Anon2

Should we be mentioning other's dc by name on the forum?

No. Just thought you dd had done well.

Well done to your dd Beth4ballet.

http://www.rambert.org.uk/learning_participation/summer_schools Rambert have just announced details of their summer schools.

Oh Blondie, that sounds very stressful and traumatic. Fingers crossed for your dc job hunting.

Some of the things that we have come across that have made searches more challenging are in large families if one of the first children dies as an infant it doesn't seem uncommon for a later child to be given the same name. So you find a birth and death record and then come across a further record to confuse matters especially if it is a marriage. We also came across various individuals all born in the same location, with the same name and very close DOB/baptism but on further investigation they will be the off spring of say two brothers, born within months of each other, given the same name and obviously registered at same place! We came across a couple of widowers that married their late wife's sister - frowned on but happened anyway. Like Taxi we uncovered something, about a great great uncle, that was harrowing and I was surprised by how I felt about it. Only came across it though because another great great uncle was seen as a Victorian hero and various books had been written about him. We would otherwise have commented on the dates of death of two family members so close together as unfortunate but not unusual for the times. Tracing your family is addictive. Frustrating when you reach dead ends but hugely satisfying when you can go back generations on some branches - normally because no one moved far from where they were born and generation after generation went into the same trade.

i have sent you a pm Bankruptmum

No experience of this but just wondered if it is a dance physio your dd is seeing. My dd had other hip problems, first dance physio never got to grips with it. Took her off dance, prescribed exercises etc after no improvement gave up and allowed her back to dance. After seeking a second opinion with another dance physio she diagnosed the problem, prescribed a set of exercises that she adjusts every 6 weeks and problem is under control. I think my dd likes to see her now just to tweak any issues before they come problems. Is it worth seeking a second opinion? I know you have said your dd has various events coming up that she obviously won't want to miss.

Dance2013, don't know about Tring but have always assumed that being on a waiting list could mean a long wait. Some that have been offered places at Tring will still be waiting to do finals elsewhere and then might be in the lucky situation of being able to choose what suits them best from their offers. Know that doesn't really help as the waiting is the worst bit.

We had the same dilemma when dd got a place at vocational school but I spoke to them and they really quoted the info you have given from the NSPCC website saying they would rather it didn't happen. We decided against it as it wouldn't benefit dd and didn't want to get off on wrong foot at new school. Do go with your instincts Susyszoo - he is your son. If he takes his vocational place you will find his name/photo being used by them, normally as part of a group, but only if you have signed the release form.

Put in a carrier bag and drive over them a few times - we have resorted this in past!

We used to attend most of the ROH school matinees and with every confirmation email there were instructions for the teachers about how to manage their charges during the performance and how to prepare them for what to expect during each show. For example, sitting individually within their group and not at ends of rows in gaggles of teachers, where to have lunch before hand, not allowing charges to wander around unsupervised. We came to the conclusion the majority of teachers just decided to ignore the instructions, have a 'jolly' out of school and keep the ROH staff on their toes - we always felt it was an honour to be able to attend the matinees but think it is lost on some of the audience. There were of course also schools were everyone was well behaved and appreciative of the ballet/opera but as always it is the bad that sticks in your mind.

If this is her first pair of pointe shoes and your dd has been fitted over half term I would not sew them at all until her teacher has checked them - she can then advice where to put the ribbons/elastics to best suit your dd foot.

How is your dd Porthesia? Hope the scan proved successful for her.

My dd didn't complain they were not watching her, her complaint was they seemed disinterested in watching any of the candidates.

Strangely enough my dd said the same about the audition yesterday - she enjoyed the class with Anita Young but thought the panel were preoccupied and didn't really pay attention to anyone dancing. Her other auditions have been more positive experiences with the panel appearing interested in the candidates.

Your poor dd Porthesia, this is going to feel like a long week for her. Here is hoping that as soon as she has had the MRI the medics will decide on a path of treatment promptly. Wishing both of you well.

Until you see it in writing from the senior management of the school I would take it all with a pinch of salt! I have always been amazed by the various bits of information I have heard via other parents or my dc from peers but when I have asked a member of staff for confirmation it is often the first they have heard of it. The whole school finds appraisal time stressful, not a lot we can do other than keep calm and offer words of encouragement to our dc. They will do their best on the day whatever the eventually outcome.

Why don't you email EYB and ask if the rehearsal schedule is available yet? They are very helpful.

They should be able to tell you the destinations of all their students - they will keep records. You don't want to struggle to get your dd there only to discover only a very small percentage went onto full time vocational training. About your dd dance teacher thinking she is not ready to move away from home remember they are sometimes swayed by their own experiences (or other pupils). My dd teacher really didn't think my dd would cope and made it quite clear that she thought we were doing wrong thing in allowing her to go to voc school. DD has more than coped, all be it with some ups and downs along the way and looking back we realise teacher was reliving her own dc struggles who unfortunately didn't settle.

Can't work out what LSC is?

We wouldn't have opened the letters if we knew there was someone in the vicinity with the family name of the addressee. But after returning a number of letters unopened with no success and living in a small village of less than 50 houses we knew there was no one of that name locally which our postwoman was able to confirm. She did wonder why we were getting so much mail for this person!

I can't help with sizing of the mens (maybe Sheila can) but as a comparison we have found that my dd is between a childs 2/3 in school leotards (Elmhurst) and the Degas age 14 fits her perfectly. T0 bit big across bust/shoulders. Length wise 14 same as size 3 but 2/3 of inches narrower.

MAB, We have been going through something very similar recently with letters arriving almost daily for an unknown person at our home address, the return address on the envelope making it clear they were from debt collection agency/baliffs etc. We have lived in our house for over 20 years and were the first occupants. We knew that there was no one of the name living in our village or neighbouring villages with a similar postcode, confirmed by postwoman. Initially we returned the letters to sender, unopened, stating not known at this address. When they carried on we started opening them and discovered the various companies/agencies that were chasing this person for money. Husband then spent sometime finding the contact details for the most senior person for these companies and contacted them directly by email adding attachments of scanned copies of the 'threatening' letters. Most replied to us promptly, explaining that when they hand over a debt with contact details to a recovery agency if they are then unable to recover the debt from that address they will conduct their own investigations to see if they can locate the debtor at a different address.They stated that in this case investigations mistakenly directed them to our address. All the companies/DVLA etc have been very apologetic and the letters have stopped - although this did come to a head just before Christmas so fingers crossed that it has been resolved. I would therefore encourage you to open the letters to find out who has initiated the debt recovery and deal with them. An ex police officer friend did tell us the police would not be interested.

Unfortunately the information is not correct in the newspaper, probably because of the confusion over the 3 year sixth form. The new sixth form accommodation will house students from 6.1 and 6.2, graduate students will still need to rent privately. But still good news for those going into 6.2 not having to juggle private renting etc plus very close to school. Quote from the current parent newsletter: We are already very proud of our excellent facilities and continually look to improve the offer for students. The new Sixth Form accommodation is progressing well. Building work starts in the new year and is due to open for 6:1 and 6:2 students from September 2014. The increased number of rooms will also provide support for Year 6:2 in their very important final year of A Level studies and make the Graduate Year even more distinctive.