Families Cambridgeshire January February 2024

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Issue 80 January/February 2024

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Contents & Competitions

Dear Reader,

Happy New Year!

January is traditionally a time for making plans and New Year’s resolutions and a good time to reflect and look back on the journey to where we are now. Family life is always so busy and fast paced, children grow and change so quickly in a year and before we know it they are off to university or leaving home. My New Year’s resolution is to try and take some time to just ‘be’ with the family this winter and plan some time with nothing to do at all except ‘be’ before my eldest disappears to university and my youngest starts primary school in September. If however your New Year’s resolution is Wise wor to get out and about more as a family and make a few ds!

If w e take plans, we have plenty to keep you all busy this January moments care of the , and February half term. take care the years will of thems elves.

Maria Edgewo rth

What's in this issue?

4.

News & Views

7.

Baby News

8.

What's On

11. Thriving Not Surviving 13. What Makes A Good Pre-School 14. Speech Language and Communication 15. The Importance of Drama

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EDITOR: Lisa Exell 01945 861336, editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk ASSISTANT EDITOR: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk SOCIAL MEDIA: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk DESIGN: Caroline Thompson-Heap, caroline@thomposn-heap.com

A FAMILY TICKET TO SEE PEPPA PIG WEDNESDAY 31ST JANUARY AT 4.30PM Peppa Pig is back in her oinktastic brand new live show, Fun Day Out at the Kings Lynn Cornexhange this January.

Join Peppa, along with her family and friends as they go to the zoo and also the beach for a special party- it’s going to be an exciting and fun packed day.

Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles, and even swim in the sea!

Packed full of songs, dance and muddy puddles, Peppa’s Fun Day Out guarantees giggles and snorts for all Peppa fans, and a perfect introduction to theatre.

To enter please visit our Facebook page @FamCambsMag and like and share our competition post and follow our page.

Good luck. Please see the Facebook page for T&C’s.

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Families Cambridgeshire 3

News & Views

Delicious vegan treats for the whole family

This Veganuary, forget the notoriously dry and crumbly vegan bakes and instead, satisfy your sweet tooth with a delicious vegan treat from Lola’s Cupcakes. Lola’s Cupcakes offer super tasty Birthday cakes for all those dairy intolerant little ones who so often miss out on the beautifully made and tasty readymade birthday cakes. The children won’t even notice the difference and, with a range of cupcakes on offer as well as nationwide delivery, they are great for children’s parties.

The talented bakers at Lola’s have crafted a variety of vegan delights for everyone to savour during this Veganuary. Chocoholics can indulge in Lola’s decadent Vegan Brownie Cake, whilst fruit lovers can savour Lola’s Vegan Raspberry and Passion Fruit Cake. And the icing on the cake? You don’t have to be committed to a plant-based lifestyle to enjoy Lola’s vegan delights; they're so delicious that everyone will want a slice of the vegan action! www.lolascupcakes.co.uk

Plant Powered Little People Plant Powered Little

A practical guide to plant-based nutrition for under-fives Plant Powered Little People is a super-practical and easy-to-use guide to support your family’s Plant Powered Little People a practical guide to plantplant-based journey, iscombining the basedlatest nutrition for parents of children under five, combining the latest scientific ch with easy recipe scientificresear research with nutritious recipes your s that your little one will love. Featur ing a foreword by Ella Mills, founde r of Deliciously Ella, and a wealth of little ones willpresen love.

It features a foreword by information ted in colour ful and visually accessible chapters, this fun and friendly book is essential reading for anyon A PRACTICAL e interested Ella Mills, the bestselling cookbook author and G U I D E TO P L A in the N T- B A S E D benefits of raising childre NUTRITION FO n on a diet powered by R UNDER-FIVE plants.

S founder of Deliciously Ella, alongside a wealth “This is the book that all Pa ula Ha parents need to help them llam RD navigate nutrition in the years – it is not only for early plant-based families but of information presented infor colourful and all families who would like to simply eat more plants.”

FOREWORD Dr Gemma Newman, Family

BY ELLA MILLS , Doctor (@plan visually appealing chapters, providing parents tpowerdoctor) FOUN DER OF “Paula is your expert guide, DELIC IOUSLY providing you with the essenti al knowle dge for raising a plant-based family. Her ELLA with everything they need know about ability to bring together to her personal and profess experience is invaluable ional and will empower you to easily shift to a healthier and more sustain able a raising children on powered by plants in diet.diet I highly recomm end this book.”

Dr Shireen Kassam, Founde r and Director of Plant-Ba sed Health Professionals UK this fun, and accessible new book.

“I’m so friendly pleased Paula is writing this book; so many families will benefit from reading this. Plant-based eating for kids will be so much easier this book!”

Charlot Author Paula haswithover 20 years’ te Stirling-ReedHallam (RNutr), The BabyRD & Child Nutritionist, SR Nutritio n experience as a paediatric dietitian and is passionate about safe, healthy, and achievable plant-based nutrition for families.

Putting all her experience into practice, Paula has also created a range of tasty vegfocused recipes for the book, inspired by food around the world and covering easy ideas for breakfast, lunch, and snacks suitable from weaning age to the toddler years and beyond. Super Seeded Breakfast Cookies, Nourishing Smoothies for Breastfeeding Mums, Baby’s First Dal, and Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta are just a few of the creative and highly adaptable dishes on offer. Charlotte Stirling-Reed (RNutr) of The Baby & Child Nutritionist, SR Nutrition, says that “so many families will benefit from reading this; plant-based eating for kids will be so much easier with this book!”

The book also includes case studies, infographics, reference tables and handy summaries throughout. Each chapter is packed with easily digestible information about the benefits of plant-based eating as well as detailed guidance on different nutrients: why they are important, what the best plant-based sources are, and how much children need of each one. There’s also a section about meal planning for your family, with special emphasis on under-fives, which provides practical guidance alongside the recipes on how and what foods to offer in a nutritionally balanced diet.

Plant Powered Little People is a 192-page paperback and retails at £20. It will be available to purchase from www.plantbased-kids.com, www.mezepublishing.co.uk, Waterstones and Amazon

Plant Powered Little People

People PAUL A HALL AM RD

www.mezepublishing.co.uk

RRP £20.00

Get involved in Children’s Mental Health Week

From 5th to 11th February, families across the UK are encouraged to take part in Children’s Mental Health Week organised by charity Place2Be. This year’s theme is My Voice Matters.

My Voice Matters is about encouraging young people to use their voices, share what matters to them and encourage those around them to hear their voices.

Evidence shows that empowering children and young people can have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing. For example, children and young people who feel that their voices are heard - and that what they say makes a difference - have higher levels of selfefficacy and self-esteem.

Find FREE resources for parents and carers and more information at www. childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

ENJOY NATIONAL STORYTELLING WEEK

National Storytelling Week takes place from 27th January to 4th February and, during this period, stories will be told in schools, theatres, pubs, museums, village halls, community centres and many other places across the UK. Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener.

Above all though, storytelling is fun. Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting stories can open doors to exciting new worlds - both real and imaginary. To find a local event, visit www.sfs.org.uk 4 Families Cambridgeshire

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News & Views

Introducing the Waterproofs and Wellies campaign

The Outdoor Guide Foundation has the simple aim of making the outdoors accessible to all - and that starts with children.

Nearly one third of primary school children in the UK come from families that are living below the poverty line. This means there is little money for household essentials, let alone for buying suitable clothing for outdoor play. Enter the Waterproof and Wellies campaign. Over the next five years, it aims to donate at least ten waterproof suits and wellies to all twenty thousand primary schools in the country.

Why? Because time outside is vital and a startling statistic suggests prisoners get more time outside in an average week than a primary school age child. Waterproofs & Wellies has already donated kits to more than three hundred schools. With your support, the campaign can do much more.

To find out more and support the campaign, visit www.theoutdoorguidefoundation.org

UK families missing out on a £2,000 childcare benefit

Almost two-thirds of families do not claim the tax-free childcare to which they are entitled.

It is estimated that 1.3 million families are eligible for up to £2,000 a year per child (or £4,000 for those with disabled children), through the tax-free childcare (TFC) scheme. Under this scheme, the government will add £2 to every £8 you pay your childcare provider but just 36% (470,000) of families claimed in June, according to the latest data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

To be eligible for the £2,000, each parent or carer, must be earning at least the minimum wage and not more than £100,000 and working 16 hours a week or more. More info: www.theguardian.co.uk

Take Part in The Big Garden Birdwatch

Get your family involved in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and help monitor bird life in the UK. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour between 26th and 28th January.

Challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds.

Take a bike ride to a local park or make a day trip out of it and spot birds in a new place.

You can also watch Big Garden Birdwatch Live! on YouTube and Facebook to discover what birds are being spotted across the UK with live commentary, interviews and chats with special guests and wildlife experts and the chance to ask them questions.

To learn about ways to attract birds to your garden and get your FREE guide, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

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Boost your child's confidence in 2024 with a FREE Perform class

The new year is a great time to start something new and Perform is offering every child a free trial class to help them shine this spring.

With two brilliant new themes incorporating confidence-building fun, classes for 4–7-year-olds will join a high-energy adventure to the Wild West while 7–12-year-olds enjoy a dancefloor-filling adaptation of Snow White, in Killa Queen.

Classes are packed with confidence-boosting games which focus on developing the 4 Cs - confidence, communication, coordination and concentration - using drama, dance and singing. At the end of each term, the children will take part in a show-stopping final performance for family and friends so you can see the progress they’ve made!

Classes are for all abilities with no previous experience required and children are welcome to join at any point in the term.

• Hills Road Sports Centre, Cambridge: Wednesdays • Newnham Croft Primary School, Newnham: Saturdays • St. Andrews Church Hall, Chesterton: Mondays • St. John’s Church Hall, Cambridge: Thursdays Book a no-obligation FREE trial at www.perform.org.uk/try Families Cambridgeshire 5

Families Baby News

Good health starts in the gut

Good health starts in the gut, and with 80% of your immune defense located in your gut, it’s important to have a well-functioning immune system. The microbiome is intimately connected to health through all life stages, however the period after birth is believed to be crucial for the establishment of a healthy gut microbiome, which can have a lifelong impact. A healthy gut can have an extremely positive impact both physically and mentally, however the research from Colief® highlights 45% of UK parents are not aware of the benefits of gutfriendly bacteria, with an astonishing 74% of parents claiming they weren’t aware that a healthy gut can influence their child’s mental health.

The first 1000 days, from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, offer a unique window of opportunity to build long-term health.

The first three months of life are particularly important: a time when disturbances to the developing gut microbiota have the greatest impact on immune system development, and therefore future health, which is where supplements such as Colief® Multibiotic Drops can play a really important role.

The findings by Colief® discovered only 3 in 10 (30%) of parents surveyed use/have used gut-friendly bacteria supplements for their baby and, of those who have given gut friendly bacteria supplements to their child, more than a third (42%) don’t offer a supplement until the child is at least a year old -subsequently missing this crucial first year period of their baby’s life.

Nutritionist and new mum Jenna Hope comments “Understanding the role of the gut microbiome on our overall health and wellbeing is very much at the forefront of scientific research. Whilst the research is still in its infancy, it’s extremely evident that the gut microbiome

plays a vital role in supporting the immune system, mental wellbeing and cognitive function throughout life. The first thousand days of life (including the time in utero until the child’s second birthday) are the most vital days for laying the foundations for a beneficial gut microbiome later on in life. However, the first three months specifically can be the most important for promoting the growth of the beneficial bacteria.

Suitable for breastfed and formula fed babies from birth onwards, Colief® Multibiotic Drops are easy to use and only need to be taken once per day – either given directly to your baby or added to breast milk, infant formula, milk, or yoghurt. For more information on how to keep your baby’s gut health happy and why it’s so important visit the Colief® website at www.colief.com.

Playkits for every stage of development

Lovevery offer stage-based play essentials for your child’s developing brain: The right playthings, activities, and guidance, delivered at the right time for your child from ages 0 - 3 years every 3 months or as and when you need them.

MADE FOR LEARNING Everything is designed by a team of experts, academics, researchers and specialists to make sure you get the confidence you need, and your child gets the learning and growth they deserve.

STAGE-BASED PLAY The award-winning products and guidance support your child's brain development at each important stage—so they can play, learn, and grow to be their best selves.

THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED Lovevery products are made with durable, sustainable and organic materials that are designed to be safe for your child and made to last, so you can have peace of mind while they enjoy independent play. www.lovevery.co.uk

Handwoven Changing Basket

The Nyla Basket is a fresh take on a traditional changing mat.

Handwoven using the soft natural fibres of seagrass, the Nyla basket can be used after your little one has outgrown it as toy storage or a display basket for dried blooms or your favourite books, perhaps.

Don't forget, no Changing Basket is complete without a touch of cushioning! Add one of Olleila’s best-selling Cotton Inserts or Luxe Organic Cotton Liners.

RRP £54.90 Olleila.com

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Families Cambridgeshire 7

What’s, plaOcen s to Things to do be had go and fun to ages in for kids of all

Big Garden Birdwatch

WHERE: Green space near you

WHEN: 26th – 28th January

WiFi Wars

e WHERE: The Junction, Cambridge Cambridgeshir WHEN: 14th January, 15.30 WiFi Wars returns with a live comedy game show where you all play along! Log in with your smartphone or tablet and compete in a range of games, puzzles and quizzes to win the show and prizes! Age 6+ From £9.00 www.junction.co.uk 01223 511511

Take part in the nation’s biggest bird watch exercise and be wowed by your local wildlife. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour. FREE ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/ activities/birdwatch

Half Term History Makers at Audley End WHERE: Audley End House

and Gardens WHEN: 10th – 18th February: 10.00 – 16.00 Join characters from the past for historical hijinks and hands on shenanigans and meet the resident archaeologists to explore the Roman period through ancient finds. Learn about their tools and the techniques to uncover life 2,000 years ago. From £8.50 www.english-heritage.org.uk/ visit/whats-on

National Storytelling Week WHEN: 27th January –

Nature Tots

(Birds – January & Fairytales - February) WHERE: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows WHEN: 8th and 22nd January & 12th and 26th February, 10.00 – 11.30 A fun outdoor parent and toddler group with a nature theme. Each session will include a messy craft activity and fun activities exploring the beautiful outdoors.

2 years + £5.50 www.nenepark.org.uk/ 01733 234193

Institute of Astronomy Public Open Evenings – In Person and Online

WHERE: Institute of Astronomy,

University of Cambridge WHEN: Wednesdays from January 10th Each evening consists of a 30 minute public talk about astronomy, followed by (weather dependent!) stargazing. The talk will also be live streamed on the Cambridge University Astronomy YouTube channel. FREE www.ast.cam.ac.uk/public/ public_observing 8 Families Cambridgeshire

Snowdrop Trail

4th February Throughout National Storytelling Week stories will be told in schools and theatres, pubs, museums, village halls, community centres and in many other places across the UK. To find a local event visit www.sfs.org.uk

WHERE: Cambridge University

Botanic Garden WHEN: 15th January –1st March, 10.00 - 16.00 The Snowdrop Trail will guide you to the Garden’s snowdrop ‘hot spot walking routes’ where you’ll see the snowdrops growing and discover more about snowdrop science, history, folklore and cultivation.

Normal garden admission charges apply www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/

Snowdrops

(followed by daffodils) WHERE: Chippenham Park Gardens WHEN: Everyday from 20th January until 27th March, 10.00 – 16.00 Start the year off with amazing snowdrops, ravishing aconites and glorious hellebores - closely followed by daffodil season in the beautiful grounds of Chippenham Park. Adult £7; Children £3 (Under 5’s Free) (Cash only) www.chippenhamparkgardens. info

Shelf: The Kid’s Show

WHERE: The Junction, Cambridge WHEN: 11th February, 14.30

Join best friends Rachel and Ruby for a kids’ comedy show that’s fun for all the family! Full of sketches, songs, pranks and silliness– a fun way to explore emotions, friendship and shyness. Age 3+ From £12.50 www.junction.co.uk 01223 511511

Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out! WHERE: King’s Lynn Corn

Exchange WHEN: 31st January and 1st February Join Peppa, along with her family and friends as they go to the zoo and also the beach for a special party- it’s going to be an exciting and fun packed day. Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles, and even swim in the sea. From £12.00 www.kingslynncornexchange. co.uk 01553 764864

When making a booking please mention Families Cambridgeshire Magazine

Total Arts presents Abra not so Cadabra!

WHERE: The Junction,

Cambridge WHEN: 4th February, 13.00 This is no ordinary tour: this is a magical, mischievous tour.

A magician who can only get 25% of his magic correct. Who knows what he is going to pull out of his hat this time!Age 5+ From £2.50 www.junction.co.uk 01223 511511 familiesonline.co.uk

Families What's on Climbing Wall Taster

Make a Bird Box

WHERE: Nene Outdoors,

WHERE: Ferry Meadows, Peterbrough

WHEN: 19th February, 10.30 and 15.00

Make a nest box under the guidance of the rangers to celebrate national nest box week.

Birds will use the boxes to roost and shelter in the winter months and for nesting in the Spring. £11.00 www.nenepark.org.uk 01733 234193

Holiday Bushcraft

Archery

WHEN: 19th – 23rd February,

Ferry Meadows WHEN: 20th February, 11.00 – 15.15 Pay and Play Archery sessions will run throughout the day. Why not head down to Ferry Meadows and have a go? Suitable for adults and children over 8 years. £12.00 per person. Booking essential. www.nenepark.org.uk 01733 234193

WHERE: Wandlebury Country Park

8.30 – 16.00 Designed for children aged 5-12 and run by experienced qualified teachers, the sessions focus on practical bushcraft and survival skills and follow a forest school approach encouraging self-confidence and sense of achievement. £40 per child per day. Booking essential www.wildthymeandembers. co.uk/holiday-bushcraft-club/

WHERE: Nene Outdoors,

Tracks and Signs

WHERE: Discovery Den,

Ferry Meadows WHEN: 21st February, 10.30 and 13.30 Find out all about creatures that live in Ferry Meadows using the signs that they leave behind them.

You will also get to take your own plaster of Paris track home with you. £5.50 per child.

Booking essential. www.nenepark.org.uk 01733 234193

Birdwatching for Families

WHERE: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows

Ferry Meadows WHEN: 22nd February, 11.00 – 15.15 The team from Nene Outdoors will be getting the climbing wall out for all visitors to have a go.

Are you brave enough to reach the top? Suitable for adults and children over 4 years. £12.00 per person.

Booking essential. www.nenepark.org.uk 01733 234193

The Bubble Show

WHERE: The Junction, Cambridge WHEN: 25th February,

11.30 and 14.30 The Bubble Show is a unique blend of magic, storytelling, science and bubble art! Enjoy bouncy bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, giant bubbles, and even fire bubbles! Age 3 - 12 From £9.50 www.junction.co.uk 01223 511511

Great Fen Little Bugs Club WHERE: Great Fen Countryside

Centre, Ramsey Heights WHEN: January and February – Wednesdays (Term-time): 10.30 – 12.00 A fun and sociable morning of exploration and discovery for pre-school children and their guardians.Each weekly session is packed with crafts, story time and play….be prepared to get mucky. £3 per child. www.wildlifebcn.org 01487 710420

Church Farm Rare Breeds Centre WHERE: Stow Bardolph

WHEN: January & February

(Thursday – Sunday and everyday from 15th February), 10.00 – 17.00 Make friends with a wide variety of tame animals and experience all their young at close quarters throughout the season as well as enjoying their adventure playground. Why not make a day of it and visit their Tea Room to enjoy a homemade lunch with a delicious piece of cake. www.churchfarmstowbardolph. co.uk 01366 382162

WHEN: 20th February, 10.00 – 15.00

Discover the remarkable birds that fly, feed and roost across Ferry Meadows.

They will help you to identify some the birds and show you how to use binoculars effectively. £5.50 child and £2.50 adult (maximum 2 per child) www.nenepark.org.uk 01733 234193

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Families Cambridgeshire 9

GIVE YOUR CHILD AN INVALUABLE LIFE SKILL AT THE HIVE, ELY Do you want to improve your child’s water confidence and give them the ability to swim?

Discover how to kick-start your child’s confidence in the water at better.org.uk/swim-school

31 JAN - 1 FEB

Box Office: 01553 764864 kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

SECURE YOUR CHILD’S PLACE Better is a registered trademark and trading name of GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), a charitable social enterprise and registered society under the Co-operative & Community Benefit & Societies Act 2014 registration no. 27793R. Registered office: Middlegate House, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SX. Inland Revenue Charity no. XR43398.

Families Feature

Thriving not surviving: the toddler years While the baby months pass by in a flurry of contact naps, back-to-back feeds and trying to work out when you will ever sleep again, the toddler years are definitely something to look forward to. Multiple naps a day are over, eating is on its way to being well established and you actually have time to get out and about between meal times. That said, the toddler stage has its own unique challenges which can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, it is possible to actually thrive during these years, not just survive. Here are my top tips and observations.

Toddlers start to become more vocal and know their own minds, often refusing to engage in even the most basic daily chores: getting dressed, nappy changes - the list goes on. Prep in advance by talking them through everything you’ll be doing that day step by step, so that nothing takes them by surprise.

Poor behaviour is always about communication and although toddler tantrums are considered a normal rite of passage, excessive tantrums and big feelings could indicate that they are trying to tell you something. This could be something as simple as hunger, needing a little more sleep or even a tummy ache that they can’t explain to you.

Toddlers simply aren’t ‘naughty’ just for the sake of it.

The toddler years often bring phases of fussy eating and food refusal. Keep on top of mealtimes by exposing little ones to a wide range of foods, not giving second choices and

recognising that appetites vary day to day. You decide what is on their plate and they decide how much they want to eat.

Sleep is essential for a calmer journey throughout the toddler years. It’s often assumed that the sacred ‘lunch time nap’ can be dropped at two years of age but the reality is that most toddlers need this nap well into their third year, with some needing it until they go to school.

It may sometimes feel like you’re in an uphill battle with your toddler to get out of the house each day. Remember that with time and by rationalising with them, things do get easier. Soon you’ll look back and miss the fight about not wearing their wellies to the supermarket and those muddy footprints will be a distant memory.

By Heidi Skudder By forcing a toddler to take one more bite or holding off on pudding until they eat more broccoli, you are simply making them eat when they don’t want to. Apart from unwelcome tantrums, this can also have longterm knock on effects; primarily not being able to listen to what their body is actually telling them. By allowing your child to say when they have had enough and trusting in them, you are setting them up to not only have positive meal time associations but also an ability to trust in their body and the feelings associated with it. A win-win both for parents and child.

Heidi is a parenting coach. For online toddler courses including toddler behaviour, fussy eating and sleep, see her website at www.positivelyparenthood.com

TODDLER EATING CHALLENGES The ‘division of responsibility’ is a well researched model which is proven to successfully enourage healthy eating habits. The model is that while it is a parent or carer’s job to decide what each meal consists of, it is a toddler’s job to decide how much of it they want to eat. Just knowing that this model exists and is successful can save you from too much mealtime angst.

DEALING WITH TANTRUMS

Tantrums are a normal part of your child’s development. They happen when a child is not able to control their own emotions and their feelings bubble over into meltdowns and seemingly difficult behaviour. Whilst normal, this does not make tantrums any less challenging for you as a parent and it can be hard not to get frustrated by your child when they are happening over what seems like the smallest little thing.

During a tantrum, try understanding and listening to how your toddler actually feels rather than telling them to stop crying or assuming that they are just being difficult. Often by identifying with the emotion and feeling, it can really help stop them in their tracks and deal with their feelings more easily. For example, using the words: ‘Oh, you really wanted that ice cream didn’t you, because you love ice cream SO much. I totally understand,’ rather than: ‘stop crying’ is going to elicit a calmer response and help you both move through those big feelings more easily and in less time.

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Families Cambridgeshire 11

Families Education

Cambridgeshire Nurseries Listings 2024

Helping you find the right place for your little ones - our 2024 guide to some of the nurseries local to Cambridgeshire with the latest Ofsted ratings, correct at the time we went to press.

ACE NURSERY SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE.

BUTTERFLY DAY NURSERY, CAMBRIDGE.

ALL SAINTS INTERCHURCH PRE-SCHOOL, MARCH. www.allsaints.cambs.sch.uk 01354

CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS CHESTERTON.

BLACKBERRY HOUSE DAY NURSERY, WISBECH.

CLARENCE HOUSE, CAMBRIDGE.

www.ace-nursery-school.org.uk 01223 357181 (Ofsted Outstanding 2022) 659000 (Ofsted Requires Improvement 2022) www.blackberryhousedaynursery.co.uk 01945 428747 (Ofsted Good 2020) BRIGHT HORIZONS CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE PARK - SCIENCE PARK.

www.brighthorizons.co.uk 0330 057 4064 (Ofsted Good 2023)

www.butterflydaynursery.co.uk 01223 353164 (Ofsted Good 2022)

www.chestnut-nursery.co.uk/nurseries/ chesterton/ 01223 728390 (Ofsted Good 2019) www.chdn.co.uk 01223 778383 (Ofsted Good 2022)

EMNETH NURSERY SCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S CENTRE.

www.emneth-nur.norfolk.sch.uk 01945 582401 (Ofsted Outstanding 2019)

MAGDALENE HOUSE PREP SCHOOL, WISBECH. www.wisbechgrammar.com/Prep-

School 01945 583631

OAKS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE.

www.oaksinternationalschool.co.uk 01223 416938 (Ofsted Good 2019) PATACAKE NURSERY, CAMBRIDGE (SEDLEY COURT).

www.pata-cake.co.uk 01223 411636 PERSE PELICAN NURSERY SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE.

www.perse.co.uk/pelican 01223 403940

BRIGHT HORIZONS WOLFSON COURT, MADINGLEY ROAD. www.brighthorizons.co.uk

FLUTTERBIES CHILDCARE, BENWICK, MARCH.

BRIGHT HORIZONS ELY - CAMBRIDGESHIRE BUSINESS PARK. www.brighthorizons.co.uk

HARVEY ROAD DAY NURSERY, CAMBRIDGE.

ST. MARYS PRE-SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE.

BRIGHT HORIZONS FULBOURN, CAMBRIDGE, CAPITAL PARK, CAMBRIDGE.

HISTON EARLY YEARS CENTRE.

THE MALTINGS DAY NURSERY, ELY.

HOMERTON EARLY YEARS CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE.

THE WILLOWS DAY NURSERY, CHATTERIS.

0330 057 4727 (Ofsted Outstanding 2018) 0330 057 3559 (Ofsted Good 2021)

www.brighthorizons.co.uk 0333 920 3166 (Ofsted Outstanding 2020)

BUNNYBROOKES DAY NURSERY ADDENBROOKE’S. www.brighthorizons.co.uk

www.flutterbieschildcare.com 01354 677733 (Ofsted Good 2020) www.harveyroaddaynursery.org.uk 01223 363860 (Ofsted Good 2019) www.histon.cambs.sch.uk 01223 712075 (Ofsted Good 2022)

0333 363 4489 (Ofsted Good 2020)

homerton.cambs.sch.uk 01223 508766 (Ofsted Outstanding 2021)

BUSY BEES (FORMERLY SCALLYWAGS DAY NURSERY), WESTWICK HALL FARM.

01945 466667 (Ofsted Good 2023)

www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk 01223 232400 (Ofsted Outstanding 2021)

LADYBIRDS DAY NURSERY, WISBECH. LITTLE TED’S DAY NURSERY, HADDENHAM.

SNAP4KIDS, HAUXTON

www.snap4kids.co.uk 01223 870966 www.stmaryscambridge.co.uk 01223 311666

www.themaltingsdaynursery.co.uk 01353 661442 (Ofsted Outstanding 2022) www.thewillowschatteris.co.uk 01354 461232 (Ofsted Good 2023)

WISBECH DAY NURSERY, WISBECH.

www.wisbechdaynursery.co.uk 01945 586966 (Ofsted Good 2022)

01353 741765 (Ofsted Good 2023)

Day Nurseries in Cambridgeshire

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12 Families Cambridgeshire

Availability for Spring, Summer and beyond

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Families Education

What makes a good nursery or pre-school?

By Justina Gapper

When choosing a nursery or pre-school, most parents base their decision on a combination of personal recommendation, the vibe of the setting, how much they like the staff and the setting’s Ofsted report and rating.

But what are the other features that contribute to the success of a nursery or pre-school setting? What really makes the difference between your child having a great experience, rather than just an acceptable one? Here are some things to take note of when you are visiting potential nurseries for your child.

STAFF TEAM Recruiting the right staff and ensuring they work closely as a team is crucial to the success of a nursery setting. Look out for the way staff interact with each other. Are they supporting each other, anticipating issues and problems and each other’s needs, as well as those of the children? Look out for nursery managers who are present in the main part of the nursery, as opposed to spending all their time sitting in an office. When they are working alongside their staff, they can steer the ship and also offer support at particularly busy times of the day.

COMMUNICATION Communication between nursery key workers and parents is a number one priority. Can you see evidence of nursery staff working closely with parents to help new children settle?

Settling a child into nursery or pre-school can familiesonline.co.uk

be a stressful and anxious experience for both parent and child. Not all children are the same, so settings should, where possible, be flexible enough to adjust their procedures to suit each child.

Good nurseries provide daily feedback to parents, send weekly emails and use social media to show the nursery in action. Parents should expect to receive regular updates from their child’s key worker and be kept informed about how their child’s progress and what is happening more generally at the nursery.

Look out for nurseries and pre-schools that help parents understand and support at home what their children have been learning at the setting. For instance, use of Home-Link Books which suggest small, achievable, fun activities that parents can do with their children at home.

STRUCTURE, ROUTINE AND SAFETY To feel safe, children need routine, so it is important that staff are able to maintain this.

Parents also need complete peace of mind that there child is safe at the setting and may want to check whether the nursery has installed CCTV and telecoms on its entrances to ensure secure access.

THINKING AHEAD TO SCHOOL Nobody wants to rush children or parents towards school and nursery should be viewed as an experience that is important in its own right and not simply about preparing little ones for school transition. Having said this, it is useful understand what kind of process and support system a nursery has in place for transitioning children to school.

For instance, does the setting provide transition reports for schools? These are generally based on seven areas of learning and give teachers a detailed account of the child that will be joining them.

Is a child’s Reception teacher invited to visit them at the setting before they start school?

It’s clearly very valuable for little ones to meet their school teacher for the first time in a relaxed and familiar environment.

Primary teachers say it is social, emotional and care skills and a desire to learn that are important when children start school. Ask the nurseries you are visiting to explain how they go about nurturing these skills.

Families Cambridgeshire 13

Families Education

Speech, language and communication at school

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble

A new report from the charity 'Listening to unheard children' found that an estimated twenty percent of school age children are behind in talking and listening. There is an increase in children who can't articulate their needs or how they feel or who struggle with sentence construction, sounds and vocabulary. Speech develops gradually in children and this can look different for everyone, but difficulties may be deemed to be present when their skills are behind for their age group. Good speech, language and communication skills have a positive impact on confidence and self-esteem.

Communication difficulties affect children in many ways. For some, their understanding of language is stronger than their speaking skills or vice versa. Not understanding the definition of words or concepts impacts their ability to follow instructions and make sense of what is happening around them. Children who struggle with understanding spoken language rely heavily on visual aids or clues from people around them to keep up with tasks.

Those who find producing spoken language challenging may find it hard to make specific sounds or they may speak in a way that is cluttered and doesn't appear to have much order. This can make it difficult for these children to express themselves in conversation, during lessons and when playing with peers, making some feel self-conscious and affecting their confidence.

Receptive language can also be problematic for some children with speech and language difficulties. For instance, understanding and processing what has been said to them. They may need instructions broken down into small chunks and visual cues to support what has been said verbally. It may be necessary for them to practise paying attention for gradually longer periods of time.

Given the impact speech and language difficulties can have on children’s confidence, self-esteem and social skills, early intervention is important, as well as adaptations to their learning environment. If your child's speech is behind for their age, it is important to seek advice from a speech and language therapist who can devise an appropriate support plan. Through interacting and playing using speech and language, a child or young person develops social skills and friendships that will last into adulthood and beyond.

Identifying speech and language difficulties

Between the ages of five and seven, children should have good communication skills. If they are finding language difficult, you might notice that they find it hard to: Learn and understand the meanings of words or phrases that can mean more than one thing; • Grasp and respond to simple instructions; • Form complex sentences in the correct word order; • Make up stories, written and oral; • Learn at school - for unexplained reasons; • Make and keep friends.

From ages seven to eleven, children may also struggle to learn at school and understand what they are supposed to be doing. They may find it difficult to join in group conversations where there is too much language. Making up stories, both oral and written, may be challenging and stories may be muddled and difficult to follow. They may find it hard to learn and understand the meanings of words and understand language about the past and the future where the meaning isn’t clearly stated.

Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of Emparenting (www. emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with the insights, skills and tools needed to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

The following approaches will help support your child’s speech and language skills: • Reduce background noise where you can by turning down the TV and radio; • Sit at the same level as your child, so they can clearly see your face and encourage them to look at it when talking; • Try to speak clearly, not too fast and use straightforward vocabulary; • If your child makes mistakes when talking, repeat the words back to them correctly; • Play sound games eg eye-spy or finding things that begin with specific phonic sounds; • Practise clapping out the syllables in words e.g. dog is one clap, ta-ble is two claps and ba-na-na is three claps; • Read together: books, poems and nursery rhymes. Look at picture books with words they can point to and say out loud; • Play action and gesture games such as ‘Simon Says….’

14 Families Cambridgeshire

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Families Feature

The Importance of Drama By Alexa Brant When choosing an after-school club or activity in which to enrol your child,it may be worth considering drama and the performing arts if you haven’t done so before. Some children seem to be natural performers, but, if you have a shy child, then the idea of sending them to drama lessons may seem absurd. However, joining a drama class doesn’t necessarily mean your child will be pushed onto a stage and expected to sing and dance and there are some significant benefits.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE A range of research studies have found that students who participate in the Arts don’t just do better in school, they perform better in areas that contribute to success outside the classroom. Not only do children active in the Arts demonstrate higher academic performance and test results, they are also more likely to participate in community service and be elected to class office.

SELF-CONFIDENCE Aspects of performing arts, especially improvisation, helps children to understand how to appraise situations, think outside the box and be more confident going into unfamiliar situations. Students learn to trust their ideas and abilities. Confidence gained from learning performing arts skills applies to school, career and life.

IMAGINATION Being creative and learning to make creative choices helps students to be better at thinking of new ideas, allowing them to view the world around them in new ways. Remember Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

CONCENTRATION Playing, practicing, and performing develops the abilities and skills necessary for children to be able to focus their minds, bodies and voices.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS Performing arts improves vocal projection, articulation, tone of speech and expression.

Importantly, it also develops listening and observation skills. These skills will benefit a young person throughout their life.

FUN Drama delivers elements of play, humour, and laughter to those taking part – it improves motivation and reduces stress. sub-text of plays and musicals allows students to relate better to different situations, backgrounds, and cultures they encounter in real life. It encourages them to show compassion and tolerance for others.

CO-OPERATION An effective drama programme embraces both extroverted and introverted children.

Combining the creative ideas and the abilities of all participants is required for the best outcomes. This requires all those taking part to EMPATHY cambridge_Layout 1 29/08/2020 22:59 Page 1engage in discussions, feedback, rehearsing, Understanding characters, roles and the and performance.

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EMOTIONAL OUTLET Acting and drama games allow students to express a range of emotions and encourages them to understand and deal with similar feelings they may be experiencing. Aggression and tension can be released in a safe, controlled environment – often allowing for a period of reflection afterwards.

MEMORY Rehearsing and performing lines and movements will improve your child’s memory.

Memory requires exercise, just like a muscle!

Families Cambridgeshire 15

CLASSES FOR 4 - 11 YEAR OLDS Coleridge

Chesterton

Cambourne

Thursday - Sunday After school and weekends

Wednesday After school

Wednesday and Saturday After school and weekend

N.B two week trials must be the first two consecutive weeks of term