is ace, my daughter attended their summer camp and LOVED IT (read more)!

We have more House & Garden questions that we’ve all had rain!

W. is looking for roof insulation company recommendations (read more). S. is interested in glazing companies who supply and fit double or even triple glazed UPVC windows (read more). H.’s home has recently developed quite bad rising damp. They need a builder who can help (read more). N. wants to strip the paint from the brickwork on the front of their property (read more)? U. asks if Banham or SDS locks are the most reliable and secure? (read more) B. has had great tips for getting rid of moths (read more). E. has a question on the amount of stamp duty they’d be liable to pay when purchasing a second property (read more). S. is a teaching assistant looking for a room to rent local to Northcote Road (read more).

Looking for a new place to call home?

For sale with Marsh & Parsons is a 5-bedroom house on a sought-after road between the commons (read more). For rent with Rampton Baseley is a 5-bedroom Victorian terraced house off Northcote Road (read more). For sale with John Thorogood is a 2-bedroom split-level flat located close to Clapham Common (read more). For rent with Portico is a 2-bedroom 2-bathroom flat in central Brixton (read more).

We have more Schools posts than this weekend had cricket, rugby and soccer!

S. wants views on Graveney as their daughter performed well in the Wandsworth Test but they haven’t visited the school (read more). E. is looking for thoughts on Chestnut Grove and Bolingbroke. They’ve received lots of positive praise for Bolingbroke but do any parents with children at Chestnut Grove have anything to add? (read more) B. would love to hear feedback on Broomwood School as it’s a school they’re considering for their daughter (read more). E. is wondering if there is any differences between the two Belleville Primary school sites? (read more) Lots of thoughts coming in for R. who asked are independent primary schools better than state ones? (read more) Streatham & Clapham Prep has a Reception taster morning taking place next week, especially tailored for those looking at joining Reception in September 2023 (read more). P. has been recommended purchasing a non-verbal reasoning aid for her son, but before she does she’d love some feedback on netofcubes.com (read more). Nightingale Tutors are running a series of 10+ and 11+ mock exams this month and next (read more). Exceptional Academics are running 11+ booster courses during the Christmas holidays (read more).

Looking for a new role? Try our Situations Vacant  

Nightingale Tutors needs someone to deliver a one-off batch of flyers to the roads off Northcote Road (read more). Cook and companion needed for three teenagers after school / college each day (read more). Rampton Baseley are looking for a part-time Administrator to work on Saturdays in their Earlsfield office (read more).

For sale

Original Peloton bike (read more). Cotswold Company dining table and chairs (read more). Two Cybex isofix bases and car seats (read more)

Love

Annabel and NappyValleyNet Team