Families Bedfordshire Jan-Feb 2015

FREE

JAN/FEB 2015

ISSUE

Choosing a nursery: what to consider

Learning holidays

with your family

Health & education

Confidence Building Fun

Call 0845 400 1315 or visit perform.org.uk to find your nearest venue.

Try a Free Drama Class For families with young children aged 0 -12 in Bedfordshire

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Contents Editor's Welcome

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Hello and welcome to our January-February issue.

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Wishing all our readers a very happy new year. I hope you have had a great Christmas break and found some time to relax with your family.

6-9 10 - 11

In this issue we focus upon nurseries: how to choose one and what you can expect for your child. We also have lots of education and health news, as well as an adoption case study.

Plus, if you are considering a 'life detox', then do read our article on page 13 to give you some ideas about what to do next.

We also have a competition to win tickets to this year's Milton Keynes Model Railway Exhibition, which you can enter via our website (www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk). And if you have the time, please like our Facebook page and say hello to us on Twitter (@FamiliesBeds)!

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2015!

Judith P.S. Our March-April issue will include childcare feature and we'll also be rounding up all the Easter activity, including holiday camps! Copy deadline: Friday 6 February.

Competition winners Congratulations to the six winners of the family tickets to Mead Open Farm, Mrs J Butler, F Tomlin, LAnne, Z Smith, M Arkwright, M Plater. Also the ten winners of the Frost Fair tickets, S Parker, C Edwards, Z Payne, N Day, C Watson, C Sherman, R Haigh, E Walton, R Horrocks and L Eaton.

NEWS & INFO NEWS AND COMPETITIONS NURSERY FEATURE EDUCATION

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HOLIDAYS

13

HEALTH

14

PARENTING AND ADOPTION

15

WHAT’S ON

Editor: Judith Dow editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk Mob: 07889 894431 or phone: 01727 373929.

Part of the Families ® magazines group, established 1990. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned & operated under license.

Design: CBF - www.cbfnet.co.uk Photo credits Front cover: © M&Co/www.PRshots.com Pg 3 © Nicky Vincent www.nickyvincentphoto.com; © By kind permission of John Bunyan Museum. pg 4 © Genevieve Leaper (rspb-images.com); pg 6 © st-fotograf – Fotolia.com; © Robert Kneschke – Fotolia.com; pg 7 © Petro Feketa – Fotolia.com; pg 8 © Nicky Vincent www.nickyvincentphoto.com; pg 10 © woodleywonderworks/Flickr; pg 12 © Walpole Park and Walled Garden; © British Museum; © Apsley; pg 13 © Pixelbliss – Fotolia.com.

Families Bedfordshire is printed by The Manson Group (01727 848440) on paper sourced from sustainable forests and the inks used are vegetable based. Distribution: we are printing 14,000 copies which will be distributed to selected points in Bedfordshire. Further distribution information please contact: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

Maths & English tuition centre For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities t Courses mapped to the National Curriculum. t Adapts to the individual needs of your child. t Convenient for families - Open 7 days a week. t Award-winning tuition - voted Education Investor Supplementary Education Provider of the Year.

“Explore Learning members’ improvement in maths was 30% higher than that of the comparison group after controlling for gender, age, year group and special educational needs.”

Independent Efficacy Study by the Institute of Education at Reading University (2013). See www.explorelearning.co.uk/efficacy.

are s c ild her ! h C uc pted Vo acce

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News and info Discover the Marston Vale Line!

Bedford-Bletchley by rail, the scenic route Take the train to Milton Keynes Model Railway Exhibition 2015!

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melia Newman is the franchise owner of Theatrebugs Bedford which has just launched new classes. She has had a very positive response to their unique mixture of drama, music and dance, drawing upon children's imagination and role play.

Amelia now offers weekly classes in Bedford, Flitwick and Milton Ernest, to two age groups, babies from 0-2 year olds and the under 5s (2-5s), and there is also the opportunity for any interested parents or nurseries to have a free trial class.

There are plans afoot for her to work with local nurseries and ultimately, she hopes to move into after school care.

Theatrebugs Bedford also offers parties for princesses or superheroes, so there is a wide range of activities on offer.

More information or to contact Amelia go to www.theatrebugs.co.uk or email amelianewman@theatrebugs.co.uk Interested in local clubs and classes? Then check out the Families Bedfordshire Clubs and Classes online directory for further details: www.familiesonline.co.uk/LOCATIONS/Bedfordshire/ Directory/Clubs-Classes

Saturday 14 February: 10 – 4:30 pm Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Stantonbury Arts & Leisure, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes

Gro upS a R Grea ail Tic ve kets t rate s fo 1

/3 o r fa of 3- ff for gro milies!

9 ad ups u halfprice lts, kids , u 5s g n o fre der e!

Free shuttle bus from Bletchley Railway Station!

Discounts on admission for Marston Vale Line passengers!

Adults: £5 (£4.50 with valid rail ticket); Children: £3.50 (£2.50 with valid rail ticket); Families: 2 adults + 3 children £10 (£9.00 with valid rail ticket).

Call 01908 605417 for further information or visit www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions

For further information please contact: Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/ marstonvalecrp

Stephen Sleight Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership Tel: 01234 832645 E-mail: stephens@bedsrcc.org.uk Visit our award winning website! www.marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter! @marstonvalecrp

T

he John Bunyan Museum in Mill Street, Bedford is holding its open morning on Saturday 24 January, from 10.30am onwards, for anyone who might be interested in volunteering at the Museum. This will be an opportunity to meet current volunteers and the Museum's Curator and find out a bit more about how to get involved. The Museum is looking for people of all ages who might be able to help at the front of house or behind the scenes, so there should be something for everyone. In addition, the Museum will re-open its doors to the public on Tuesday 17 February, just in time for half-term.

To find out more, visit the website at www.bunyanmeeting.co.uk/museum/ or phone 01234 270303

Looking for a Bedford-based family

T

photographer?

hen look no further than photographer Nicky Vincent, a Bedford-based family photographer who specialises in candid portraits. Nicky uses natural light and settings to allow the whole family to feel relaxed, she loves photographing children and takes pride in being able to capture the true joy and essence of childhood. Having said that Nicky also loves finding the joy and childlike nature in anyone she photographs. She also absolutely loves photographing people who traditionally don’t enjoy being photographed. Small children and reticent adults - Nicky loves a challenge.

Nicky is available to cover any special event you may be organising too - birthday parties, family reunions, surprise parties - you name it. More information visit the website at www.nickyvincentphoto.com

To advertise: 01727 373929

January/February 2015

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News and info Take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch this January

National Storytelling Week

The great Christmas bake-off!

Pupils at Beechwood Park Montessori Nursery had great fun making festive cakes to take home to their families at Christmas. After weighing and mixing the ingredients, they stirred the lovely sticky mixture. Tasting and smelling was encouraged at each stage!

With the cakes baked the children added jam, marzipan and a traditional topping of white icing. Finally they enjoyed decorating their cakes with holly leaves of green icing and red icing berries.

Amanda Wilkins, Head of Montessori commented: “All the children love cooking and were really excited to bake a cake for Christmas tea. They might even spare a slice for Santa.�

Taking place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January, the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch is going to be the biggest wildlife survey event ever (again). People of all ages will be watching their gardens for one hour over the weekend to record the animals they see and then send their results to the RSPB to help them build a picture of the health of our garden wildlife.

In previous years it has highlighted the decline of key garden birds, as well as the rise of others. This time around people will The Society for Storytelling's 15th annual also be able to record non-bird species National Storytelling Week takes place this like hedgehogs and foxes. year from Saturday 31 January to Saturday 7 February. With schools, This is a great opportunity for children and drama clubs and performance groups families to learn about wildlife and connect across the country holding events to with nature at the same time as celebrate the joy of storytelling. At the time contributing to conservation and helping to of going to press, Luton Culture are give nature a home by making our holding events in their libraries to coincide gardens wildlife friendly. Through its with this week as well as National Libraries citizen science approach, the survey has Day. Check out our What's On page for helped to highlight changes in the more information or visit abundance and distribution of wildlife in www.sfs.org.uk/nationalour gardens, much of which is in serious storytelling-week decline.

Fairies n Frogs (www.fairiesnfrogs.co.uk) toyshop in Ampthill will be launching sessions for pre-schoolers later this month, featuring puppets and story time. They will be held in a buggy accessible location in Ampthill, with the the exact details, times and dates More info:www.rspb.org.uk and see our What's on page for information about the still to be confirmed. Keep your eye on event at the RSPB's headquarters in their website page for further updates!

Sandy.

EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY AND FRIDAY 9:30-11:30

The Salto Centre, 98 Camford Way, Sundon Park, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 3AN Tel: 01582 495953 www.saltogym.org info@saltogym.plus.com

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January/February 2015

www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

News and competitions Ed’s Reading Room Competition!

Kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free online book and story club for primary children in homes and schools. And in this issue, Ed and Families Bedfordshire magazine have teamed up to offer readers a great competition.

Simply email Ed at ed@edontheweb.com – telling him the title of your favourite ever book and stating your age (11 and under), with Families Magazine in the subject line. The lucky winner will receive SIX fantastic books for their age. Closing date Sunday 18 January 2015.

Ed’s Reading Room is part of www.edontheweb.com, a DTI award-winning website. It was created by Maggie Humphreys, a teacher of more than 25 years, and Les Snowdon, who together are authors of several books on fitness walking and healthy eating.

Pupil cuts her hair for charity Photo shows five year old Avaani Katechia from Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School in Bedford who was due to have her long, thick dark hair cut to donate at least 7 inches of it to the Little Princess charity. (www.littleprincesses.org.uk), which provides free real-hair wigs and hairpieces to children who have lost their hair as a result of cancer and other childhood illnesses. It costs the charity £350 to produce just one wig so Avaani has set that exact amount as her fundraising target.

More info: www.justgiving.com/avaani-katechia

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO THE MILTON KEYNES MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION!

Families Bedfordshire magazine has three Family tickets to give away to this year's Milton Keynes Model Railway Exhibition (www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions) which will be held in Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Stantonbury Arts & Leisure, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes, MK14 6BN on Saturday 14 February from 10-4.30pm.

A free bus service will be in operation to the venue from Bletchley on the Marston Vale Line (Bletchley to Bedford), which operates 32 trains daily on the line all year round, for use by bus and rail ticket holders. There are lots of great days out available for Marston Vale train line users throughout the year. Plus, if you do travel by train to the Model Railway Exhibition then discounts are available on entry tickets.

For your chance to win a Family ticket, simply answer the following question correctly.

How many trains a day are there between Bedford and Bletchley?

A 14

B 25

C 32

Enter online by Monday 2 February 2015 at: www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk/competitions

We all know what it’s like to feel physically and mentally exhausted from a busy day at work or with the kids and coping with everything can be an everyday battle.

Did you know that taking Pharmaton Vitality capsules helps reduce temporary tiredness and restore vitality when taken daily, and can be taken for a period of twelve weeks?

Pharmaton Vitality capsules are packed with vitamins, minerals and the unique Ginseng G115 that’s clinically proven to relieve fatigue and also aid mental and physical wellbeing. Pharmaton Vitality capsules are also supported by over 30 clinical trials and studies.

Try Pharmaton Vitality Capsules, to feel the positive difference.

(Licensed medicine) For the relief of fatigue. Always read the label. (Advertorial feature)

To advertise: 01727 373929

January/February 2015

5

Nursery feature

How to choose the best nursery for your child

By Hannah Hunter

or many parents, nurseries are the ideal choice for childcare.

They offer working hours, with a lot of flexibility - you can choose hours to suit you, from a few half days to full working weeks.

Nurseries give children the opportunity to socialise with groups of other children and adults. They can also give a reassuring continuity of care, with an assigned key worker. Your child may be at the same setting from babyhood, right until they start at school.

staff members brings added life experience and suggests that the nursery values its staff enough to pay for this. Check out the routines, such as what food they offer and when it’s served, or when and where the children can nap.

Finding the right nursery can be a difficult and stressful process.

The first time you hand over full-time care of your precious offspring to someone else is always going to be emotional, so you want to be absolutely sure that you have made the right choice for all of you.

Cost Be realistic in how much you can pay. A perfect work-life balance doesn’t mean working more hours to pay for a ‘better’ nursery! Most nurseries have funded places for 3 to 5-year-olds, and your workplace may offer childcare vouchers, a tax-free way to pay. You may also be eligible for childcare tax credits, to find out more go to www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

Different types of nursery It’s important to research what’s available as early as possible to find the best fit. This webpage www.gov.uk/ find-nursery-school-place directs you to your local council’s website, which will list all Ofsted-checked registered childcare providers.

The ‘feel’ of the place Going by gut instinct alone isn’t advisable, but if you don’t get a good feeling, it might not be the place for your child. Happy staff and children can make up for a lack of perfection in other areas. Look out for children’s work on the walls, and staff who actually play with the kids rather than stand around chatting.

Your different options may include:

Your child’s personality Is your child quiet and shy, or loud and outgoing? Do they love Day Nurseries - great for working parents, as they are usually open playing outdoors, or prefer indoor games? It seems obvious, but try from 8am-6pm to match the nursery to your child’s interests.

Nursery Schools - for older toddlers (usually about 2 and a half and Your own needs! up) these nurseries offer a more structured preparation for school There might be a wonderful nursery half an hour drive away from you, but consider how will both of your tiredness levels be after this Nursery classes in school - usually run for the year before daily journey - would you be better to find somewhere closer that is reception, they have a similar structure to nursery schools, though a good fit? Equally the most convenient, say a work-place nursery, often only run half-day sessions. may not be the best for your child.

Montessori and Steiner nurseries - Montessori philosophy informs Useful links how their schools are run, they are seen as the originators of child centred learning, and there is a focus on developing each child’s independence and skills. Focusing on creative play, Steiner schools www.ndna.org.uk National Day Nurseries Association offer expert advice and information for parents looking for childcare. don’t believe in any formal teaching until the age of 6.

Your first visit • Make time to look around potential nurseries, well before you are going to need to use them. Read the Ofsted report www.ofsted.gov.uk, Scotland: www.hmie.gov.uk, and make a list of your priorities before you go. See if you can find out any first hand information from friends (though bear in mind what’s good for one family might not work for another).

Things to consider: Staff and ethos See what the turnover of staff is (always a good indicator of happiness) and check their qualifications. The presence of older

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The Family and Childcare Trust is a campaigning organisation with helpful information for parents. This site will help you find your local Family Information Service. www.findyourfis.familyandchildcaretrust.org/kb5/ findyourfis/home.page www.ofsted.gov.uk www.montessori.org.uk www.steinerwaldorf.org

Top tips on choosing the right nursery for you Claire Green, Nursery Manager, Kids Unlimited (www.kidsunlimited.co.uk) in Bramingham, Luton

Primary schools to provide nursery places

By Hannah Hunter

“Nurseries are great places for giving children a wealth of opportunities they may not get at home, including a variety of activities and experiences and developing important social skills such as sharing.

“I would advise parents to ring first and ask a few initial questions and from there decide which nurseries you would like to visit. When visiting a nursery look beyond the aesthetics and trust your initial feelings as to where is best for your family, does it offer a warm, friendly, nurturing environment for children, are the staff interacting with the children. Do the children appear happy, are they stimulated, having fun and actively learning through play, does the environment appear clean, bright, airy and colourful and most importantly safe both indoors and out? What is their local offer which makes one nursery stand out from the competition?

“Have a few questions prepared and think about visiting more than once at different times of the day if you are finding making the final decision difficult. Key questions that most parents like to ask are regarding fees and the package they will receive, staff qualifications and turnover.”

Carrie Goode, Nursery Manager, Kings Cottage Day Nursery and Preschool (www.brighthorizons.co.uk) in Sharnbrook “At Kings Cottage we understand how difficult it is when choosing a nursery. That’s why we invite you into our wonderful, homely nursery set in the secure and beautiful grounds of Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook.

“It is important a nursery offers you a tailored induction and really works with the parents/carers to provide a settling in program, as we know that each child and family have individual requirements.”

Childcare Minister, Sam Gyimah, is encouraging more primary and infant schools to offer nursery education. Currently 44% of [English] primary and infant schools offer nursery places, with only a few hundred taking 2-year-olds.

In a speech to the Policy Exchange, the minister claimed that: “those schools who do offer nursery provision are seeing some big benefits.

Children’s behaviour and attainment improves, schools get to know children and their parents earlier on, offering them the tailored support they need, sooner.”

Further reading: https://news.tes.co.uk/b/news/2014/10/21/minister-calls-for-more-primaries-to-39-step-up-to-the-plate-39-and-off er-nursery-places.aspx

To advertise: 01727 373929

January/February 2015

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Nursery feature

What to expect from your child’s nursery education

By Hannah Hunter

W

e’ve all heard about the importance of early years education.

Apparently a child who has gone to pre-school has more chance of getting better exam results and ultimately earning higher wages, according to new research undertaken by academics at the Institute of Education.

means that there needs to be high quality resources and activities available all of the time, so your child can learn through play in lots of different ways.

So you send your child to nursery, in the hope that it will improve their education prospects. But what are they actually going to do there all day? They’re not going to tell you! Teenagers struggle enough to recall what’s happened a few hours before, so you can’t expect detailed information from a 3-year-old.

The EYFS also lays out guidelines for assessment of your child’s progress. Soon after your child turns 2, you will get a written summary of how your child is progressing in communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. Any areas where they need extra help or support will be highlighted at this stage.

To give you some idea of what will happen, you can look at the legal requirements for nurseries in the UK. The Early Years Foundation Stage ('EYFS') framework in England, is a document that sets out the statutory welfare and developmental goals for children 5 years and under. It gives guidelines for safety and learning and development for all early years providers - all nurseries, child minders, playgroups, preschools and reception classes.

The EYFS explained

Assessment

The next written assessment will come when your child is 5, usually at the end of their reception year, which is the last year they are classed as being in early years education. This will include assessment of skills such as writing their name, reading and talking about a favourite book, speaking to people your child is not so familiar with or their understanding of numbers. The school will give you a progress report including some of this information.

How will I know how my child is doing?

The EYFS framework document can seem daunting, but it’s there to ensure that all children receive a suitable level of care.

Your child will have a ‘key person’ at nursery, pre-school or reception class, who is responsible for putting together information It sets out the legal requirements that keeps your child safe and on how they are developing. This person will be your main point of promotes their welfare. contact, and it’s important that you work together and communicate well. Any worries about your child should be discussed with their This includes: key worker, and they will be able to build on what your child is learning at home.

Basic checks, such as staff security checks Setting the number of children each member of staff can look after Look at the full document here: Ensuring the facilities and equipment are safe and suitable www.gov.uk/government/publications/ Checking the quality of the environment, e.g. recommending early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2 access to outdoor space It also covers the seven areas of learning and development.

These are: communication and language physical development personal, social and emotional development literacy mathematics understanding the world expressive arts and design The activities they will do at nursery, to support their learning and development will be unique to your child’s needs. They will learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. There is a requirement for ‘continuous provision’, which in layman’s terms

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For a detailed parent’s guide to the EYFS go to: www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2014/08/ EYFS_Parents_Guide-amended.pdf For more general advice for parents: www.ndna.org.uk/parentsclass

Summer holiday clubs and activities

Preschool gym fun at

GYMNASTICS CLUB

SALTO!

Beechwood Park Montessori Nursery

Play is a serious business; it should be a fun, enjoyable activity, which stimulates the development of mind and body.

SALTO Gym in Sundon, Luton has a long and proud history of providing classes for the youngest members of the club. They have a strong and committed group of enthusiastic coaches determined to help these little ones reach their full potential. As Jessica Jewson, head of preschool at Salto Gym comments,“My team and I have specific pre school gymnastics qualifications which allows us to deliver safe, themed and engaging classes to prepare preschoolers for the more structured classes to follow.

We follow the British gymnastics FUNdamentals programme (www.british-gymnastics.org/fundamentals).

A good pre-school gym experience can provide social, physical, lingual and intellectual, creative and emotional awareness and improve concentration, competence and confidence.There are structured classes to develop or improve balance, co-ordination, social and educational skills, providing under 5's with a quality physical movement experience. Participants learn how to use different objects to help them practise basic skills such as crawling, walking (running) rolling, hopping, jumping, throwing and catching. They are encouraged to use imagination on adventures and this may include fairy stories and listening and moving to nursery rhymes, songs and music. More information on SALTO's preschool gym see www.saltogym.org or tel 01525 495953.

Free

childcare

to double

The number of two year olds eligible for free childcare is to double this winter, as around 40% will now be entitled to 15 hours of free early education per week, up from 20% last year.

‘Giving a helping hand to families that need it most will mean thousands more children get a brighter start in life,’ said Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. ‘We are doubling the number of free childcare places for two-year-olds. All parents need to do to check if they qualify is contact their local authority or children’s centre.’ Childcare and Education Minister Sam Gyimah added, ‘We know that good quality early education can make a huge difference in levelling the playing field and improving a child’s life chances. This free childcare entitlement gives children crucial support that could make all the difference to how well they do at school and beyond. I encourage parents who think their toddler may be eligible to check this and make sure they don’t miss out.’ Find out whether your child is eligible at www.gov.uk/freechildcare

The best possible start for children aged 3-5 years ‘ You all did such a lovely job with our son and we absolutely loved having him at the school. It would be so wonderful if we could offer his brother the same Montessori parent chance at the start which he had.’

For more information call 01582 840333 or visit www.beechwoodpark.net Beechwood Park is an independent, co-educational day and flexi-boarding school for children aged from 4 to 13.

Beechwood Park School Markyate Hertfordshire AL3 8AW

Harpers Nursery School, Baby Unit and Forest School BLUNHAM ‘A Unique Learning Experience’

Forest School lessons Full Early Years Curriculum Funded places available for 2,3 and 4yr olds Experienced and qualified teaching staff OFSTED rated ‘Outstanding’ Hands-on meaningful learning Home cooked healthy meals Safe, caring and happy environment Teaching and Learning for children aged 6wks-5yrs

Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-6.00pm Acres of grounds for curiosity and challenge

Tel: 01767 641499 www.harpersnursery.co.uk To advertise: 01727 373929

January/February 2015

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Education help will speed up the time your child is spending on their homework and it will also help to keep arguments to a minimum, but it’s actually detrimental to their learning.

Your child’s teacher isn’t interested that you are able to complete a fractions worksheet or design a poster on electricity. You should be able to do it. You’re a grown up! However if your child can’t, their teacher needs to know so they can offer support in the classroom to make sure the topic is fully understood. This is your child’s homework not a joint effort.

Homework

by Sarah Butters

Why does my child get homework?

Homework encourages independent learning skills and backs up what has been learnt in the classroom. It shows both teachers and parents what a child is capable of and can also highlight what they haven’t understood during the school day.

How much homework should my child be getting?

It depends on the age of your child, however here is a guide to the amount of homework your child should be receiving.

Your job is direction and encouragement to find the answers themselves.

Top tips for helping with homework Make sure your child is eating well, getting enough sleep and getting enough exercise. All this helps concentration both in the classroom and at home after school.

Create a homework routine for your child to stick to. Identify a regular place and a regular time, making sure it’s quiet and free from distractions. Discuss the expectations you have and the consequences if the homework isn’t completed well. This will, hopefully, encourage good homework habits.

Show your child you care about the homework they have been set.

Try not to let your own dislike for a particular topic affect the way you work with your child.

Reception: 30 minutes a week Years 1 & 2: One hour a week Years 3 & 4: 90 minutes a week Years 5 & 6: 30 minutes a day Years 7 & 8: Up to 90 minutes a day

Should I be helping my child with their homework?

It’s really important that parents take an interest in the work their children bring home, but you shouldn’t take over. Giving too much

Direct your child to focus their mind. Before they launch into the task, encourage a ‘think through’. Ask them to tell you what need doing and ask them questions about the task set. How long does it need to be? Does it need doing on the computer or by hand? What ideas have they had since the homework was set? This direction helps them focus their ideas and work productively.

Reflect on the task once it’s done. Was it easier than they thought?

What was good about the work they produced? What do they need to work on?

Think carefully before introducing a reward system. This can lead to rushed results and the necessity to offer a ‘treat’ for every piece completed. Better to let them know from the start that homework is something that needs to be done, and done well.

Free Trial

Set a time limit on homework. This gives less enthusiastic children an end point they can see. Talk to your child’s teacher about how long particular tasks should be taking and bring the homework to an end at that point. The teacher can see how quickly, or slowly, their independent work is being completed and both you and your child know that there is an end to the homework – even if it isn’t completed.

Homework – do you help?

Here are a couple of views!

Try our two week Free Trial and see what your child can achieve with the Kumon Maths and English Study Programmes.

“Over the holidays, we were asked to complete a project on a favourite hobby. I admit I did some of it –the typing and formatting while my 9 year old son rambled. I just wanted it over with so we could enjoy the holidays. I suppose it’s good to get them into the habit before they hit secondary school, but enough is enough!”

Contact your local Kumon centre for more details:

Anon

Ampthill 01525 860 279

Luton East 0800 854 714

Bedford North 01908 392 698

Sandy 01767 699 155

“I’m really undecided about homework. We never seem to have time to get it done and it just seems to add to household stress. The whole family has just spend most of the weekend making a Magical Castle. We did all have fun and bond but we do enjoy craft. However I can't help thinking we had a lot more pressing things to do, and I felt for the people who aren't very artistic. Their children are then disadvantaged by not having the all singing all dancing castle...made by sad parents!”

Free Trial available throughout February* *Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

kumon.co.uk

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Susan Kirkwood, Editor Families Fife January/February 2015

www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

The Region’s Brightest Girls’ School

Bedford Girls' School is an exceptional girls' school for girls aged 7 to 18. A forward thinking, and dynamic school, it is well regarded as a contemporary centre of excellence in all girls’ education.

An expert understanding of the way girls think and learn lies at the heart of a Bedford Girls’ School education. As well as an excellent academic record, it passionately believes that real learning is not just about amassing information. Dedicated to preparing girls for life, as well as for examination success, the school supports and challenges every pupil to achieve her best; academically, culturally, socially, physically, personally and morally.

Fizzing with energy, unselfconscious enthusiasm and humour, the school is an environment where enquiring minds are nurtured and girls learn to feel proud of their achievements, enabling them to challenge limited expectations and gender stereotypes.

Educating day in light, airy premises, the school boasts outstanding facilities alongside excellent results in GCSE, A level and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

A must see for parents looking for an exceptional education for their daughter, Bedford Girls’ School welcomes families to their next Open Morning on Wednesday 11 March, 2015.

To find out more visit: www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk or call 01234 361918 to book an appointment.

Education News 5 year-old boys are still catching up with girls in literacy and numeracy According to teachers' assessment of children's progress at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage last year, there is still a gender divide in pupil’s attainment. The level of development for all 5-year-olds was up by 8 percentage points from last year to 60%. In 2013-2014, fewer boys than girls met the expected levels in writing, reading and maths - 69% of five-year-old girls achieved a good level of development overall, compared with only 52% of boys.

Further reading: www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-29651924 Over-praising pupils can lead to low attainment A recent report by the Sutton Trust, ‘What Makes Great Teaching’, claims that lavishing praise on low-attaining students is not encouraging, but can in fact give a message of low expectations.

Other commonly used teaching methods, such as streaming by ability, are shown to have little positive effect.

Professor Robert Coe, from Durham University said: “Great teaching cannot be achieved by following a recipe, but there are some clear pointers in the research to approaches that are most likely to be effective, and to others, sometimes quite popular, that are not.”

Further reading: www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/11204935/What-really-makes-great-teaching.html

Get ready for back to school with Explore Learning!

Get the new school term off to a great start at Explore Learning. Their tailored courses are designed to support your child to become a confident and engaged learner.

Explore Learning centres provide maths, English and 11+ tuition to 5-14 year olds of all abilities. Explore fits easily around family life; the centres are open 7 days a week, with children able to attend up to twice a week on a drop-in basis.

Call your local centre in Milton Keynes or Bedford to book a free trial, or visit www.explorelearning.co.uk.

Bold Imaginative 5HÀHFWLYH 7KUHH ZRUGV WR GH¿QH your daughter’s future.

Add three more:

Open Morning Wednesday 11th March, 10am Telephone: 01234 361918 | www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk Bedford Girls’ School is part of The Harpur Trust

To advertise: 01727 373929

January/February 2015

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Holidays Summer in the Alps!

To explore the Swiss Alps in the summer, nothing beats the style and variety on offer from Chilly Powder (www.chillypowder.com). With hotel rooms and large, self-catered chalets, Paul and Francesca Eyre’s expertise provides a beautiful Alpine experience, with crèche and kids club available for parents who need a bit of time to themselves and fabulous dinners to round off the day. The local, summer ‘Multi Pass’ is available at only 1Euro per day when you stay at Chilly Powder and this gives instant access to 22 lifts in the Portes du Soleil area around Morzine, 850km of walking paths and 10 mountain lakes! This means there are endless possibilities for the family to enjoy the beautiful Alps in summer.

About Lift Pass Options in Morzine During the summer months, Morzine, Avoriaz and the other resorts that make up the Portes du Soleil have a total of 22 lifts in operation, giving access to 650km of marked mountain bike trails, 850km of hiking paths, 400 mountain chalets and 10 mountain lakes! More info: www.morznet.com/lifts/summer/options.html

L

earning

around you. Look for bugs, birds, small animals and their habitats; if you're not very knowledgeable about these things yourself, head for a park or arboretum where there are trails and leaflets with advice on what to look out for.

holidays

Of course a vacation is a time to laze around and do nothing; but they're also bursting with opportunities to find out something new, and chasing those chances could give you the most fun of all. Joanna Moorhead reports.

Literacy Literacy isn't just about books: taking your children to the places where the characters from, and authors of, their favourite books will show them a whole new side to reading. For younger children, theme parks such as Thomasland (www.draytonmanor.co.uk) or "A learning holiday?" said one of my daughters, when I suggested Peppa Pig World (www.peppapigworld.co.uk), both open at we could combine going on vacation with supplementing her February half term and then from March, bring their characters to education. "Have you gone completely bonkers?" I hadn't; but what life in a new way and will prompt even more interest in the books; I did realise, at that moment, was the folly of being upfront in my older children will enjoy a trip to Haworth in west Yorkshire, home of views about how holidays could be an opportunity to impart the Brontes and their heart-rending true story. knowledge. The trick is never to mention it, and not under any circumstances to admit or volunteer that you are aiming to weave a History thread of anything educational through your spring or summer You can't go wrong with history: in fact, it's hard to have a holiday break. But the truth is, holidays are one of the best learning without it straying onto the margins even if you don't try. Castles, opportunities a parent has - and finding out new things that National Trust houses, museums, cathedrals, palaces; the world is complement what's happening in school can be a whole lot of fun heaving with history, and it only takes a tiny bit of imagination to put when it's far from the classroom and a long way from home. it into action on holiday. For something different, try taking your kids along to an event at an English Heritage or National Trust property In terms of focus, there are two possibilities. Either pick up on a designed to bring the history to life. child's existing passion — for art, perhaps, or for aeroplanes or fashion or whatever it is — or try to give them a new perspective And don't forget to enjoy learning on holiday yourself! on a subject they're finding difficult to engage with. In my own experience, I've always taken the former (easier) route; but I do sometimes think I should do more to help my kids with the parts of the curriculum they find hardest, and holidays could be the perfect time to do that.

Where to start? Here are some ideas.

Art Children start learning about individual artists from nursery school.

Pick an artist your child has talked about at school, or has seemed drawn to when you've looked at his/her work together. Easily-accessible artists who use a lot of bright colours are ideal - think Van Gogh, Hockney, Georgia O'Keeffe It's easy to make any holiday art-orientated, since art galleries are everywhere: but if you want, you can make it about more than just museums. Try a trip to Arles in the south of France where you can see copies of Van Gogh's most famous paintings set up on permanent easels in the exact spot where he painted them, and dine at the Starry Night Café.

Science and nature The simplest way to introduce nature into your holiday is to go for a walk in an undeveloped area, and to explore the green space

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January/February 2015

www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

What’s On Health

New Year New You: time to detox our lives?

Many of us wake up on January 1st feeling exhausted from Christmas, a little worse for wear from the night before and desperate for the kids to go back to school. But we also find ourselves scribbling lists of New Year’s resolutions – to get fit, lose weight, get stuck in to that pile of paperwork on the kitchen table and, often, to give our working lives a shake up too. The New Year is not just about detox-ing our bodies – it can also be a time to detox our lives. In fact, January is a fantastic time for those of us with children in nursery or full time education for the first time to go back to work, start a new venture, set up our own business or to re-train in something that will get us leaping out of bed every morning!

From a new job or a whole new career, the world is your oyster as a working mum. If your hours are limited by the school run, setting up your own business or taking up a franchise can offer you the opportunity to do something you love while working flexible hours, and the options are limitless. You can choose anything from running a yoga franchise to teaching little ones dance or drama, from teaching Spanish to starting your own Families magazine! Take a course, start a marketing business, design websites, set up a blog, open a café – it’s up to you. There are plenty of websites out there to help you get started and find a new job, re-train, choose the right business, give you ideas, advise you on tax and even help you design your logo, so there’s no excuse not to get stuck in this New Year.

Is it cow's milk allergy?

Is your baby crying excessively in its first few months? Are you concerned that something might be wrong? New research shows that persistent and unexplained crying can be a sign of cow’s milk allergy, an intolerance that is notoriously difficult to diagnose. A new campaign called Is it Cow’s Milk Allergy? provides expert advice to help parents spot and understand the symptoms of CMA, which occurs when the immune system identifies a protein within the cow’s milk as harmful, and triggers an allergic reaction. Cow’s milk allergy can affect up to 7.5% of children under the age of one, and is the most common type of food allergy in young infants, yet it can be very difficult to diagnose as symptoms are often mistaken for other common conditions such as colic and eczema. Symptoms will also vary from baby to baby, and can be immediate or delayed, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms to look out for.

Visit www.isitCowsMilkAllergy.co.uk for more information and to download a fact sheet, symptom diary and detailed questionnaire which you can complete and then discuss with your GP. The Allergy UK helpline is on 01322 619898.

Take a look at the following websites for inspiration! www.gov.uk/starting-up-a-business, www.workingmums.co.uk, www.mumandcareer.co.uk, www.mumandworking.co.uk and www.mumpreneuruk.com.

Local SWAN representation for Bedford Last September, SWAN UK 'Syndromes Without A Name' (www.undiagnosed.org.uk) an initative run by charity Genetic Alliance UK (www.geneticalliance.org.uk), launched their local network pilot, to support the existing project to provide support to families of children with undiagnosed genetic conditions in their area.

Nicola Judd is the newly appointed SWAN representative for Bedford. She says: “My ‘Swan’ is my daughter and she has clinical diagnoses of ASD, epilepsy and severe learning difficulties.

We are currently undergoing genetic testing to maybe find the cause/reason for these issues as there is no history of any of them in either families, and also maybe to help her epilepsy as it is currently still uncontrolled after two years of different medications. She attends a SEN school locally and my son attends mainstream school.

“I was introduced to SWAN UK through a friend when becoming increasingly frustrated as to why no one could tell us why my daughter had her issues and have found the support and work they do to raise awareness invaluable, as well as meeting other parents both locally and online such a reassurance and relief that we are not alone!”

If you would like to contact Nicola please email her at: nicola.judd@undiagnosed.org.uk To advertise: 01727 373929

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Parenting & adoption n UK ational o i t p Ado unces n e o ann t of th u rollo tion d p Ado or t Fun p Sup Last year, Adoption UK (www.adoptionuk.org) announced that the Adoption Support Fund will be rolled out across England from 1 May 2015.

Following pilots of the Adoption Support Fund in 10 local authorities the Department for Education is investing £19.3 million to enable adoptive families across England to access therapeutic support.

Commenting on the news from the Department for Education Hugh Thornbery, Adoption UK Chief Executive, said “Due to their early life experiences many adopted children require ongoing support to thrive in their adoptive families. Our research with adoptive parents highlighted this need and the desperation of too many adoptive families to gain such support.

“The fund is a huge step in the right direction toward ensuring families get the help they need to parent vulnerable children. We will carefully monitor the implementation of the Adoption Support Fund through the experience of our members and continue to represent adopters voices in seeking lasting change to adoption across the UK that improves the lives of not only adopted children but also their families.”

Families shut out from justice Thousands of families across England and Wales have been struggling to get justice following recent Government cuts, the Bar Council warns. The Ministry of Justice’s statistics for civil legal aid reveal that since cuts came into effect in April 2013 the number of people receiving legal representation on legal aid has plummeted, with the bulk of the cuts hitting family law cases. There has been a drop of 15,000 per quarter, equivalent to 60,000 a year, in the number of people receiving legal aid for family cases which go to court. On top of this there has been a fall of 40,000 per quarter, or 160,000 a year, in the number of people receiving advice on their family law problems. ‘The legal aid statistics demonstrate the full impact of the cuts to civil legal aid, which is having a profound impact on the lives of many vulnerable people across England and Wales,’ said Nicholas Lavender QC, Chairman of the Bar (pictured). ‘We warned the Ministry of Justice that the cuts would mean that thousands of families would be denied access to justice and our prediction, sadly for those affected, has come true. The latest quarterly figures show that families facing serious issues, such as disputes concerning children, are effectively being shut out of the justice system. The human consequences of cutting a huge part of family law out of legal aid are clearly being seen.’

Luton Borough Council: helping

brothers and sisters to stay together

Brothers and sisters who want to stay together and are in need of loving homes will usually have to wait the longest for a family to adopt them, due to a national shortage of adopters coming forward to adopt siblings.

In Luton we believe brothers and sisters are better together so they can continue the strong bond they have developed and provide each other with the necessary stability and support.

Ken and his wife decided to adopt two sisters as they felt the children would bring their home to life and keep each other entertained.

Ken said: “We actually found the adoption process to be engaging, efficient and at times emotional although it was far less stressful or complicated than we initially expected. The classes were very informative and gave us a good understanding of what to expect and how to deal with possible issues. We also built a good network of friends who we still keep in contact with.

“We experienced a whirlwind of feelings when we met the girls for the very first time.”

This was followed by a two-week induction process where the girls gradually diverted attention away from their foster carers to us. It was heart-warming to see them getting closer to us day by day.

“Our lives are now fulfilled. The children are happy and thriving and our quality of life has improved as our focus and priorities have changed.”

To adopt you must be over 21, have lots of patience and be flexible.

You don’t have to be a homeowner, employed or be under 40 to adopt a child. Nor do you have to be married, be in a relationship, or heterosexual. Unmarried couples including same sex couples living together, who can evidence a stable relationship, may adopt as well as couples in a civil partnership and single people.

For more information ring the Luton Adoption Team on “We met the girls after attending a final adoption panel where approval 01582 54 78 04 or visit www.luton.gov.uk/adoption to adopt them was granted. This in itself was highly emotional.

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January/February 2015

www.familiesbedfordshire.co.uk

What's on Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since press deadline or if we got it wrong.

Please send events to be listed to: editor@familiesbedfordshire.co.uk JANUARY Saturday Selections Every Saturday until 21 February, 11am-1pm & 2-4pm Wardown Park Museum, Old Bedford Road, Luton Each week the museum will bring out objects for people to see and handle. Free Rhymetime Tuesdays 10.45 to 11.15 (term time) Story & Activity Time Wednesdays 10.45 to 11.30 (term time) Chill Out Club Thursdays 4 to 5pm (term time) 8 to 12 year olds welcome LEGO @ Dunstable Library Saturdays 10.45am- 11.45am Following a generous donation by the LEGO charity, LEGO is at home in Central Bedfordshire libraries allowing each library to start its own club.

Ages 5+. All the above events take place at Dunstable Library Bookstart Rhyme Time: Books to Touch Tuesday 6 January, 9.30-10am, Bury Park Library Tuesday 6 January, 9.30-10am, Leagrave Library Tuesday 6 January, 11-11.30am, Luton Central Library Tuesday 6 January, 2.15-2.45pm, Marsh Farm Library Wednesday 7 January, 9.30-10am, Stopsley Library Wednesday 7 January, 10.30-11am, Leagrave Library Wednesday 7 January, 2.15-2.45pm, Lewsey Library Thursday 8 January, 10.15-10.45am, Marsh Farm Library Thursday 8 January, 2.15-2.45pm, Stopsley Library To mark World Braille Day, rhymes and books to celebrate our sense of touch. Drop-In. Free.

Post Christmas Swap Shop Wednesday 7 January, 6pm-8pm Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine Swap shop night for unwanted, re-giftable items. More info: www.marstonvale.org Family Fun Time: Paddington Saturday 10 January, 11-11.45am. Luton Central Library Saturday 10 January, 2.15-3pm, Stopsley Library Saturday 17 January, 11-11.45am, Leagrave Library Saturday 17 January, 2.15-3pm, Marsh Farm Library Hear the original stories and enjoy Paddington's favourite treat; marmalade sandwiches are on us!

Drop-In. Free.

Frozen Craft Morning Saturday 17 January – all morning Barton Library The British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 17 January – 15 March Stockwood Discovery Centre, London Road, Luton Collection of winning and shortlisted photographs, featuring marine life, birds, British and exotic animals. Free Luton Art’14 Until Sunday 22 February Wardown Park Museum, Old Bedford Road, Luton An exhibition of works by local artists and selected from submissions to the Luton Art Competition.

Free

Exploring Expressionism Saturday 17 January, 2-4pm The Higgins, Castle Lane, Bedford Workshop for children with a strong interest in art.

Ages 9-13 years. £10 each.

More info: www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk John Bunyan Open Morning Saturday 24 January, from 10.30am on John Bunyan Museum, Mill Street, Bedford Chance to meet current volunteers and the Curator! Tel for more info: 01234 270303 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Sunday 25 January, 10.30am-2pm RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy Take part in the Big Lodge Birdwatch. Free but donations welcome. More info tel: 01767 680541 Spring Open Week Monday 26 January- Friday 30 January, 10am – 12 noon Polam School, Lansdowne Road, Bedford More info: www.polamschool.co.uk

Thursday 12 February, 4.45pm, Lewsey Library Will you be as helpful as Kazuno Kohara's little librarian? Children aged 3+ and their families.

Drop-In. Free Open Morning Friday 13 February, 9.30am-12 noon Beechwood Park School, Markyate www.beechwoodpark.net MK Model Railway exhibition Saturday 14 February from 10-4.30pm Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Stantonbury Arts & Leisure, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes See our competition to win tickets to the annual Model Railway exhibition.

More info: www.mkmrs.org.uk/exhibitions John Bunyan Re-opens Tuesday 17 February John Bunyan Museum, Mill Street, Bedford Tel for more info: 01234 270303 Arthur’s Dream Boat Tuesday 17 February, 2pm Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard A magical playful children's show with breath-taking puppets.

Box Office 0300 300 8125

National Storytelling Week: Ketchup on My Cornflakes Saturday 31 January, 11-11.45am, Leagrave Library Saturday 31 January, 2.15-3pm, Marsh Farm Library Tasty stories that start with your weird and Hockwell Ring Community Centre Playschemes wonderful food combinations. School aged children Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 February and their families. Drop-In. Free.

Hockwell Ring Community Centre, Mayne Avenue, Luton FEBRUARY For further details contact the centre on 01582 548 392 Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev) and In Time Sunday 1 February, 3pm Dinosaur and fairies fun morning Rosslyn Hill Chapel, 3 Pilgrims Place, Hampstead Thursday 19 February High St, Hampstead, London NW3 1NG Rufus Centre, Flitwick London Lawyers' Symphony Orchestra in Suitable for children aged 4-9. association with the Da Capo Music Foundation.

More info tel: 01525 631900 Tickets £5 on the door.

MK Dons visit Ridgmont Station!

Snow White Thursday 19 February Friday 6 February, 7.30pm & Saturday 7 February, Ridgmont Heritage Centre, The Railway Station, 2.30pm, 7.30pm Station Road, Ridgmont Totternhoe Lower School, Church Road, Get your photo taken, ask questions and meet a Totternhoe, Dunstable MK Dons first team player for a signing session.

Panto in aid of Luton and Dunstable Hospital More info: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. www.marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk To book tickets call David on 07870 100287.

Paddington (PG) National Libraries Day: Give a Book a Jacket Thursday 19 February, 2pm (Relaxed Screening) Saturday 7 February, 11am, Luton Central Library & Friday 20 February, 2pm Saturday 7 February, 2.15pm, Stopsley Library Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, Lake Street, Celebrate libraries and make a jacket for your Leighton Buzzard. Box Office 0300 300 8125 favourite book, to mark the start of Luton's Word Fest. Drop-In. Free Chinese New Year Friday 20-Saturday 21 February – all day Sochi Reunion Barton Library Saturday 7 February Celebrate Chinese New Year with crafts Snozone, Xscape Centre, Milton Keynes Meet and greet some of the Olympic athletes who Stuntfest made up Britain’s most successful winter Olympic Saturday 21 February, gates open from 10.30am.

Team ever! More info: www.snozone.co.uk Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough. Half-term family fun. More info: Little Howard's Big Show for Kids www.stuntfest.co.uk Sunday 8 February, 2.30pm Stantonbury Theatre, Stantonbury Campus, Milton Just For Kids - Soldiers School Keynes Live interactive animation show for ages Monday 23 February – Friday 27 February, 6+. More info: www.stantonburytheatre.co.uk 10am - 6pm Wrest Park, Silsoe, Luton, Bedfordshire, MK45 Public Tree Planting 4HR. Discover Wrest Park’s secret wartime past Sunday 8 February with this hands on experience of soldiers on the Forest of Marston Vale, Station Road, Marston front line. More info: www.english-heritMoretaine. Free buses will run between 10.45am age.org.uk/daysout/properties/wrest-park/ and 2.15pm from the Forest Centre to the planting site. More info www.marstonvale.org Family Fun Time: Stories of British Wildlife Saturday 28 February, 11am, Leagrave Library Bedtime Stories: The Midnight Library Saturday 28 February, 2.15pm, Marsh Farm Tuesday 10 February, 4.45pm, Leagrave Library Library. Enjoy stories of Britain's wildlife. School Wednesday 11 February, 4.45pm, Luton Central aged children and their families. Drop-In. Free

To advertise: 01727 373929

January/February 2015

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We are better together!

We need people from all walks of life, regardless of age, race, religion, sexuality or marital status to foster or adopt brothers and sisters who need to stay together.

Adoption and fostering changes lives.

Change your life for the better and their lives too! ls. detai e r o rm 7 5 6 9 fo 4 5 2 Call Luton A 8 5 1 doption and Fostering Services on 0

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