Families Hampshire North March April 2014

ISSUE 1 March/April 2014

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Spring time!

• Make a bee garden • Den building in the forest • Take Mum out for lunch ALSO INCLUDING: Mums in business, Prep school feature, What’s on & loads more…

The essential new magazine for families with young children in Andover, Basingstoke, Hook, Fleet, Alton, Bordon & surrounding areas

2014

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WIN

a kick start package for two from Airkix in Basingstoke, including a DVD of the flight!

The new Airkix at Basingstoke is the largest location and features four great activities.

You’re guaranteed smiles all round when you experience the thrill of skydiving!

To be in with a chance of winning, complete this sentence in 30 words or less: “I would like to fly at Airkix because…”

To enter, go to www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk/competitions.

Terms and conditions apply. Closing date is 31st March 2014.

WIN

a family ticket for Marwell Zoo!

From 23 May to 2 September, life-size animatronic dinosaurs will inhabit the quiet, leafy corner of Colden Common as part of Rise of the Dinosaurs, a world class event transforming the zoo into a Jurassic jungle.

Adventurers will be enthralled by awesome prehistoric creatures as they come to life, roaring or even spitting at anyone who dares to get near them. Intrepid visitors may even meet a living Velociraptor in the daily dinosaur show!

Visit marwell.org.uk to book tickets.

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There are TWO family tickets to be won. To be in with a chance of winning just answer this simple question: What kind of ‘living’ dinosaur can you meet at Marwell this summer?

A: T-Rex

B: Velociraptor

C: Stegosaurus

To enter, go to www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk/ competitions.

Terms and conditions apply. Closing date is 30th April 2014.

Tel: 01256 330147 editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

ISSUE 1 March/April 2014

Contents

orth ire N h s mp Ha

Welcome...

Welcome to the first issue of Families Hampshire North magazine! I am very proud to bring this much loved family magazine to our area and hope you will come to enjoy it as much as thousands of other families across the UK have done for nearly 25 years.

This first issue has a bit of everything just to whet your appetite, with Easter & Spring being the main themes, as well as things to do over the school holidays.

If you have any news, events or run a local business for families with young children, please get in touch with me. I’d also love to hear what you think of the new magazine so please drop me a line with any feedback.

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News

7

ums in M business

8 – 11 Childcare & Education

- Choosing your childcare - Nursery & school news - Prep schools feature: what are they & how do I choose the right one.

Chat again in May… Sara

12 – 13 Easter

www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

- The science of play - Make a bee garden

Contact details:

N is ex su t e

Editor: Sara Dawson Email: editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk Tel: 01256 330147

14 – 16 What’s on

- Things to do - Things to see

May/June – Parties special!

Booking & copy deadline is 1st April

Find us on Facebook and Twitter

familieshampshirenorth

Designed by:

@FamiliesHantsN

Families Hampshire North is part of a group established in 1990 headed by Families South West London. All magazines are independently owned and operated under licence.

www.designflavour.com

Cover by: Emma Dean dean.photography@btinternet.com and courtesy of Belinda & Robin Hunter.

Printed by: PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111

© All content copyright Families Hampshire North.

Disclaimer: We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Data protection: If you send us your name & address in order to enter a competition and subsequently win a prize, we will supply your details to the company offering the prize. If you would prefer us not to do this please state this on your entry.

Treat yourself to a week of feeling great with our

FREE SEVEN DAY PASS! Families Hampshire North is looking for distributors in the Hampshire North area. If you have a car, a few hours spare every two months and want to earn some extra money, please contact:

Sara Dawson on 01256 330147 or email editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

Cut out this pass and present it at your local sports centre to claim your

FREE WEEK OF FITNESS!!!

The Taro Leisure Centre

Alton Sports Centre

01730 263996

01420 540040

Penns Place, Petersfield

Chawton Park Road, Alton

Mill Chase Leisure Centre

Mill Chase Road, Bordon

01420 472549

7 DAY

FREE

GYM PASS At your local Leisure Centre

Includes Gym, Workout Classes and Swimming

www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 3

News A portrait in pastel of your pet How about a really special present for Mothering Sunday or Easter or for any occasion…

Local artist, Susie de Boinville (Greenwood), will do a portrait of your dog, cat or horse in pastel. She can work from photos but preferably from life, and guarantees a likeness or she will start again.

You can see examples of Susie’s work on her website www.susiedeboinville.co.uk Contact Susie on 07971 223976 or email susie_greenwood@yahoo.co.uk

New walking group in Basingstoke area looking for you!

If your New Year’s resolution was about getting fit and making friends, look no further.

The Walking Group was started in August 2013, a spin-off of Basingstoke Meetup Group, run by Anne Murrill (a born organiser!).

Open to anyone who wants to get fit, enjoy the outdoors and make friends. The group offers fortnightly walks on Sundays (5 - 8 miles) and weekly on varying days (3 - 5 miles), sometimes incorporating National Trust properties or similar. Each walk ends with a pub lunch/afternoon tea.

Anne has Public Liability Insurance and checks walks before posting on the website. There is no membership fee but Anne charges £2 per person for each walk.

For further information see www.meetup.com/The-WalkingGroup or you can contact Anne on 01256 811798 or anne. murrill@btinternet.com

Welcome to Liphook Methodist Church The Liphook Methodist Church in London Road is very proud of their new entrance that was created just over a year ago, which now gives a very welcoming view of the interior reflecting the welcoming nature of the congregation. It has enabled groups and meetings to be held in the foyer, including a Monday Hobbies Group, a Tuesday Ladies Group and there is even a Baby “Tiny Talk” signing meeting held on Thursday mornings. The hall at the back of the church is used daily by Little Cherubs Pre-school and there is a yoga evening class.

A youth group meets twice a month on Sunday evenings and young people participate in fun activities during the Sunday morning service once a month. There is a crèche facility with visual contact during services. For further information see www.liphookmethodist.org or email secretary@ liphookmethodist.org.

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Family Home Library Service - pilot in East Hampshire libraries Do you have a child with a disability and find it difficult to get to your local library? Family Home Library Service will match up local volunteers with families to deliver both adult and children’s books once a month free of charge.

This service is being piloted across East Hampshire libraries in 2014 and if successful would roll out to other areas across Hampshire in 2015.

For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Brenda Pullen at the Library Outreach Team on email Brenda.Pullen@ hants.gov.uk or mobile 07736 103424.

Men’s Weight Loss & Well-Being Group in Alton If you want to lose weight and keep it off, why not join the Men’s Weight Loss & Well-Being Group, who in a friendly atmosphere provide information, motivation and support.

Based at The Health Centre in Anstey Road, the group is supported by the Wilson Practice and its Patient’s Participation Group and has been running successfully for a number of years.

For more information see www.altonmensweightloss.org or email info@altonmensweightloss.org or call 01420 84758 / 84061.

Major new research into early detection of autism and ADHD is seeking babies…

The world-leading ‘Babylab’ at Birkbeck, University of London, is launching a new Europe-wide study of the early emergence of autism and ADHD. With over £2.5 million in funding, Professor Mark Johnson and his team are now embarking upon the Studying Autism and ADHD Risk in Siblings (STAARS) project, which will map brain development from birth in order to identify the earliest signs of these lifelong social communication and attention disorders. The research will focus on infants who have older siblings with autism or ADHD as these infants are at particularly high risk for these disorders.

Although parents may notice symptoms of these conditions from infancy, children are often not diagnosed until they are in nursery or school. Earlier diagnosis of these children would help make it possible to design earlier and more effective interventions that may prevent symptoms from developing, and improve the quality of life for individuals with autism/ADHD and their families.

Can you and your baby help? Expenses are paid and mothers we met said they spent a very special day with their child, which they really enjoyed.

To read more about the STAARS project and to take part go to www.staars.org.

Tel: 01256 330147 editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

News New range for Labels4Kids Labels4Kids have expanded the range on their new website with the introduction of another multi pack of labels. Want snap on tags and vinyl labels as well?

Then why not combine them with the new snappy school pack?

This gives you the advantage of vinyl waterproof labels for all your non-clothing items, two bag tags as well as re-applying snap on snappy tags etched with a name (and also a phone number if you wish). Other new lines include TSA luggage straps personalised with name, or cut and bagged sew-on labels which have the edges pre-sealed to stop fraying - no need to fold over the edges before sewing! Labels4Kids can cater for any of your requirements after the closure of Cash’s name tapes.

You can also ‘like’ the Labels4Kids Facebook page for competitions and more offers. Go to www.labels4kids.com/fam and use “pass” for 10% off.

Outdoor family fun at Alice Holt Forest Photo credit: Forestry Commission Picture Library

The Forestry Commission’s Alice Holt Forest is rapidly becoming one of the best visitor attractions in the South East for a great value, fun-filled family day out.

Located south of Farnham, just past Birdworld on the A325, the forest has something for everyone in the family. There are exciting playgrounds, a beginners’ cycle track, and a whole host of places to picnic or walk.

On Sunday 30th March, Alice Holt will be hosting another day of family fun for their Forest Discovery Day. Four legged friends are also invited to get their paws into a dog agility course and dog trainers will be on hand to give you top tips on managing your pet. Other family activities on offer will include sticks and clay, animal masks, minibeast hunting and more!

Over the Easter holidays, children’s activities include den building, Gruffalo Fun, campfire and food, and bushcraft. For parents needing help with childcare, Wild Learning Holiday Club will be operating from Mon 7th to Fri 11th April and Caterpillar Crafts will also be open for young people with a disability or additional needs.

For more information or to make bookings, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/aliceholt or call 01420 23666.

And something just for Dads on our website…

Read local Dad, Allan Dickhart’s lighthearted article about a camping holiday away with his children.

See www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk/articles/easterholidays-with-the-children

Explore the Alps in the summer…

Morzine, just on the French side of the Swiss French border and south of Lake Geneva, offers families a special experience. From walking to local mountain villages and tasting their local cheeses to a day out in a hot-air balloon or white-water rafting, Morzine has it all.

To top it all in summer there is a brilliant way to explore really cheaply – the summer Multi Pass costs just 2 euros a day, gives FREE mountain lifts, shuttle buses and other travel between resorts AS WELL AS free entry to many local attractions including Aquariaz, the new water park up in Avoriaz.

To experience the area at its best, call Paul and Francesca Eyre at Chilly Powder. Choose a self-catered chalet (with optional chef) – or join the Chilly Powder party next door at ‘Au Coin du Feu’ for dinners that you usually only dream of. With drinks in the bar – or in the Jacuzzi on the terrace – early evening meals for the children and a daytime crèche for little ones not quite so active as you, Paul and Francesca will make you wish that this was home!

See www.chillypowder.com - for more details about the Chilly Powder chalets and Paul and Fran’s ideas for great days out.

Book Review Animal Angst,

by Jan Jack Reviewed by Sara Dawson, Editor A delightful book of poetry for children, by Basingstoke based Jan Jack. With just enough sub-text and innuendo to amuse adults as well, the language used is simple for young children to understand, whilst also providing some of the more basic ‘earthy-ness’ that they find so amusing! Each poem features a particular animal as its theme, with lovely illustrations provided by Jim Barker.

My little girl thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially ‘Barney the Bee’, and I laughed out loud at ‘Calamity the Crocodile’!

Available on Amazon for £6.99 or see www.janjack.co.uk for more details.

www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 5

News What’s happening in March & April

What’s on for Mother’s Day

Real Nappy Week 2014

Mother’s Day Events – The Malls Shopping Centre, Basingstoke 29th & 30th March Special Arts & Crafts workshops in The Malls to make that special Mother’s Day gift, and entertainment and give-aways. Check www. themalls.co.uk/events for further details nearer the time.

Save the date for Real Nappy Week!

Taking place 28 April - 4 May this year, Real Nappy Week is all about celebrating reusables – for those who are already converted to cloth and those not yet tempted. Real nappies are now more popular than ever. They can save you upwards of £500 per child, are better for the environment, save on waste to landfill, are comfortable for your baby and, best of all, are super stylish.

Available in a range of fabrics, styles, patterns, designs and colours! See www.goreal.org.uk/real-nappy-week for more information.

World Book Day This year’s World Book Day hits the shelves on 6 March, and they need your help! Which books have changed your life? Which books thrill you, scare you, or make you laugh? Which books do your children devour again and again?

Nominate your favourites at www. worldbookday.com. World Book Day is the biggest celebration of books anywhere, with millions and millions of book tokens given out, great free books for kids plus events taking place in schools, libraries and bookshops. Don’t miss out – register online to keep up to date with the exciting Big Booky Events and to get your free books.

Mother’s Day at Basing House – Basing House, Basingstoke 30th March Celebrate Mother’s Day at Basing House, where children can make a willow butterfly or dragonfly and also decorate gingerbread biscuits.

11am to 4pm – last entry 3pm. Adult £5.10. Children (5-15 yrs) £4.10.

Under 5s free. Small fee for biscuit activity. www.hants.gov.uk/basing-house Mother’s Day Madness Craft Fair – The Vyne, Basingstoke 30th March Have a look around the gift stalls selling special treats for mothers, many of which will be handmade.

From jewellery to skincare, there will something to suit all tastes. Children are invited to make a daffodil card to give to their mother on this special day (suggested donation £2).

Normal admission charges apply. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne Mothering Sunday Lunch – Audley’s Wood Hotel, Basingstoke 30th March Treat your mother to a lovely traditional lunch for Mothering Sunday. Adults £23.95 and children under 12 yrs £11.97. Includes a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a three-course lunch.

To make a reservation contact Jenni Clarke on 01256 693036 or jclarke@ handpicked.co.uk or see www. handpickedhotels.co.uk/hotels/ audleys-wood-hotel-basinsgtoke.

Afternoon Tea – West Green House Gardens, Hartley Wintney 30th March On this special day take a stroll through the carpet of early spring bulbs in the Lakefield, and then indulge your mother with a traditional afternoon tea served in the flower filled Green Houses.

Pre booking is essential. £27 per head. Small children’s menu £6.

For further details and to book call 01252 844611 or email enquiries@ westgreenhouse.co.uk or visit www.westgreenhouse.co.uk

NCT - Hants North East Nearly New Sale 5th April – Courtmoor School, Fleet 10.15am to 11.30am – 10am entrance for members with valid membership card. £1 entry donation.

Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal Marie Curie wants everyone to wear one of the charity’s iconic daffodil pins this March. All money raised from the Great Daffodil Appeal will help Marie Curie Nurses to provide more free nursing care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes or one of the charity’s hospices. For further information please call 0845 601 3107 (local rate) or visit www.mariecurie. org.uk/daffodil.

Mothering Sunday Mother’s Day takes place on 30 March this year, so it’s time to treat your mother - or for your little ones to treat you! Perhaps you’d like a lie in and breakfast in bed, a day at the spa, afternoon tea or a trip to the theatre? Or perhaps what you’d really love is a day to spend time with your loved ones. Across the country many museums, National Trust properties and stately homes are running Mother’s Day events, so why not plan a special day with your family this March?

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NCT – Alton & Bordon Nearly New Sale 15th March – Alton Maltings Centre, Alton 2pm to 3.30pm – 1.45pm entrance for members with valid membership card.

Bumps & Babes Every Thursday – Bushy Leaze Children’s Centre, Alton. 10am to 12 noon.

Happy Daze Baby & Toddler Group Every Tuesday – Alton Maltings Centre, Alton. 9.30am to 11.30am. £1.50 per family.

Baby & Toddler First Aid Course 18th March – Alton Maltings Centre, Alton. 6.50pm to 9.30pm. £25 or £40 for couples. Booking is essential.

For more details or to book call Barbara on 01420 541576 or altonbordonnct@googlemail.com.

NCT - Basingstoke Nearly New Sale 15th March – Queen Mary’s College, Basingstoke 1.15pm to 3pm – 1pm entrance for members with valid membership card.

Relax and Stretch with Baby Every Tuesday – Brookvale Village Hall, Basingstoke. 10.30am to 12 noon. A unique and fun exercise for after pregnancy. The programme is designed for mother & baby.

Contact Libby on 01256 350420 or rswb@basingstokenct.org.uk.

Tel: 01256 330147 editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

Bumps, Babies & Toddler Stay and Play Every Wednesday – Footsteps Nursery, Farnborough Every Thursday – Turners Wood Children’s Centre, Elvetham Heath NCT – Camberley & Yateley Nearly New Sale 26th April – Kings International College, Camberley 10.30am – 10.15am entrance for members with valid membership card.

Adults £1 entrance fee.

Contact your local NCT branch for more details or see www.nct.org.uk

Baby & Children’s Market - Nearly New Sales 16th March – The Key Centre, Elvetham Heath, Fleet – 2pm to 4pm. £1 admission fee – children free. Free parking available. Contact suehopkins@babyandchildrensmarket. co.uk 22nd March - The Hurst Community Centre, Baughurst, Tadley - 2pm to 4pm. Contact tom@ babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk.

See www.babyandchildrensmarkets. co.uk for more information or future dates

Mums in business

We talk to local mums running their own business who share their experiences with you as well as some of their favourite places!

Emma Vallis – My Tiny Gallery Emma lives in Basingstoke and is mum to Maddie 16, Bella 13 and Rosa 10, and produces artwork for babies, children and families. She started to draw and paint 9 years ago when her children were tiny and soon found she was getting requests for commissions. The explosion of social media turned things from a hobby to a full time job!

Emma believes it is vital to connect with other local craftspeople, and a lot of her local work comes via word of mouth, which makes networking essential. Emma recommends The Athena Network run locally by Petra Read, for this.

Emma loves being able to work from home and finds managing her diary around her children invaluable. The down side however is that

Marie Travell – Rainbow Cakes Marie has been running Rainbow Cakes for 2 ½ years now. She lives in Sherfield-on-Loddon in Basingstoke, with her husband, two young daughters, and two cats. She also works part time for an accountancy firm.

Marie started out by making cakes for her children’s birthdays and it all took off from there really. She makes all sorts of cakes now and also runs cake decorating classes at the local community centre.

Marie enjoys that her business fits in perfectly with family life even though that means the odd late night!

Marie and her family love living in Sherfield-on-Loddon and enjoy

Helen Molyneux – Colourful Dove Helen lives in Fleet with her husband and five year old girls, and is the founder of Colourful Dove. When her girls started using tableware she couldn’t find anything colourful and bright and so decided to design some and get it made, and Colourful Dove was born!

Helen enjoys the flexibility of being able to work when it suits her family and loves the variety of challenges that running a business involves. The best advice Helen was given when she started her business is to trust your instincts, and she feels this advice has served her well. One thing Helen says she might do differently would be to carry on working for longer before going full time on the business to ease the financial burden.

Helen and her family have lived in Fleet for 10 years and have a number of favourite places. They enjoy picnics at the Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, and walking their dog in Oakley Park. A favourite shop of Helen’s is W C Bakers and Sons which is a really old fashioned hardware shop which always has just what

she can end up working evenings and weekends to catch up. Her best advice is to ‘under-plan’ your diary, as there is always something that crops up with children which means you have to change plans at the last minute!

A favourite place of Emma’s to drop into for coffee and cake is the new café and makery, Aristology, at the Proteus Creation Station in Basingstoke, which she says is a lovely space for mums to meet with their little ones.

Emma’s advice to anyone starting their own business would be to have a strong presence on social media; start by building a free page with some great photos and keep on networking it!

Emma’s website is www.mytinygallery.co.uk or she is happy to be contacted on 07704 878275.

trips to the park and walking in the countryside, especially blackberry picking in the autumn! Marie’s youngest daughter attends Theatre 4 Kids which she says has really helped her confidence, whilst her eldest enjoys ballet and is going to be the next Darcey Bussell! They also enjoy going to Wagamamas which has a lovely children’s menu.

Marie’s advice to anyone starting their own business is to plan where you’re going and how you might get there. Also don’t expect to please everyone as that isn’t possible!

Marie’s website is www.rainbowcakes.biz or contact her on rainbow.cakes@ rocketmail.com.

she needs; her daughters have fun attending French lessons at Fun Francais with Ann; and a favourite family restaurant is El Castello which serves great Italian food!

Helen’s advice to anyone considering starting their own business is to choose something you love doing as you’ll be spending every waking hour obsessing over it!

Helen’s website is www.colourfuldove. com or contact her on hello@colourfuldove.

Returning to work?

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I have 15 years experience as a successful career and small-business coach & trainer.

Contact me for a free chat Graeme Cooper Email: gcooper@bluecrystalcoaching.co.uk Tel: 01256 460 407 Mobile: 07960 533 854

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www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

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Childcare & Education Choosing your childcare Childcare costs are increasing – but it’s quality that matters the most for any parent.

Joanna Moorhead looks at what option might suit you best, plus what’s new in 2014.

According to a recent survey from findababysitter.com, childcare costs are soaring – up by 19% over the last year.

Every parent knows that what matters most about any sort of childcare is its quality – it’s vital that your child is safe, happy and in a stimulating environment while you’re at work – but the money matters too. So what are the factors you need to take into account when you’re choosing childcare?

A nanny might suit you if... *You’re a reasonably high earner – nannies can be expensive, though they’re a lot more affordable if you share them with another family. *You work irregular hours. That’s because you can pay a nanny to work the hours you work, whereas a nursery or childminder will be less flexible about time. *You have two or more children, because you’ll pay your nanny for her time, not for the number of children she’s looking after. *You have quite rigorous ideas about how you want your child looked after. You can be a lot more prescriptive as a parent with a nanny than you can with a nursery or childminder.

A childminder might suit you if... *You work part-time or are not a high earner (childminders are usually the bestvalue option).

*You have two or more children and would like them to see a lot of each other through the day. *You like the idea of another mother caring for your child – most childminders are mothers themselves.

A nursery might suit you if... *You have an only child or this is your youngest child – because a nursery will give him or her plenty of opportunities to play with other children. *Your child is not a small baby, and so may benefit particularly from the organised activities a nursery can offer. *You like the idea of a setting where events are regulated in a way that involves a lot of carers, rather than just one.

What’s happening in 2014?

Childcare is always a political hot potato – and with a General Election looming in just over a year’s time, politicians are saying more and doing more about it. Here’s what’s new on the childcare horizon: *From September this year, more twoyear-olds will be offered 15 hours of free childcare each week, because the eligibility criteria are being expanded. See your local authority website for more information – they’ll be publishing full details of who’s eligible and how to find a place. *Free universal childcare for all pre-school children is being promised by Labour in

their election manifesto. *The new tax-free childcare scheme comes into effect from 2015. Under that, parents will be able to claim 20% of the cost of registered childcare up to £1,200 per child per year. Both parents must be working to qualify, or a single parent must be in employment. *Last year’s report from the Department of Education that proposed making changes to the child to staff ratios in nurseries and for childminders was shelved, but the government has consulted on relaxing ratios and quality criteria for out-of-school childcare with the aim of making it easier for schools to offer provision. At the moment the issue is with the Department for Education, and an announcement is expected soon. *Under the Children and Families Bill, currently going through Parliament, Ofsted will be made ‘the sole arbiter of quality’. This means that local authorities will not be able to impose their own quality conditions on providers who offer childcare under the existing scheme offering free places for three and four year olds (provided these providers are not rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted). Some parents will see this as a good thing, as it could lead to a wider choice of providers; or they might see it as a bad thing, as local authorities will be able to do less to force child-carers to improve their services.

Organisations offering advice and information on childcare include: Childcare.co.uk is an online social networking platform for parents, childcare providers and private tutors. www.childcare.co.uk

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The Family and Childcare Trust is a campaigning organisation with a helpful bank of information for parent. www.familyandchildcare trust.org

The Pre-school Learning Alliance is England’s largest early years membership organisation. www.pre-school.org.uk

Tel: 01256 330147 editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

Working Families aims to help parents and carers achieve a work-life balance. www.workingfamilies.org.uk

Childcare & Education King’s Furlong Infant School & UNICEF’s Day for Change 2014 As a Rights Respecting School, children at King’s Furlong Infant School in Basingstoke were really excited about raising money to support UNICEF’s Day for Change on 7th February. The focus of this year’s Day for Change was Education and every child’s right to go to school. King’s Furlong children, aged 4 to 7 years, learned all about schools in different countries and the reasons why some children may not be able to go to school.

Teachers also introduced pupils to the concept of Fairtrade products - and to raise money for UNICEF they held a ‘Fairtrade Café’ in the hall which raised £130! Each class made cakes and biscuits in school to sell on the day & parents enjoyed a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee. Teachers, children and parents all agreed it was a great way to learn about the world and global citizenship!

ADVERTISE in THIS SPACE Contact Sara Dawson on 01256 330147 or email

editor@ familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

Mud, Glorious Mud at St Neot’s School!

Pupils at St Neot’s School have been making the most of the wet weather in the woods surrounding their outdoor classroom. After making boats out of materials found in the woods, the children tested their creations in the muddy puddles, stamping to create huge waves! One happy child said ‘this is the best fun ever,’ whilst another beamed cheekily as he gave teacher a very muddy high five!

Co-Head, Peter Withers explained: ‘With so much learning taking place inside the classroom it is exciting to see the children putting important skills to use through hands on experiences such as this. They used problem solving skills, team work, imagination, and a huge range of vocabulary that can only come from doing, touching and feeling.’

The Sports Pavilion, Herriard Green, RG25 2PD Little Crickets is a small private nursery school set in a rural location serving the villages in the area.

The woodland classroom is part of an outdoor enrichment zone which also includes a mountain bike track, traversing wall and challenge activity stations, and the school has plans to develop this further.

Early Years funding is available.

With well qualified staff and a high staff/pupil ratio we aim to provide a wonderful start to your child’s education.

Maria Lloyd and Peter Withers took over as co-Heads in September 2013 and were delighted to receive an outstanding EYFS report earlier this year, following the school’s inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Contact: Nicky Van der Gucht Email:littlecrickets.herriard@gmail.com Tel:01256 384114 www.littlecricketsherriard.co.uk

Maria Lloyd commented: ‘This outstanding report is testament to the hard work of both staff and pupils. We are delighted that the inspectors recognised not just the high standards of education in the school but the warmth and caring nature of the community within it.’ www.st-neots-prep.co.uk

Piccolo Pre-school Nursery celebrates Chinese New Year On the 31st January Piccolo Pre-school, in Sherborne St. John, celebrated the Chinese New Year, the year of the Horse. Children listened to the story about the Chinese New Year, made hats which they modelled to their parents, and also enjoyed seeing their names written in another language. Parents also had the chance to watch the children dance the Chinese Dragon dance to Chinese music which was brought in specially by one of the other parents.

Piccolo is inclusive of all cultures and their festivals.

By celebrating the differences of the children who come to the setting, children are encouraged to learn, respect and value other people’s cultures and celebrations. For more information see www.piccolopsn.com.

Petersfield Rd, Greatham, Hampshire Tel: 01420 538893 greathamvillagenursery@yahoo.co.uk Private Nursery School Identified with OFSTED as ‘OUTSTANDING’ Quality care and Education 3 months – 5 years Open from 8am – 6pm for 48 weeks of the year.

Flexible sessions available.

www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 9

Childcare & Education Does splitting school PE lessons damage girls?

Teachers should stop separating boys and girls in school sports because it is fuelling gender prejudice in later life, an academic has warned. Dr Sian Lawson of Northumbria University believes that PE should be genderneutral, with girls playing rugby and boys tackling netball. ‘There is no physical reason to view girls as more fragile when given the same level of exercise,’ says Dr Lawson. ‘If we aspire to believe in individual variation over stereotyping, and equality of opportunity, then why not let our children start with that?’ She adds that the controlled environment of the school playing field is the ‘best opportunity these potential adults have to learn to respect each other’. However Chris McGovern, a former independent school headmaster and chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, says, ‘There are clear physiological differences between boys and girls. It’s possible to mix them in the early primary years but, common sense to split them when they get older and you’re having full-blown tackles in rugby and football, because boys are stronger. It’s an absurd idea and will horrify parents.’

New home for Tweseldown Infant School Tweseldown Infant School is due to move to a new site on the Queensacre development (formerly known as Queen Elizabeth Barracks), off Sandy Lane, in September 2014. They will be situated in the heart of the new growing community of Church Crookham, benefiting from a major new build, which will provide them with the best possible facilities to meet the demands of education in the 21st Century.

Local Preparatory School Open Days Alton Convent Prep School (for girls), Anstey Lane, Alton Tel. 01420 82070 www.altonconvent.org.uk Open days: 14th March 9.30am to 12 noon; 17th May 10am to 1pm Churcher’s College Junior School, Midhurst Rd, Liphook Tel. 01730 236870 www. churcherscollege.com Open day: 17th May 9.30am to 1pm Farleigh School, Red Rice, Andover Tel. 01264 710766 www.farleighschool.com Open day: 15th March

St Neot’s School, Eversley, Hook Admissions: 01189 739650 ww.st-neots-prep.co.uk Open days: 21st March & 9th May 9.30am to 11.30am • Outstanding Early Years ISI Inspection • Outdoor Learning zone with Forest school and Challenge activity stations • Small class sizes with classroom assistants up to Year 4 • Strong pupil, parent and staff community • Proven academic success • Co-educational, 3 months to 13 years • Day school with Boarding options

Rookwood School – Paddock Prep, Weyhill Rd, Andover Tel. 01264 325912 www.rookwood.hants.sch.uk Open days: 7th May & 25th September 9.30am to 12.30pm Yateley Manor, Reading Rd, Yateley Tel. 01252 405500 www.yateleymanor.com Open day: 15th March 10am to 12 noon Open day dates not available at time of going to press – contact the school for details: Daneshill School, Stratfield Turgis, Hook Tel. 01256 882707 www.daneshillprepschool.com

St Nicholas’ School, Redfields Lane, Church Crookham Tel. 01252 850121 www.st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk

Highfield School, Highfield Lane, Liphook Tel. 01428 728000 www.highfieldschool.org.uk

The Grey House School, Mount Pleasant, Hartley Wintney Tel. 01252 842353 www.greyhouseschool.com

Sherfield Prep School, Sherfield-on-Loddon, Hook Tel. 01256 884800 www.sherfieldschool.co.uk

Teachers’ pay could skyrocket A new performance-related system of pay for teachers could see their salaries rise to £70,000 within 5 years of qualifying, according to a report by thinktank Policy Exchange. Under a new time-based system the best performing teachers could earn higher wages in a shorter period of time, although Policy Exchange does recommend that evaluations should be based on several measures, not just test or exam scores. ‘We want to treat teachers like professionals,’ says Jonathan Simons, head of education at Policy Exchange. ‘Teaching is one of the most important jobs in this country. Yet for too long we have been running systems that seem to suggest exactly the opposite - treating teachers the same in how we recruit, train, develop, appraise and pay them, regardless of their performance.’ However Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union which fiercely opposes the scheme, is concerned that however hard a teacher works and however well they perform, there is no guarantee of any pay progression. The good news is that this new Government scheme could attract more graduates to the profession, driving up the quality of teaching in schools across the country.

10

Book your place at our

OPEN MORNING

Friday 21�� March 2014 & Friday 9�� May 2014 9.30 am - 11.30 am Tel: 0118 9739650

Outs ta Early nding Year s IS Insp I ectio n

ST NEOT'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL A World of Opportunity

•Co-Educational, 3 Months - 13 Years • Eversley, Hook, Hants., RG27 0PN •

Tel: 01256 330147 editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

www.st-neots-prep.co.uk

Childcare & Education

Prep schools: what are they and how do I choose the right one?

By Ellen Arnison

What are they?

Traditionally a preparatory school was where children went to ‘prepare’ to go to one of the major British public schools, working up to them sitting the Common Entrance exam at 13. However, while that picture still exists in some cases, the situation now varies widely.

Broadly, there are two kinds of prep school – one where the children leave at 11, perhaps after an 11+ exam, and one where the children sit the Common Entrance exam then leave at 13.

Some prep schools adhere to the National Curriculum but they are not bound to, which can give them freedom to offer a broader and more varied curriculum.

There isn’t always an entrance exam for prep schools, in many cases the school will just want to interview you and your child, perhaps inviting him or her to spend a ‘taster’ session in class.

This also allows teaching staff to observe how your child fits in.

So how do I choose the right one?

In some cases youngsters attend a prep school until they reach their 11+ exam and then transfer to a local grammar school.

The smaller classes and more focussed attention in a prep school can improve their chances, which appeals to parents who think their child may not get what they require from the nearby state primaries.

The decision is easier when you look to the end destination – the senior school – and work backwards. Your decision will be narrowed by considering if there is a school attached to your preferred secondary and what kinds of criteria they use to select pupils.

Traditionally boys attended prep schools up to age 13, either to sit the Common Entrance exam (part of the admissions process for academically selective secondary schools) and then to move on elsewhere, or to graduate to the attached senior school almost automatically. However, girls as well as boys now attend prep school on this basis as across the board the trend is to move from single-sex education to co-ed.

• D oes the school fit the basic requirements of you and your child in terms of gender, day and/or boarding, religious denomination, curriculum and location?

But it isn’t just about the exams, in both cases the prep schools can provide far more, including a wide range of sports and more specialised subjects, which the pupils will benefit from as they move through their education.

However, the range of places to ensure the best for your children is enormous, and the decision about whether or not to use a prep school, and which one is best, can seem bewildering.

There are more than 1,000 prep schools in the UK taking children to 11 and 13. Traditionally they are boarding schools but nowadays many parents chose to send their children daily.

Equally some prep schools will be part of ‘all-through’ schools catering for from the age of three up to 18 and some will be attached to a senior school.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• D oes it meet your educational objectives in terms of offering the exams your child will need to sit?

• Do you like the ethos of school?

• How big are the classes?

• What is the school’s approach to discipline and rules?

• What did the most recent inspection report say?

• What are the pastoral care facilities like?

• D oes the school offer the facilities you would like to see, such as for sport, music or drama?

• Does the school give value for money for what you want?

We asked two local prep schools to comment:

“Small classes ensure that every child is noticed. Children can develop their own personalities and strengths; they are supported yet challenged every step of the way.”

Head of Prep Dept Anne Wilson, Alton Convent School.

“One of the great features of our school is the supportive, collaborative process it provides to parents helping them identify the right Senior School for their child. We take great pride in our flawless track record of securing every child’s place at their first choice Senior School.”

Phillip Evitt, Headmaster of Highfield School, Liphook.

www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 11

Easter

As the Easter break comes upon us, many parents will be thinking about how to entertain their children. Dr David Whitebread at Cambridge University shares his views on what constitutes effective play and tackles some of the myths and misconceptions around the types of play children engage in today.

The Science of Play

By Dr David Whitebread, Senior Lecturer in the Psychology of Education, Cambridge University Dr Whitebread is supporting National Science and Engineering Week, which aims to raise awareness of the important role science has in many aspects of our lives. A whole host of scientific topics will be explored during the Week, which takes place from 14th to 23rd March. Adults and children alike can attend free events across the UK in a range of fun environments. To find out about these events and how you can take part, visit www.britishscienceassociation.org/NSEWevents

Different types of play Physical play • M ost parents would recognise that physical play (such as running, climbing and gymnastics) helps a child develop their whole body and hand-eye co-ordination and is important in building strength and endurance. But it also provides a crucial means for children to develop their emotional intelligence.

• E ncouraging children to get physical isn’t just about letting them loose outside, it’s also about creating opportunities at home. So encouraging play through things like craft activities, helps children with their fine motor skills, essential when it comes to learning to write and even playing musical instruments. Due to their absorbing

nature, it has even been shown to help children develop their concentration and perseverance skills. reate an obstacle course in the garden. Create time targets and C challenges (ie do the course on just one leg!). Give craft activities a purpose, for example, create posters for an Easter egg hunt or party.

Play with objects • T ouching, sorting, building and making objects encourages children to organise their thinking and helps them learn how to solve problems. Children have to pick the right strategy to complete the task, and then stay on track to complete it. Creativity comes in here, as does the use of language, as children often talk to themselves when they broach these tasks as a way of organising their thoughts.

Get your children to build their own skyscraper. Arm them with different materials to build at home or in the garden.

Symbolic play • A rtistic activities such as drawing, dance, and even developing silly rhymes, gives children the opportunity to develop their language and interpretation skills as they start to decode what is going on around them. It can even make them nicer! A study in 2010 of almost 100 four year-olds found that children who take part in music making were more likely to show cooperative and helpful behaviour.

Get your children to create their own music compilation for their best friend or family member. Encourage them to add their own tracks for that special touch.

Pretend play • P retend play can have a serious side too. Dressing up, playing with dolls and miniature figures gives children the chance to rehearse some of the scenarios they already see or might face in their future life, whether it’s expressing how to care for someone (such as their favourite doll) or tackling aggressive situations.

Make a challenge to act like a member of their family, or their favourite TV character for a day. It might be their mum, Homer Simpson, or Daddy Pig!

Playing with rules • W e live by rules and playing by the rules in sports, board games, card games and computer games helps children adjust to the reality that they cannot always do, say, or act how they wish to.

Late night Friday Activities - 21st February Easter Holiday

HANDS-ON FUN 100 hands-on exhibits & the UK’s largest digital planetarium

Tel 01962 863 791 - Winchester SO21 1HZ Open 7 days a week www.winchestersciencecentre.org 12

• T he use of electronic and computer games by today’s children is another particular area of anxiety for parents and teachers. Too much screen time obviously prevents your child from doing the range of other activities that is beneficial to them, so keep these tech tools in your armoury, but keep time restricted on use. There is some evidence that well-designed videogames can enrich play resources for children and their families.

Many parents are concerned about videogame overuse but the key is to make it interactive. So get involved! Challenge them to their favourite game in return for them participating in an activity of your choice.

National Science & Engineering week takes place from 14th to 23rd March. See www.britishscienceassociation.org/nationalscience-engineering-week for more details.

Tel: 01256 330147 editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

Easter

Make a Bee Garden

by Robin Dean, The Red Beehive Company (redbeehive.office@btinternet.com) Of all the insects that visit our gardens, none are more iconic and important to us than bees, and they come in a surprising range of sizes, colours and shapes. Honey and bumble bees are instantly recognizable to most of us as they buzz around, but how many of us could identify some of the other species of bee?

so therefore don’t have anything to defend. This makes them really docile and perfectly safe to have around children and pets.

Whether we can identify them or not, one thing is common to all species, and that is they all need our help. Most bees would just like a little nectar and pollen, and a lovely Easter holiday project would be to plant up a “Bee Garden”. There are a number of plants to choose from that are robust and require minimum care, beyond a drink of water now and again, and will do splendidly in a small window box, planter or large pot. Snowdrops, Crocus, Primrose and Bluebells (remember Bluebells are protected, so don’t go digging them up from a local woodland area!) all make for a spectacular spring display. Rosemary, Sage and Lavender are also highly attractive to bees, and chives have flowers to tempt them - as well as making a tasty contribution to the kitchen! A Catnip plant or two will keep your cat happy, as well as the having the local bees dropping in for a nectar and pollen snack.

• Y ou will need some bamboo (around 1.5cm in diameter), string or garden wire, and a small saw (to cut the bamboo).

Now you have given them some food, why not make a bee hotel as well. For those of you concerned about encouraging bees to live in the garden, don’t be. Bees that live in bee hotels are solitary bees, and unlike the social bees (honey and bumble bees) don’t make honey

Tempted to have a go? Send a photo of your completed bee gardens to editor@ familieshampshirenorth.co.uk and we’ll put them up on the website as inspiration to others!

School holidays at Alice Holt Forest

Gruffalo Fun in the ‘Deep Dark Woods’

From a secret camp deep in the woods, venture out to try den building, fire making, tracking and stalking, mud sculptures and much more. For more details and booking visit www.wild-learning. net. Suitable for ages 5 yrs+.

10.15am to 4pm. £37.50 per day.

There’s no such thing as a Gruffalo. Or is there? Join in for some Gruffalotastic games and crafts in the deep dark wood. For 3-7 yrs. 10.30am to 12 noon and 2pm to 3.30pm. £6 per child.

10th & 17th April Brilliant Bushcraft with Nigel Grab yourself some bushcraft skills – food round the campfire, marshmallows, den building and a whole lot more! For more information and to book call 01420 47608, visit www. wildernesswatch.co or email caroline.netley@sky.com. For 8 yrs+. 11am to 2pm. £12 per child.

• T ake the bundle out into the garden and find a secure place to fasten your bee hotel to. The open ends should face anywhere between east and south to get the early morning sun, with a clear flight path into the hotel.

5th April to 21st June Photo credit: Forestry Commission Picture Library

Wild Learning Holiday Club Adventure Camp

This is real self-build in action.

Rangers will show youngsters safe ways to get started, and then rate the dens on structure, style and waterproofing! For ages 8 yrs+. 10am to 12 noon. £8 per child.

• B ind the bamboo pieces together with the string or garden wire, with the open ends all facing in the same direction.

Easter Eggstravagansa – Finkley Down Farm, Andover

10th & 15th April

Den Building

• C ut the bamboo into 15cm lengths, cutting each piece just before a node to give you a hollow tube with a natural sealed end.

Easter Egg Trails!

7th to 11th April

9th April

To construct your bee hotel:

16th April Weather Lore and Fun Forecasting Learn about weather lore. Collect forest materials to make your own fun weather forecasters and investigate how weather over the years has affected the trees in the forest. For adults & children 8 yrs+.

10.30am to 12 noon. £6 p/p.

Great time to visit the farm with lambs, calves and baby rabbits to see. Follow the Easter Egg Trail and win a prize.

Mon to Sun 10am to 6pm. Adults £7.95, children (2-16 yrs) £6.95. Saver ticket £27.50. www.finkleydownfarm.co.uk Easter Eggstravaganza – The Vyne, Basingstoke 20th & 21st April Follow the trail around the grounds and find your reward. Every child gets the prize of a Cadbury chocolate egghead. Eggs are given out on a first-come first-served basis.

Normal admission charges apply, plus £2 for the trail. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne Easter Lambing – Manydown Farm, Basingstoke 29th March to 21st April Have an egg-cellent time at Manydown Easter Lambing!

Newborn lambs to meet, and Easter chicks and bunnies to cuddle at the animal handling sessions. Easter arts & crafts, and an Easter Egg Woodland Trail!

Campfire & Food

Opening times & prices not available at time of going to press.

Learn essential camp skills – fire lighting and tasty cooking. Join Ranger Nigel for an outdoor forest lunch. Ages 8 yrs+. 2pm to 4pm. £8 per child.

See www.manydownfamilyfun.co.uk for updated information.

Booking is essential for all activities & events at Alice Holt.

Call 01420 23666 or see www.forestry.gov.uk/aliceholt.

www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 13

WHat’s ON Things to do…

Disco Skate

Art Pick ‘n’ Mix

The Harlington, Fleet, GU51 4BY

10th April - The Allen Gallery, Alton, GU34 2BW

21st March Brand new event for 2014. The Harlington have combined with DISCO SKATE to bring you roller disco nights once a month.

Family session 6pm to 8pm. £6.50 per person inc. skate hire. www.discoskate.co.uk

Who am I? Curtis Museum, Alton, GU34 1BA and Willis Museum, Basingstoke, RG21 7QD 5th to 20th April Self-led trail. Follow the trail and see if you can piece together the life of a local Victorian!

Tue to Fri 10am to 5pm; Sat 10am to 4pm. Admission Free www.hants.gov.uk/curtismuseum or www.hants.gov.uk/ willis-museum

Holiday Activity Weeks 7th to 11th and 14th to 17th April Giving children between the ages of 5 and 12 a great time during their school holidays in a healthy, positive and safe environment.

Activities include football, arts & crafts, cooking, bouncy castle….

15th April - Andover Museum, Andover, SP10 1DP Create your own masterpiece using a variety of mixed media.

Facilitated family session.

10.30am to 12 noon and 2pm to 3,30pm. £2.50 per person. Advanced booking is recommended. www.hants.gov.uk/allen-gallery or www.hants.gov.uk/andovermuseum

Amazing Creature Carving Basingstoke Discovery Centre, Basingstoke, RG21 7BD 12th April Penguins made from aubergines!

Whatever next? Team up with professional fruit carvers, Carving Magic, for a workshop to remember. Parents/guardians must remain with any children attending the workshop, which lasts one hour. Price includes all materials. For ages 7 yrs+. £10 per child. Booking advised.

Contact 01256 478670 or see www.hants.gov.uk/bsdc for more details.

National Trust – The Vyne,

Spinning a YarnWeaving Story

Vyne Rd, Basingstoke, RG24 9HL

Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch, RG28 7AL

World Book Day Grand Sale!

3rd to 9th March To celebrate World Book Day The Vyne will be holding a grand sale of their collection of rare books.

Prices of the books will range from £10 to £300 depending on the book! Pop along and see if you can find a real treasure.

Normal admission charges apply.

Open Mon to Sun. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne

The Big Tree Climb 6th & 13th April As part of the ’50 things to do before you’re 11 and ¾’ The Vyne brings you The Great Big Tree Climbing Company. Reach new heights in a huge tree on the North Lawn. Full instruction given whilst being securely harnessed.

Suitable for ages 6 yrs+.

Easter Holidays Pop along to The Vyne during the Easter Holidays for a whole host of ’50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ fun!

Normal admission charges apply.

Open Mon to Sun. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne

The Games We Played Exhibition The Allen Gallery, Alton, GU34 2BW

www.supersportz.co.uk

Until 29th March A nostalgic exhibition exploring some of the most popular (and some less well-known) board and card games from the 1920s through to the 1970s.

Open Tue to Sat. 10.30am to 4pm. Entry free. www.hants.gov.uk/allen-gallery.

we

Easter...

Exciting forest activities for all ages.

Gruffalo Fun, Den Building, Weather Lore, Campfire and Food, plus more!

Forest Discovery Day Sunday 30 March

fo at: More in

forestry.gov. uk/gruffalo 14

Booking essential call 01420 23666 forestry.gov.uk/aliceholt Alice Holt Forest

Exhibition. Janet Steer has been on a journey investigating storytelling, drawing parallels with walking and expressing her ideas using the rich vocabulary of cloth-spinning a yarn and weaving a story.

Tuesday to Sunday 10.30am to 5pm. Adults £4.50. Children (5-16 yrs) £2.50. Family £10. www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

A Family Affair Art Exhibition Andover Museum, Andover, SP10 1DP 29th March to 10th May This exhibition is brought to you

by John Randall, his sister Anne Taplin, and his nephew Paul Whitefield.

Tue to Fri, 10am to 5pm; Sat, 10am to 4pm. Free admission www.hants.gov.uk/andovermuseum

7th to 21st April

Things to see…

Venues: Greenfields Junior School, Hartley Wintney - Alton Convent School, Alton - Alton Sports Centre, Alton.

4th March to 31st May

Owls by Moonlight Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, SP11 8DY Until late March These magical ‘Owls by Moonlight’ evenings are held on Saturday evenings throughout the spring, and give guests the opportunity to see the owls really awake and at their best.

Things to get involved in…

LEGO Lost World Zoo Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG Until 27th April Explore LEGO through a range of activities and a spotter trail of incredible extinct animal sculptures, set inside Milestones living history museum! Get involved with minifigure making, LEGO play tables and a LEGO Fun session (booking required). Fees apply for some of the activities/sessions.

Open Bank Holidays and Tue to Fri 10am to 4.45pm; weekends 11am to 4.45pm. See www.milestonesmuseum.com for further information and ticket prices.

Lambing Weekend Newlyns Farm Shop, North Warnborough, RG29 1HA 22nd and 23rd March Why not visit the farm shop at Newlyns to see some of the sheep flock and feed their lambs!

Lots to see and do and the opportunity to learn about sheep production.

7pm. Adults £29.50, children £16 – includes a light supper. Places are limited so early booking is essential.

10am to 3pm. Adults £3. Children under 3 are free. No need to book. NB – please do not take dogs to this event.

www.hawk-conservancy.org

www.newlyns-farmshop.co.uk

Tel: 01256 330147 editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

We take every care preparing these entries but please check websites in case details have changed.

Beneath the Trees (where nobody sees)

Day out with Thomas 12th to 21st April

The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre, Station Rd, Bordon, GU35 0LR

Basing House, Basingstoke, RG24 8AE

All aboard for a day out with Thomas! Where you can ride on a real steam engine, shake hands with the Fat Controller, and take part in Thomas themed activities in the Imagination Station.

Youth Theatre

22nd March Come and play in a forest clearing where Hoodwink weave together fairies and fools, animals and flowers, nature and magic.

Dress for adventure! Presented by Hoodwink and the egg, Theatre Royal Bath.

11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm.

Suitable for ages 3-7. Only one adult per child. Adult £5.10.

Children (5-15 yrs) £4.10. Under 5s free. www.hants.gov.uk/basinghouse

Hollycombe, Steam in the Country Liphook, GU30 7LP Reopening for 2014 season on 6th April until 12th October From the atmosphere of the traditional fairground, to riding on the steam railways, or wandering through the woodland gardens, there’s something for all ages.

11am to 5pm – last admission 4pm. Adults £14. Children (3-15 yrs) £10. www.hollycombe.co.uk

John Pinkerton Canal Cruises Basingstoke Canal, Odiham, RG29 1AL 18th, 20th & 21st April Enjoy a leisurely 2 to 2 ½ hour cruise along the Basingstoke Canal on the John Pinkerton II canal boat. The bar is open on all cruises, and you can purchase tea, coffee and light refreshments.

Cruises depart from Colt Hill, Odiham at 2.30pm, with an additional cruise at 11am on 21st April.

Adults £8. Children under 16 yrs £5. Family £25. Booking is strongly recommended. See www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/ jp/public-trips/.

The Mid Hants Railway, Watercress line, Alresford, SO24 9JG

Spring Steam Gala 7th to 9th March The Spring Steam Gala always aims for the spectacular, with a dazzling display of steam powered magic!

Normal opening times. Adults £25, children (2-16 yrs) £13.

Book online for a free gift!

9.35am to 4.30pm. Adults £18, children (2-16 yrs) £12 www.watercressline.co.uk

Activities at Alice Holt Forest, Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham, GU10 4LS

Forestry & Climate Change: saint, sinner or victim?

4th March A special talk by Dr. Mark Broadmeadow, Climate Change Programme Manager for the Forestry Commission. Looking at the forestry’s role in climate change and some thoughts on how our forests will be affected in the future. Groups welcome.

Suitable for teens and adults.

7.30pm to 8.30pm. £2.

Winter Warmer 3 – Growing up Together.

8th March

Children’s Workshops & Classes

Firebird Youth Dance

23rd April

24th April

Award winning Youth Theatre Group is led by professional actors and workshop leaders. The group will explore a variety of drama techniques including improvisation, physical theatre and text work.

Wednesdays 6.30pm to 8pm. For 12 to 16 yr olds. £40 for 10 weeks.

A modern dance class with an emphasis on movement and fun. No previous experience necessary.

Thursdays 4.15pm to 5.15pm. For ages 4 yrs+. £3.50 per class+

The Phoenix Saturday Kids Club

Kids Art 24th April

26th April

Gives children the freedom and creative support to develop their artistic skills. There will be a public exhibition of their work at the end of term.

Thursdays 5pm to 6.30pm. For ages 7 yrs +. £40 for 10 weeks.

A fantastic range of activities including drama, dance, music and art. Parents can relax with a coffee and a slice of homemade cake while they wait!

Saturdays 10am to 12pm. For 2 to 8 yr olds. £50 for 10 weeks.

For more information about classes & workshops please contact The Phoenix on 01420 472664 or info@phoenixarts.co.uk.

Action for Children Centres All Children’s Centres have a full timetable of events posted on their website covering the current period. Please see www. actionforchildren.org.uk to find your nearest centres and details about events and activities they are running.

Last session in the Winter Warmers series. Take a closer look at how trees protect our environment and what we can do for healthy forests of the future.

Includes seed planting to take home. For ages 6 yrs+. 10.30am to 12 noon. £8 per family.

In partnership with

Home of Thomas & FriendsTM toys

Discovery Day 30th March A day of family fun in the forest.

Free entry although car parking charges will still apply and there may be a small charge or donation for certain activities.

Dogs are welcome at this event.

Family Bushcraft 26th April As a family, discover the secrets of the forest around the camp fire. Bring your own packed lunch but refreshments will be available all day. All ages. 10am to 4pm. Adults £25. Children 3-16 yrs £15. Minimum of one adult per group. To book call Mollie on 07979 321369 or email info@ fieldfarmproject.com. For more information visit www.fieldfarmproject.com.

Booking is essential for all activities & events at Alice Holt.

Call 01420 23666 or see www.forestry.gov.uk/aliceholt.

Join Thomas & FriendsTM at a heritage Railway near you.

Experience a ride on a real steam engine and take part in Thomas-themed activities.

MID HANTS RAILWAY ‘WATERCRESS LINE’ Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9JG

12TH - 21ST 2014

www.dayoutwiththomas.co.uk Day Out With ThomasTM Thomas the Tank EngineTM. Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W. Awdry. © 2014 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, Thomas & Friends and Day Out With Thomas are trademarks of Gullane (Thomas) Limited. © 2014 HIT Entertainment Limited.

www.familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 15

WHat’s ON Theatres The Anvil Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR www.anvilarts.org.uk The Moscow State Circus Friday 7th March, 7.30pm and Saturday 8th March, 2pm & 6pm The Moscow State Circus returns to the UK with its latest and greatest production to date.

Tickets £16-£27; children under 16 yrs £3 off top two ticket prices.

Mayor’s Spring Charity Concert Saturday 22nd March, 7.30pm A varied evening of music, song and dance from around the world, showcasing the talent of young performers from Basingstoke and the surrounding areas.

Adults £12. Children under 16 yrs £9. Family £32.

National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain Saturday 13th April, 3pm Join the UK’s most talented young musicians as they present a stunning programme of

classical favourites. This hundredstrong orchestra, with no player older than 13, has captivated audiences across the UK. Adults £11-£19. Children under 16 yrs £6.

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Tuesday 15th & Wednesday 16th April, 11am & 2pm Direct from Australia, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo brings these awesome prehistoric creatures to the stage as you’ve never seen them before, up close and personal! Suitable for ages 3 yrs+.

All tickets £13.50. www.anvilarts.org.uk

The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre Barbados House, Station Rd, Bordon, GU35 0LR www.phoenixarts.co.uk There’s a Monster in my Piano Saturday 1st March, 2pm Children & adults will be delighted by this offbeat jazzy tale. Starring puppets, clowning, animation and a very highly strung monster

indeed. Suitable for all ages over 4 yrs. Adults £6.50. Children £5.

Family £20.

Three Little Pigs Saturday 29th March, 2pm An innovative re-telling of the classic Three Little Pigs. You’ll be blown away by the hilarious physical comedy, circus skills and sheer pig-headedness! Adults £6.50. Children £5. Family £20.

The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer Saturday 5th April, 6pm The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik is a tiny tale set in the deepest dark blue sea, of a solitary explorer with a heart as big as a whale. Adults £10. Children under 16 yrs £6.

The Harlington Fleet Road, Fleet, GU51 4BY www.theharlington.co.uk The Jungle Book Saturday 12th April, 11am and 2pm The well-known story of a boy raised in the jungle by animals has been brought to life on stage and is something the whole family will enjoy.

Adults £7, children £5. www.theharlington.co.uk

Yummm!

Saturday 26th April, 2pm A dance theatre show that celebrates all that is messy at meal times! Yummm! Is a celebration of food seen through children’s eyes. Suitable for children up to 8 yrs. Adults £6.50.

Children £5. Family £20.

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