8 minute read
News & Views
Caroline Allington Photography can capture those precious moments for you and your family. Caroline is very much used to working with children as she started off working as a nanny in America for nearly 5 years before getting married and moving to Oxfordshire and becoming a Montessori nursery school teacher.
After Caroline’s first son was born, she began childminding, working from home, when she began photographing children to document what they had been doing during the day for parents when they were at work.
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Caroline has received top marks in many photography competitions and won several trophies! Her work has been published in several magazines and her images used for several book covers.
Caroline loves ‘Lifestyle photography’, which is to capture a very natural style portrait of you or your family either outdoors, in your home or chosen venue, capturing genuine emotions and connections within families as you go out, explore and have fun together!
Get in touch to discuss the kind of images you are hoping for, whatever special occasion it is: Pregnancy, Birth, Birthdays, Christenings, Weddings or perhaps you simply want some beautiful photographs just for you. You can hire Caroline for ‘a day in the life’ photo shoot or for a standard family 1-2 hour photo shoot at an agreed location. Visit the website for more details or get in touch www.carolineallingtonphotography.com
07962 016421
Don’t forget
Mothering Sunday 27th March
Moulsford is delighted to announce the opening of their new state-ofthe-art Pre-Prep in September 2022.
The new Pre-Prep will be home to a Pre-School, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. The Pre-School is a new venture for the school, and will be for boys and girls who have turned 3 years old. There are no plans for any other year groups in the school to be co-educational, and from Reception onwards (as now) Moulsford will focus on delivering an outstanding education for boys.
The building has been designed to incorporate eco-friendly systems such as solar panels and air source heat pumps, and the U-shaped layout allows for separate outdoor playing areas for the children, accessed direct from classrooms, with a central courtyard play area and soft all-weather flooring.
For a virtual tour of the new building, please visit our website www.moulsford.com/school-life/pre-prep-ages-4-7
NEXT OPEN DAY Friday 20th May 2022
Participate in British Science Week
British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths which takes place from 11th to 20th March.
People from all over the UK take part in events and activities to develop their skills in these areas at a wide range of venues, such as community groups, cultural centres and museums.
A range of FREE activity packs and other resources suitable for all age groups can also be downloaded for fun family activities in the home.
To find a local event, visit www. britishscienceweek.org
Bigger veg portions encourage kids to eat more
A new study by US researchers found that adding more veggies to their plates resulted in children consuming more vegetables at a meal.
The researchers found that when they doubled the amount of corn and broccoli served at a meal the children ate 68% more of the veggies. Serving fruit and vegetable side dishes alongside a meal was found to be slightly less effective.
Co-author Barbara Rolls says the findings offer parents and schools an easy strategy for encouraging healthy eating and stresses that half of the food on a child’s plate should be fruit and vegetables.
If you find this method increases waste, just replace some of the more filling food on the place with even more vegetable produce, she suggests. More at www.sciencedaily.com/releases
PRESSURISING PICKY EATERS DOESN’T WORK
While picky eating is part of the norm for developing toddlers, when it extends into the school years, it takes a toll on all involved.
New research from Australian universities has found that a range of factors contributed to a child’s likelihood of being a fussy eater.
The study found that pressuring a child to eat, offering rewards for eating and very strict parenting all negatively influenced fussy eaters. Whereas a more relaxed parenting style, eating together as a family and involving a child in the preparation of food all reduced the likelihood of fussy eating.
Lead researcher Laine Chilman said ‘Eating together as a family, with siblings and having a single meal at a regular time all helped reduce food fussiness. As did getting the fussy child involved in the meal, either by helping to choose the menu, or helping to prepare the meal.’ More at www.sciencedaily.com/releases
Red Nose Day 2022 will return on Friday 18th March and will feature a collection of the “wildest bunch” of character noses yet.
There will be eight characters to track down, including the colourful Cam the chameleon. All Noses will be 100% plastic-free, making them green as well as red.
Red Nose Day is a campaign created by Comic Relief to help raise awareness of and put an end to child poverty. So why not buy some red noses and help raise money to keep children safe, healthy and educated?
As well as making a donation, you can find tips on creating your own fundraiser or planning a school fundraising event at www.rednoseday.com The perfect activity for a family Easter afternoon, the Magic Carrot game from Janod offers hours of fun with an engaging and competitive game.
RRP £29.99
SCHOOL TESTS DON’T AFFECT WELLBEING
Primary school tests do not seem to have a significant effect on the wellbeing and happiness of children, a study has found. Research conducted by University College London suggested that there was little difference in levels of wellbeing and happiness reported by children, regardless of whether they took Key Stage two tests or not.
Children in Year 6 in England who took SATs tests did not experience any significant change in how they felt about themselves, their family lives and their school in the weeks surrounding the tests, the study discovered.
Researchers say that there does not seem to be sufficient evidence to support getting rid of SATs tests ‘on wellbeing grounds,’ in spite of calls from both parents and teachers to scrap the compulsory assessments.
The research also found there was no evidence to show that pupils who were happier or more self-confident in the build-up to the tests achieved higher scores.
More at www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events
Sibling bullying and mental health
Bullying by a brother or sister in childhood can have lasting effects, threatening mental health in the teen years, new research suggests.
Researchers from University of York analysed data from around 17,000 youngsters in the UK from ages 11 to 17, looking at whether they had been picked on by a brother or sister.
Bullying was defined as hurting a sibling on purpose emotionally or physically, such as fighting and name calling.
The study found children bullied between ages 11 and 14 were more likely to have mental health issues by age 17. Data showed they were almost twice as likely to be introverted, compared to children who had good relationships with their siblings.
It also found children who picked on their siblings were just as likely to suffer as their victims, which scientists said was ‘of particular note.’ More at www.york.ac.uk/news-and-
events
Why children fight Covid better
UK scientists have revealed why children are much less likely to become ill with Covid.
They found children had a stronger immune response than adults in their airways, which rapidly triggered in-built natural defences to fight the virus.
Researchers at University College London said their study revealed that children had an innate immune system that is better able to recognise dangerous viruses or bacteria automatically. Meanwhile, adults have a more adaptive immune system that contains memory type cells which have been trained through past exposure to respond to a particular threat.
Dr Yoshida, an author of the study, said: ‘Because Sars-CoV-2 is a new virus, it isn’t something that the adaptive immune system of adults has learned to respond to. The innate immune system of children is more flexible and better able to respond to new threats.’
More at www. sanger.ac.uk/ news
Perform classes will build your child’s confidence
Perform puts children’s social development at the heart of their weekly sessions for 4-7s and 7-12s. Using performing arts-based games and inspiring activities, their classes are designed to boost confidence, build concentration, develop communication skills and hone coordination – and are brimming with fun and laughter too. Run by professionally trained actors, dancers and singers, classes are kept small to ensure individual attention, with regular progress reports provided. Fantastic termly resources – such as free apps, music downloads and dance videos - support each theme, meaning the fun continues at home. But don’t just take Perform’s word for it, see what parents say by visiting www.perform.org.uk The beaming smile you see when Annabelle finishes a class is so wonderful to see. She has grown in confidence and thoroughly enjoys it. – Katie Pashley Children can join at any point during the term and will still take part in the end of term performance. Classes are for all abilities; children just need to arrive ready to have the best fun of the week! Book a no-obligation FREE trial class to get started at perform.org.uk/try. Families readers receive a £40 discount when booking before 31st March, just quote OX310322
Contact: T: 020 7255 9120 / enquiries@perform.org.uk perform.org.uk/try
