Families North London Sept/Oct 2020 (Print)

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IN THIS ISSUE Back To School Hallowe’en Special Competitions

Issue 144 September/October 2020 familiesonline.co.uk

Book B k your visit page 14

familiesonline.co.uk 1

CONTACT US: Families North London Magazine Editor:

Welcome to our September/October issue.

Danielle & Helen T: 07815 573 052 / 07411 070 316 E: editor@familiesnorthlondon.co.uk

We’re Celebrating!

There are some reasons to celebrate as we head in to autumn.

Firstly, we are back in print for the ďŹ rst time since March. Whilst we have been busy online for the last few months – you may have read our “Lockdownâ€? issues – it feels great to be able to provide you with a hard copy of our magazine as usual.

And this autumn is also special as it marks the 30 year anniversary of Families Magazine, ďŹ rst launched in London in 1990. Throughout the next 12 months, we’ll be inviting our readers to mark this milestone with us in lots of fun and interesting ways.

To get the ball rolling, we’re proud to offer you a chance to win a family holiday to Santa’s Lapland in Finland! See page 5 for details.

In the meantime, we hope you ďŹ nd this issue useful for all things back to school, travel and Halloween. Please follow us on social media for further updates about our local community.

Best wishes,

Danielle and Helen

M25

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Helen

Danielle

Paper used to print Families North London is from fully-managed sustainable sources and is recyclable.

Follow us on social media and stay up to date, informed and entertained.

Find us on @familiesnorthlondon

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In this issue: 3 4-5 6 7 8-17

News Travel Health Family Education

18-19 20-21 22-23

Hallowe’en Parties, Clubs & Classes Directory What’s On Guide

Advertise with us Our advertising rates start from ÂŁ100+VAT for an annual listing and ÂŁ110+VAT for display advert.

For more information or to make a booking, please contact our editors on 07815 573052 or editor@familiesnorthlondon.co.uk Families North London is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families North London are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families North London. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families North London; our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

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Families North London

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Family News

Audiobooks Improve Literacy Audiobooks can benefit children’s reading skills, according to new research published by the charity, the National Literacy Trust.

The report looks at the advantages of listening to a recording of a novel being read, and the impact on young readers.

The research suggests that listening to a recorded story requires the same mental skills as reading in print, so audiobooks can help with understanding words and remembering information. They can also give children access to a broader range of texts and engage readers who might be reluctant, struggling or developing.

Emily Best, from the National Literacy Trust, said: “Audiobooks can be the key to unlocking a child’s love of reading. They enable children of all reading abilities and interests to access and explore the incredible world of stories, which are brought to life by a range of exciting voices, different accents and sound effects.”

More info: www.literacytrust.org.uk

New Divorce Laws Good for Children New divorce laws, expected to commence in autumn 2021, will help reduce family conflict and be beneficial for children, according to the government.

Divorcing couples will no longer have to “blame” each other for the breakdown of their marriage. Current divorce laws require one spouse to provide evidence of ‘unreasonable behaviour’ even where a couple has made a mutual decision to part ways.

A new law will enable couples to divorce without making accusations of bad behaviour, by giving notice that a marriage has broken down irretrievably.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said: “Hostility and conflict between parents leave their mark on children and can damage their life chances.”

The relationship charity Relate believes the current fault-based system often results in increased animosity, making it harder for ex-partners to develop positive relationships as co-parents.

Central London Crowned the Greenest City in the UK Central London has topped the list as the greenest UK city. The new Green Cities Index study by apartment rental brand Essential Living has revealed which UK and European cities and London Boroughs are leading the way when it comes to green space for residents to enjoy.

Each city and borough within the study was awarded points based on elements such as air quality, pollution, quality of life, life expectancy, and green spaces. A weighting system was then applied to the scores to calculate just how much green space there is in the immediate area to give the final ranking out of 60. From parks and gardens to pollution rankings there are so many factors that make a city green.

Central London came out as the greenest UK city scoring 36 out of 60.

The borough ranked highly on the number of parks, gardens, and playgrounds. The results show that the larger the population, the more green space there is available.

Each of the UK’s four nations was represented in the top six, with London, Birmingham, and Leeds taking first, second and third positions. Cardiff coming fourth, Glasgow taking fifth spot and Belfast taking sixth. https://www.essentialliving.co.uk/ blog/the-greenest-cities-mapped/

Calling all Baby Scientists!

Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at the Birkbeck Babylab in central London. Our prime location is easy to reach via public transport and we refund travel expenses.

020 7631 6258 • babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk

More info: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-divorce-law-to-endthe-blame-game familiesonline.co.uk

Hi I’m Max fro MAOAM, Follow me through the magazine to try to win a Halloween surprise!

3

Travel

Staycation Ideas

By Families North London The current situation has made any travel plans uncertain and with countries pinging off and on the exemption list, many of us have opted for a break in the UK. In anticipation of October half term being the same, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve picked out 5 of our top destinations for half term breaks all around a two hour drive of North London.

Brighton Directly south of London, and directly accessible by train, is the vibrant, buzzing scene of Brighton. It has recently had a makeover and the seafront now dotted with cafes and restaurants as well as play areas for children. Attractions include the British Airways i360 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tallest moving observation tower and the Sea Life Centre. www.visitbrighton.com www.britishairwaysi360.com www.visitsealife.com/brighton

Norfolk Broads By hiring a narrowboat and with 125 miles of waterways, you could wake up each morning with a different view and area to explore. As well as a wealth of wildlife, Norfolk is also home to two theme parks (Pettitts Animal Adventure Park and Roarr!). Train enthusiasts are

well-catered for with several vintage railway attractions too. www.norfolkbroads.com www.roarrdinosauradventure.co.uk www.pettittsadventurepark.co.uk

Suffolk Coastline Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50 miles of Suffolk coastline to discover with sandy, family-friendly beaches. Local attractions include Kessinglandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Africa Alive! And Landguard Fort (English Heritage) both of which usually offer activities speciďŹ cally aimed at children.

Stretching from Gloucestershire to Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds offer something for everyone. From oodles

www.thenewforest.co.uk www.bucklershard.co.uk www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk

Seven unique holiday houses surrounded by [MPHžS[IV QIEHS[W VSPPMRK JEVQPERH ERH QEKMGEP [SSHPERHW XLI TIVJIGX GSYRXV] VIXVIEX 7KHVH VHOI FDWHULQJ KRXVHV DUH ŸQLVKHG ZLWK DQ HPSKDVLV RQ TXDOLW\ LQ D VW\OH WKDW LV ERWK FRPIRUWDEOH DQG HOHJDQWO\ PRGHUQ ,GHDO IRU JURXSV RI IULHQGV IDPLO\ JHW WRJHWKHUV PLOHVWRQH ELUWKGD\ FHOHEUDWLRQV UHXQLRQV ZHGGLQJ JURXSV DQG PXFK PRUH 7KH FHQWUDO ORFDWLRQ PDNHV $VKWRQ HDV\ WR UHDFK IURP London.

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The New Forest

The Cotswolds

www.visitsuffolk.com www.africa-alive.co.uk www.landguard.com

Ashton Estate, nr Oundle

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www.cotswolds.com www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk www.waterpark.org

It is a spectacle to see the horses roaming free in this national park and the New Forest offers many walking routes and cycle paths to view them. Bucklerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hard is a quaint shipbuilding village with a museum and nearby Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum.

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of space to run (practically) free to magniďŹ cent vistas and from historical towns to zoos and waterparks (Cotswold Wildlife Park and Cotswold Water Park where you can even ďŹ nd a beach!). The source of the River Thames can be found near the picturesque village of Kemble.

Travel

The Great British Beach Clean is back Become a Citizen Scientist during the annual Great British Beach Clean from 18 to 25 September.

Register to adopt a 100m stretch of beach and organise your own beach clean, with your family, a group of friends or ‘bubble’ in line with government guidance.

The Great British Beach Clean is more than just litter picking people become citizen scientists and carry out a litter survey, recording what they find on the beaches to help show a national and international picture of the most common forms of litter.

Even if you don’t live near the coast, you can still take part by joining the Source to Sea Litter Quest and spot (and pick up!) common beach litter items in your local area. Did you know that 80% of the litter on beaches around the UK has travelled there from our towns, parks and rivers?

More info: www.mcsuk.org

Quirky accommodation Looking for something a little different to stay in?

Try out these quirky retreats.

Stay in a 10-bedroom windmill in Cley-next-the-sea in Norfolk. This unique stay is big enough to pack the extended family in too. www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/England/Norfolk/Cley-Windmill Treehouse at The Fish Hotel, Broadway, Worcestershire.

There are actually 3 treehouses to choose from; each comes with a touch of luxury and two outdoors baths! www.thefishhotel.co.uk Pod Hollow at West Stow, Suffolk. This hobbit inspired accommodation is straight from a fairy tale and sure to ignite your imagination. www.weststowpods.co.uk/pod-hollow/ Converted railway carriages in Northam. Just 20 metres from a working steam railway station, these carriages have fun with a touch of decadence written all of them. www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/trains-train-stations/british-railtrain-carriage Luxury Beach Huts at Calshot Beach. If you can brave the autumn fresh weather, then why not stay on the beach and wake to the sounds of the sea. https://www.cadland.co.uk/luxury-beach-huts

Win a magical break to Santa's Lapland in 2021 Enjoy a Reindeer sleigh ride, sledging with huskies, exploring a real igloo and much more, including a once in a lifetime private visit with Santa himself!

To enter, visit SantasLapland.com/families by 30th October 2020.

Terms & conditions apply, please see website for details.

familiesonline.co.uk

5

Health & Well-Being

Why my Daughter’s Autism Has Made Me a Better Person

By Jane Constantine Today my daughter read We’re Going on A Bear Hunt all the way through, all by herself, without any help! I am bursting with pride. Alexa is actually 10 years old, so you may question my pride in this. But until a few years ago, she could say very few words and couldn’t construct a sentence. She is of around 100,000 children in the UK today with autism spectrum disorder.

Watching your child develop and gain new skills is part of the joys of parenthood. Alexa was a beautiful little toddler, full of mischief and joy but when she didn’t achieve the expected milestones, I was understandably worried and confused.

When we started to attend the Stay and Play sessions at our local Sure Start centres. Alexa would happily play with the toys and loved the puzzles and sensory activities but, at the end of the session, when the little ones would happily sit and listen to the storytelling session, Alexa would just wander off uninterested. She didn’t even seem aware that a story was being told. Most of the toddlers around her age said words quite frequently and were pointing and communicating to their parents; we had a hard time getting Alexa to turn around when we called her name.

I consulted a paediatrician when Alexa was just over 2 years old. She was diagnosed with speech delay and we were asked to come back when she was 3 years old, if no further progress was made. A year later, we were back in her office.

My gut feeling was that something was

wrong. Autism was casually mentioned but an assessment was needed. Looking back, we were fortunate that our referral came through in 9 months. That assessment can take a frustratingly long time - a friend of mine has recently waited 18 months to get a diagnosis for her son.

Within this time Alexa had started to say some words - bizarrely one of her first was “treasure chest,” not the typical “mummy” or “daddy” – but her progress wasn’t consistent. She would say a word one week, but it could take three weeks before she would say another.

Finding out that your child is different and will go through life struggling is hard. I think it is perfectly normal for any parent to be in denial and to not want to hear this and I was guilty of this to a degree. Hearing Alexa’s diagnosis shattered all the happy expectations I had for her and I went through a period of grieving the “perfect” child I seemed to have lost. Luckily, Alexa had started attending a pre-school which some other children with autism attended and it had a specialist SEN group attached.

This helped greatly. I went through a period of feeling sad and wondering what the future would hold for Alexa.

After a few weeks, I had a chat with myself and realised that my negative state wouldn’t help me or her. I resolved to find out EVERYTHING about autism that I could.

I discovered a new determination to get Alexa all the help and support I could and that had to start with my husband and I - we had to step up and be ready to take on everything that this condition threw at us.

I joined groups; I listened to others; I made sure Alexa received intense speech therapy. One of the best things I did was enrol on a Makaton sign language course. This has been fantastic in helping us communicate with Alexa and vice versa. Once we had an official diagnosis, we were also able to obtain an EHC, a legal document which ensures Alexa is supported in her schooling.

Now Alexa has no physical issues, her sensory issues have subsided and she has many more language and communication abilities. Most importantly she is a happy and healthy girl. Yes, she has autism and if I could take it away from her I would, but we have given her the best tools to help her manage.

She IS my perfect child and she has taught me so much. In particular, to be much more understanding of individuals with disabilities; that we are all different and that differences can and should be celebrated.

6

Families North London

Family

Believe It or Not: Lockdown Improved Relationships You may disagree, but a study suggests that lockdown strengthened many parent’s relationships with their children.

Research by the University of Essex found that around a quarter of parents reported that their relationship with their children had improved during the government’s stay-at-home policy. Less than 5% said it got worse.

The results are based on research for the Understanding Society Covid-19 survey, a nationally representative study that collected data from 5,500 parents.

Many parents who said they had closer relationships with their children had helped out with home schooling. Nearly 40% of parents who reduced their work hours to look after their children said their relationships had improved. Only 6% said their relationships had become worse.

However, fewer lone mothers reported an improvement in their relationships, and slightly more said they had become worse.

More info: www.understandingsociety.ac.uk

Most Children Sleep with Mobile Phone Children are getting mobiles at an earlier age, with most now having their own phone by 7 years of age, according to an annual survey by Childwise, a leading specialist in research with children and young people.

The survey, based on interviews with 2,200 children in the UK ages 5 to 16, shows significant changes in the role of the mobile phone in young lives.

Mobile phone ownership is up - it is now the top device for children to access online content - and the average time spent on mobiles by children ages 7 to 16 is three hours and twenty minutes per day.

Of concern, 57% of children always have the phone beside their bed and 44% feel “uncomfortable” if they are without a phone signal. 42% say they keep their phone on them at all times and never turn it off.

More info: www.childwise.co.uk

Creation of Imaginary Worlds More Common

Need help getting the mortgage deal that's right for you?

Children are far more likely to create imaginary worlds than previously believed, according to new research.

A University of Oregon study found 17% of children ages 8 to 12 invented imaginary worlds in detail, with many sharing their creations with friends, who added complexity.

While varying widely in content, all imaginary worlds included details about an environment (eg: forests, lakes, caves), the inhabitants (eg: bandits, goblins, animals) and mystical components, such as a fountain that sprayed honey.

The author, Professor Marjorie Taylor says: “We can be really impressed by the creativity of children left to their own devices. It is important to give them some time free of a schedule because they will come up with things that they really enjoy and will share with others.”

More info: https://around.uoregon.edu/content/uostudy-finds-healthy-creativity-kids-imaginary-worlds https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ cdev.13162 familiesonline.co.uk

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07891 409 474 oliver@ojbmortgagesolutions.co.uk www.initialmortgagesolutions.co.uk

It’s me again, Max from MAOAM. Count how many times you can see me to try to win a Halloween surprise!

7

Education

Primary Maths & English Tuition

If you feel your child would benefit from focussed attention and interaction with our tutors during this challenging period, we are ready and eager to help! What’s more, your first lesson is completely free of charge.

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Families North London

Education

BACK TO SCHOOL It is that time of year again â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Back To Schoolâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but this time things may feel a little different.

With the help of some of our local schools, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve complied a comprehensive guide about what to expect and how to support your children through this transition.

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9

Education

Helping your Child Deal with Change

By Samantha Francis Change can be a challenge for both parent and child, and is very often a trigger for a range of emotions.

Right now, as the world continues its journey back to some kind of ‘normality,’ it is important that you can help your child deal with the many changes that will come with this, including returning to school.

Change, when not supported appropriately by a caring adult, can feel like a traumatic experience for a child. This can then manifest as emotional issues down the line, so it is important that a child is supported gently and feels seen and heard when change is occurring.

It’s useful to remember also that children connect through fun, so while it is important to talk about change and the feelings associated with it, it’s also necessary to balance this up with time to play. In essence, children need time to process the change but also time away from focussing on it.

With the new school year approaching, here are some tips that can support your child:

Deal with your emotions first. Be aware of your own anxiety around the changes you are dealing with. When you can hold space for your own emotions and know how to support yourself, it makes you more able to hold space for your child’s emotions and understand how to help them. Seek support for yourself, even if it is just a chat with a friend. Remember that it is okay to be honest about your own emotions with your child as that will create connection between you and help your child understand that their emotions are also experienced by others.

Prepare your child. Talk about the forthcoming changes.

Giving your child advance notice will help them be more prepared. Read books or watch television shows that your child can relate to about the changes they are going to be dealing with.

Listen to your child. Validate their feelings. It’s okay for them to feel what they feel. Don’t be tempted to try to rescue them from their feelings or tell them not to worry. By just letting them express how they feel, many children will feel better and this will lead to finding solutions to their worries. Observe your child’s physical needs too. If your child exhibits increased anxiety it is also beneficial to reflect with them on stressful past events they dealt with successfully.

Samantha Francis is a mum of two, best-selling author and parenting and relationship specialist.

UCS Hampstead University College School’s Pre Prep is situated within a stone’s throw of the School’s senior site in Hampstead. The Pre Prep is led by the “dynamic” Dr Zoe Dunn and in a recent, the Good Schools Guide were blown away by the breadth of the curriculum and by the warm and friendly atmosphere within the school. They found the boys were “curious, engaged and resourceful” and with such a broad, diverse, creative curriculum it is not difficult to see why. Specialist teachers for particular subjects ensure all the children are given they attention they need and each has the opportunity to develop at their own pace. A recent inspection by ISI graded the school as ‘excellent’ and found that it “successfully achieves its aim to provide a happy, supportive and stimulating environment where intellectual curiosity and independence of mind are developed and self-discovery and self-expression are fostered.” The Pre Prep recently won an award for promoting wellbeing. Pupils progress at 7+ into the UCS Junior Branch and from there onto the Senior School.

If you would like more information on the UCS Pre Prep or would like to arrange a visit, please see www.ucs.org.uk or call 020 7722 4433.

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Families North London

Education Here are some useful resources and websites that can help to support you and your child during change and emotional times, including mindset techniques and books.

CBeebies – Helping Children Deal with Change/Helping Children Starting Primary School www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/helping-childrendeal-with-change www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/how-to-prepareyour-child-for-primary-school The Art of Simple – 14 Books to Help Ease Children through Transitions www.theartofsimple.net/14-books-to-help-easechildren-through-transitions The Pathway 2 Success - Making a Coping Strategies Wheel www.thepathway2success.com/how-to-make-acoping-strategies-wheel/ Hand in Hand Parenting – Anxious about Starting School www.handinhandparenting.org/2018/08/anxious-aboutstarting-school/ Starting School by Janet and Allan Ahlberg Available from Amazon Big Big World by Samantha Francis Available from Amazon

Lyonsdown School welcomes new Head!

As well as welcoming back pupils old and new, Lyonsdown School has also welcomed a new Head this September - Mrs Helen Stanton-Tonner.

Mrs Stanton-Tonner moved from the position of Head at Holland House to join Lyonsdown. She brings with her a breadth of knowledge and many years of leadership experience from a variety of schools across London including Swanbourne House, Francis House Prep School, North London Collegiate and Thomas’s Kensington.

Helen is delighted to be joining Lyonsdown as it embraces all girls’ education, having enjoyed an all girls’ education herself and having seen its benefits first-hand within her career. She is also delighted to be joining a proudly non-selective school that achieves impressive success with girls securing places at some of London’s top independent and maintained Senior Schools.

Helen is looking forward to getting to know all members of the Lyonsdown family, as well as meeting prospective parents who are searching for the right school where their daughter can thrive both academically and personally.

LYONSDOWN SCHOOL

NEW BARNET

familiesonline.co.uk

Settling in The first half of this new term will see your child reconnecting with friends and classmates they may not have seen for months, getting to know a new teacher or even settling in at a new school.

Observe how your child feels around communication.

Kids are often nervous about making new friends through fear of rejection and some role play might help them in the coming weeks. You could practise some conversation starters or developers to get them feeling confident about speaking to new people or getting to know other children better.

If your child has specific worries in their first few weeks back at school or is highly anxious about specific things or more generally, do share this with their teacher so he/she can support you both.

Teaching your child different types of mindfulness activities such as breathing and relaxation will also help them should they start to feel overwhelmed at school. These techniques can also be useful if they are struggling to settle to sleep at night. Remember that it’s best to practise the techniques fairly frequently in order for your child to be able to implement them confidently in stressful situations.

LYONSDOWN SCHOOL

NEW BARNET

Preparing girls age 3-11 to thrive Life at Lyonsdown • begins at age 3: where the allimportant skills are embedded right from the start • is brilliantly busy: with wraparound care from 7.30am to 6pm • prepares girls to secure places at the best selective senior schools

Our NEW Head, Mrs Stanton-Tonner joined Lyonsdown this September.

Visit our NEW Virtual (KTPZZPVUZ O\I [V ÄUK V\[ more, watch our videos or arrange a virtual visit: www.lyonsdownschool.co.uk

11

Education ABERCORN SCHOOL NW8 Boys and Girls 2 ½ - 13 yrs OPEN DAY: Offering Virtual visits and Virtual Discover mornings www.abercornschool.com 020 7100 4335 THE ACADEMY SCHOOL NW3 Boys and Girls 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 13 yrs OPEN DAYS: By appointment www.academyschoolhampstead.com 020 7435 6621 THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN LONDON NW8 Boys and Girls 4-18 yrs OPEN DAY: Online meetings available by appointment www.asl.org 020 7449 1200

School Open Days

ANNEMOUNT NURSERY AND PRE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL N2 Boys and Girls 3-7 yrs OPEN DAY: by appointment www.annemount.co.uk 020 8455 2132

DANIA SCANDINAVIAN SCHOOL N7 Boys & Girls 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 11 yrs OPEN DAY: by appointment www.daniaschool.com 020 7607 4268 DEVONSHIRE HOUSE SCHOOL NW3 Boys & Girls 2½â&#x20AC;&#x201C;13 yrs OPEN DAY: Wed 14 & Thurs 15th Oct and Wed 4th & Thurs 5th Nov www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk 020 7435 1916

FRANCIS HOLLAND SCHOOL NW1 Girls 4-18 yrs OPEN DAY: Virtual open mornings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 22nd Sept and 5th Nov @ 9am www.fhs-nw1.org.uk 020 7723 0176

BELMONT SCHOOL NW7 Boys and Girls 7-13 yrs OPEN DAY: Saturday 3rd Oct, 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12am www.millhill.org.uk/belmont 020 8906 7290 BROOMFIELD SCHOOL N14 Boys and Girls 11-18 years OPEN DAY: Check social media pages for updates www.www.broomďŹ eld.enďŹ eld.sch.uk 020 8368 4710

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CHANNING SCHOOL N6 Girls 4-18 yrs OPEN DAY: Junior School Virtual Open Daysâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; 22 Sept, 6 and 14 Oct www.channing.co.uk 020 83402338

DWIGHT SCHOOL N11/12 Boys and Girls 2-18 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.dwightlondon.org 020 8920 0637

ARNOLD HOUSE SCHOOL NW8 Boys 5-13 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.arnoldhouse.co.uk 020 7266 4840

We aim to be as accurate as possible, but these listings are compiled several weeks in advance and therefore may be subject to change. Most schools require pre-booking. Please check before setting out.

CAVENDISH SCHOOL NW1 Girls 3-11yrs, Boys 3-7 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.cavendishschool.co.uk 020 7485 1958

GOODWYN SCHOOL NW7 Boys and Girls 3-11 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.goodwyn-school.co.uk 020 8959 3756

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Families North London

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Education GRANGE PARK PREP SCHOOL N21 Boys & Girls 3-11 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.gpps.org.uk 020 8360 4869

KEBLE PREP SCHOOL N21 Boys 4- 13 yrs OPEN DAY: 10th Oct 10-12am www.kebleprep.co.uk 020 8360 3359

GRIMSDELL SCHOOL NW7 Boys and Girls 3-7 yrs OPEN DAY: Saturday 3rd Oct, 9 – 12am www..millhill.org.uk/grimsdell 020 8959 6884

KING ALFRED SCHOOL NW11 Boys and Girls 4-18 yrs OPEN DAY: Contact the school for details regarding virtual events www.kingalfred.org.uk 020 8457 5285

THE HALL SCHOOL NW3 Boys 4-13 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.hallschool.co.uk 020 7449 6918

LYNDHURST HOUSE SCHOOL NW3 Boys 4-13 yrs OPEN DAY: Wed 14th Oct and Thurs 29th Oct www.lyndhursthouse.co.uk 020 7435 4936

HENDON PREP SCHOOL NW4 Boys and Girls 2-13 yrs OPEN DAY: Contact the school for further information www.hendonprep.co.uk 020 82037727

LYONSDOWN PREP SCHOOL EN5 Girls 3-11 yrs OPEN DAY: Thu 10 Oct & Thu 15 Nov 10:00 www.lyonsdownschool.co.uk 020 8449 0225

HEREWARD HOUSE SCHOOL HAMPSTEAD NW3 Boys 4-13 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.herewardhouse.co.uk 020 7794 4820

NORFOLK HOUSE SCHOOL N10 Boys and Girls 4-11 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.norfolkhouseschool.org 020 8883 4584

HIGHGATE SCHOOL N6 Boys and Girls 3-18 yrs OPEN DAY: Entry 4+ 26th Sep and 3rd Oct www.highgateschool.org.uk 020 8347 3564

MILL HILL SCHOOL NW7 Boys and Girls 13-18 yrs OPEN DAY: Saturday 3rd Oct, 9 – 12am www.millhill.org.uk 020 8906 7923

HYLAND HOUSE SCHOOL N17 Boys and Girls ages 2-11 years OPEN DAY: Contact the school for further information www.hylandhouseschool.org 020 8520 4186

NORTH BRIDGE HOUSE SCHOOL NW1/3 Boys and Girls 2yrs 9mths - 18 yrs OPEN DAY: See Page 14 for a full list of dates www.northbridgehouse.com 020 7267 6266/ 02074281520

NORTH LONDON RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL N8 Boys and Girls 0-7 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.rudolfsteiner.london.sch.uk 020 8341 3770

ST PAUL’S STEINER SCHOOL N1 Boys and Girls 3-14 yrs OPEN DAY: Wednesdays at 9:30am and Fridays at 2:00pm www.stpaulssteinerschool.org 020 7226 4454

PALMERS GREEN HIGH SCHOOL N21 Girls 13-16 yrs OPEN DAY: Sat 10th Oct 9:30 – 12am http://www.pghs.co.uk 020 8886 1135

SALCOMBE PREP SCHOOL N14 Boys and Girls 3-11 yrs OPEN DAY: Thurs 24th Sep from 9:15am www.salcombeprep.co.uk 020 8441 5356

ST ANTHONY’S SCHOOL NW3 Boys 4-13 yrs Open Day: By appointment www.stanthonysprep.org.uk 020 7431 1066

SARUM HALL SCHOOL GIRLS NW3 3-11 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.sarumhallschool.co.uk 020 7794 2261

ST ANTHONY’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS NW11 Girls 4-13 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.stanthonysprep.org.uk 020 7431 1066

SOUTH HAMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL NW3 Girls 4-18 yrs OPEN DAY: Virtual events by appointment www.shhs.gdst.net 020 7435 2899

ST MARGARET’S SCHOOL HAMPSTEAD NW3 Girls 4-16 yrs OPEN DAY: Virtual visits - Thur 24th Sep and 1st Oct www.st-margarets.co.uk 020 7435 2439

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE SCHOOL NW3 4-18 yrs OPEN DAY: 11+ 14th Sep and 1st Oct www.ucs.org.uk 020 7722 4433

MOUNT HOUSE SCHOOL EN4 Boys and Girls 11-18 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.mounthouse.org.uk 020 8449 6889 ST MARTIN’S SCHOOL MILL HILL LL NW7 Boys and Girls 3-11 yrs OPEN DAY: By appointment www.stmartinsmillhill.co.uk 020 8959 1965

Hyland House Hyland House is your Seventh-day Adventist school in London where each child is safe, valued, known and loved personally. We offer Christian education for pupils from ages 2 to 11, taught by committed, professional, caring and creative teachers. The school has a warm, friendly atmosphere: pupils are supported to achieve their potential but are also firmly, but kindly, disciplined when necessary. Children are introduced to Jesus, taught worthwhile character trains and motivated to develop an attitude of “achieving excellence”.

The School Ethos is to show love, joy, kindness, perseverance and self-control. These values are to help children to grow into resilient, well-rounded, moral citizens with characters of which society can be proud.

CHILDREN AGED

2 - 11 YEARS OLD

SEPT

ADMISSION

The school provides varied after-school activities to enhance pupils’ experience and also provide opportunities to enter competitions, develop drama skills, present their productions and enhance public speaking ability.

Your child would be nurtured and encouraged to develop their full potential. For more information please email the headteacher at info@hylandhouseschool.org Psalm 127:3

“…children are a heritage from the Lord.”

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WHAT DO WE OFFER? • • • • • •

Spiritual development Character development Academic excellence Small classes A loving and caring atmosphere Great friendships

CONTACT US NOW AT: 97 Holcombe Road, Tottenham, London N17 9AB Tel: 0208 520 4186 Email: info@hylandhouseschool.org Web: hylandhouseschool.org

13

Education at every stage of its academically nonselective, all-through independent education for ages 2 to 18, the Nursery and Pre-Prep provision itself has proven to develop the fundamental skills upon which pupils’ future successes are built.

Happy and high achieving This September, the highly successful North Bridge House School extends its unique, specialist offering to families in West Hampstead, with its sixth campus now open.

New home, existing expertise North Bridge House Nursery and PrePrep West Hampstead joins the school’s established campuses in Hampstead, Islington and Regent’s Park, providing mixed ability co-education for ages 2 to 18.

Building on the school’s established Early Years and Key Stage 1 expertise, the brand-new facilities use sustainable products wherever possible and 3D immersive technology to facilitate the creative and forward-thinking curriculum.

Under Executive Head Christine McLelland, who has made the group’s longstanding Nursery and Pre-Prep Schools in Hampstead high-achieving and popular north London destinations for children aged 2 to 7 years, the new campus prepares pupils for the sought after NBH Prep School without the stress of entrance exams.

“What sets North Bridge House apart is that our Nursery School is totally focused on the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Pre-Prep is focused solely on Key Stage 1. Every member of staff is an expert in these age groups and therefore every interaction that the children experience is age appropriate,” the Executive Head explains. “The staff are all working towards the same objectives, speaking a common language, and our academic outcomes speak for themselves,” says Mrs McLelland.

Top results Children progress from Reception having become confident mathematicians, able to read and write their own stories at just 5-years-old, while at the end of Year 2 (KS1), 42 per cent of pupils perform in the top 4 per cent of the country for literacy and 50 per cent perform in the top 4 per cent for numeracy.

While North Bridge House has grown from strength to strength, celebrating results well above the national average 14

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The new Nursery and Pre-Prep is committed to providing the same enjoyable learning experience, curiosity for knowledge and true sense of achievement as the established NBH Nursery and Pre-Prep Schools. It uses beautifully designed creative spaces to facilitate not just the academic achievement of its young pupils, but their all-important personal development too. Adopting a holistic, child centric approach to pupils’ learning and progression, NBH Nursery and Pre-Prep West Hampstead boasts a soft play area and vegetable garden, and will enhance the growth, development and wellbeing of its pupils through initiatives like Philosophy for Children (P4C) and an annual playground petting zoo.

“We want to be as organic as possible and to provide the children with as many unique opportunities as possible in this central London location, including growing their own vegetables in our garden and looking after chickens in our chicken coup. Additionally, with our state-of-the-art immersive technology we can offer something that I know our competitors cannot,” says Head of School, Mrs Eilish Sleator.

Broader horizons As well as the attainment enhancing P4C programme which has already proven a success at the Nursery and Pre-Prep Schools in Hampstead (The Education Endowment Foundation found that a year of philosophy results in two-month’s additional progress in reading and maths), the West Hampstead campus will harness inspiration the Headteacher has taken from the Middle and Far East.

“While it’s important that we continue to run with well-established and thriving initiatives like the Pre-Prep Eco Team, who at the ages of just 6 and 7 have set up a battery recycling bank in the school and are running a “Lights Out Day”, and the Lego Build Club in which pupils have combined coding and robotics to bring designs to life with fully functioning motion sensors, the new facilities will give us the opportunity to further build on pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. I am looking to bring a new sense of wonderment to children’s learning and broaden their global perspective from the very outset of their education. From 3D immersive spaces to a Cabinet of Curiosities, the

school has been designed as a tranquil yet exciting hub of education where children will learn through discovery and investigation, and be able to contextualise and share their learning experiences beyond the four walls of their classroom,” concludes the forwardthinking Headteacher.

For more details or to make an enquiry, call 020 7428 1520 Register your interest: admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse. com

Open days at north bridge house school Nursery & pre-prep West Hampstead (2 – 7 years) Now open Tours throughout September – November Nursery & pre-prep Hampstead (2 – 7 years) Tuesday 6 October Tuesday 3 November Tuesday 24 November Prep school Regent’s Park (7 – 13 years) Friday 25 September Friday 16 October Senior Hampstead (11 – 16 years) Saturday 12 September Thursday 1 October Thursday 5 November Senior Canonbury (11 - 18 years) Saturday 26 September Wednesday 14 October Tuesday 10 November Thursday 19 November Book an open day at northbridgehouse.com/open, or call 020 7428 1520 for more information. Virtual events and private tours available.

Max from MAOAM Here. How many pictures of me can you spot?

Follow me through the magazine to try to win a Halloween prize!

Education

inTuition Clubs... inTuition Clubs provide engaging, affordable, and high-quality tuition in Maths and English for primary aged children; they also offer a specialised tuition course to help children prepare for the 11+. inTuition clubs offer tuition both in their state-of-the-art centre in Finchley and online, allowing them to cater nationwide. Their modern tuition sessions are delivered in small groups or 1 to 1 classes, by qualified and experienced tutors, who are passionate about education.

100% aligned to the UK national

curriculum, their tuition sessions combine both leading edge technology and physical learning tools within an inspiring environment to ensure your child receives A truly modern blended learning experience The ethos of intuition Clubs is rooted in fuelling your child’s ambition and learning aspirations to develop a consistent ‘desire for continuous learning’. This is done through a praisebased approach where your child will be challenged, recognised and rewarded.

a more rounded and robust approach to assessing your child’s needs when you join. This assessment enables inTuition Clubs to adjust the session content, delivery style and child-tutor communication in a way that is tailored to each child’s optimum learning style.

If you feel your child could benefit from extra support with English and Maths or the 11+, inTuition tutors are ready to help! www.intuitionclubs.com 020 3092 7280

In addition to focusing on academic achievement, inTuition Clubs embrace

Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to develop your child’s confidence and independent study skills so they excel throughout the new term and beyond.

Contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.

Archway Arnos Grove Edmonton Green Enfield Town Finchley East

020 8347 6792 020 8889 2826 07548 996 680 020 8361 1489 020 8361 5609

Hornsey Islington Whetstone Wood Green

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

familiesonline.co.uk

07912 643 178 07785 713 671 020 8440 6616 020 8362 0960

kumon.co.uk

15

Education

Mars Montessori Adapting for a Positive Settling-in The busiest time in a nursery is usually the first weeks of September where the largest number of new children are welcomed. Children settle into nursery in lots of different ways and staff at Mars Montessori use their experience over many years to make this a positive time for all children and parents.

Reception Testing Delayed to 2021 The government’s plan to introduce Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) will be delayed until September 2021 because of the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In September 2017, the Department for Education announced that a new start-of-school assessment for children ages 4 and 5 would be introduced as a baseline measure to track progress during primary school.

Children who start Reception in September 2021 will be the first group to take the new RBA during the first six weeks of the autumn term.

The test is due to eventually replace key stage 1 SATs in providing the baseline on which pupil progress scores are based.

The new tests have been criticised by some teachers, Head Teachers and parents, who claim it is unnecessary, will cause distress and could damage children’s future learning.

More info: www.gov.uk/guidance/reception -baseline-assessment

16

Families North London

Mars Montessori have had to adapt certain elements due to current pandemic related restrictions; for example, they temporarily stopped home visits to abide by social distancing rules. Children that have settled-in between June and September have responded well to the new zoom introductions, the normal drop-in sessions, and initial settling-in schedule. Some children need more support than others and using their home language, home routine, transition books and other measures, Mars Montessori help build that all important trust. They look forward to seeing their new joiners flourish in their care! www.bilingualnurseries.com

Education

An A-Z of Early Years Activities

By Gabrielle Nash

create a garden suitable for kids very simply; a patch of soil for digging or planting some flowers or veg, a few old bowls and spoons for mud pies and access to a bucket of water!

HIKING Okay, maybe not up Ben Nevis, but get your kids excited about a little “hike.”

Pack a small bag, grab a snack, fill a water bottle. Staying active with your kids is key to healthy living.

IMAGINARY PLAY It is so easy, with few props needed and little ones LOVE it when you make up a game. Get them to be a patient at the doctors, the receptionist at the dentist or taking their dog to the vet.

JUMBLE SALE JOLLIES Get your little one involved with going though old things that need passing on to charity or selling at a jumble sale.

Help them understand we need to pass things on to other people who need and want them to make way for new clothes and toys.

The minutes and hours can pass slowly when you are entertaining a child under 5. So here is a theme for every day of the alphabet to help you out when you need new activity ideas!

ANIMAL HUNT Go searching for the tiny creepy crawly kind, the chirpy in the tree tops kind and the more exciting kind found in zoos and farms!

BAKING Save those overripe bananas and bake some muffins. Or let little hands enjoy rolling out some biscuit dough. Anything with different textures will entice help introduce your little one to unfamiliar foods.

CARDBOARD BOX CREATION Save the next one you get. What can it be? A pirate ship, a car, or a doll’s bed?

Colour it in or cut it up – it doesn’t matter!

DEN BUILDING Build one indoors with chairs and sheets or head to a local wood or park and gather large pieces of wood. It doesn’t have to be a work of art to spark the imagination. Is it just a den, or is it cave for monsters?

KICKABOUT Never underestimate the benefits of getting out to your local park for a kickabout with a ball – plus some running, jumping, sliding and shouting!

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY … is the best way! Playing i-spy on a country walk helps to identify letters and sounds. Spotting different coloured cars, teaches younger ones their colours!

MUD MESS! And lots of it. Yes, it is messy, but it’s amazing fun for little ones. Get them making mud pies in the garden or doing some mud mark making on a wet walk.

NOISE Bang old pans with infants, pick out a tune or rhythm with bells or drums with older ones. Sing songs loudly; clap hands softly.

TREASURE TIME Make a map and hide some “treasure.”

Throw together some pirate accessories or costumes (make a paper hat, or grab a toy sword) and navigate through your home/garden/park to find the treasure.

Don’t forget to battle those pirates along the way!

UNDER THE STARS As the nights evenings draw in, there’s a great opportunity to get a wow moment from a toddler by looking outside and showing them all the twinkling lights from galaxies far, far away.

VIRTUAL FUN There are going to be times when being at home is the only option. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Go online and try: a virtual roller coaster ride, a journey through the Amazon or even a rocket launch! (Visit our lockdown issues at (insert link to your Issuu stack) for some great virtual fun.)

WATER WISE Whether it is the warm bubbly kind in the evening bath or the cold splashy kind from a sprinkler, a wise person once said: when a child is grumpy “just add water.”

X-RAY Take a roll of paper and draw round your child. Stick it on the floor and, as you draw in some bones, talk to them about bones in their body and what they help you do.

OUTDOOR PAINTING Collect leaves or stones and paint them!

Add some food colouring to bubbles and “paint” windows – it will wash off!

PUZZLES Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination, as well as a quiet way of sharing a special few minutes together.

ENVELOPE ENDEAVOURS Pop in photos, stickers, a letter or card and send to a friend or family member.

Kids always love sticking the stamps and visiting the post box.

QUIET It’s essential for everyone’s peace of mind! Try encouraging your little one to find fun in quieter things, whether it’s small world toys, looking at books, colouring, or painting.

FILM FUN Enjoy a film at home and make a game of it! Make popcorn, print off “cinema tickets” (maybe even “charge” entrance!) and settle down with a family favourite.

Perfect for a rainy day!

READING When you settle down with a story at the end of the day, make it special. Try different voices to captivate your child’s imagination. Develop that love of books as early as possible.

GARDEN GROWING It does not have to be big! You can

SAFARI SPECIAL Place some toy animals (or pictures

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of animals) in unusual places around your home and/garden. Then take a piece of paper and pen and go on safari with your little ones, writing down the animals you see. Try out your best David Attenborough impersonation. They will not get it, but it will make you giggle.

YOGA They are never too young to learn how to pause and breathe. There are some great options on Youtube with fun kid friendly themes.

ZZZZ….

For many children, it’s hard to unwind at bedtime. So why not try to make it into more of a game, albeit a relaxing one.

“Where has the toothbrush gone? It’s tucked up in bed with your pyjamas, let us get them on now.” Or: “What are your toys doing? They’re all sitting down to listen to this bedtime story.”

For more from Gaby, follow her on Instagram @thelondonishmum

And… guess what? I’m back!

How many pictures of me have you counted so far?

17

Halloween

DIY Halloween Costumes For many of us, Halloween falls in school half term again for many of us. So, why not start a fun project with the kids to make their own simple Halloween costume? Gill from GillyMac Designs share how to create a Wicked Witch outfit and a Scary Spider costume to cover all spooky eventualities!

Tie-dyeing is the cornerstone of all good homemade costumes. I love it and I haven’t met a child who doesn’t feel the same! Washing machine dyes are easy to use, create no mess and kids are excited to see their creations appear so quickly.

Wicked Witch Costume For budding witches, you will need the following to make the outfit: Any fabrics you have to hand; 1m of 2cm wide elastic;

covered in fabric, cut the elastic ends back to the required length and secure by sewing, tying the ends together, or even with a safety pin.

Once put together, the wicked witch outfit could be accessorised with stripy tights and a hat.

Scary Spider Costume

Elastic bands; Dye; A light-coloured cotton t-shirt.

Whilst I have used old netting and some sparkly voile as fabrics, old scarves or shirts are great for this project.

How to make If the t-shirt is new, wash it first.

Then with as many elastic bands as you can manage, start to twist and fold the t-shirt fabric, securing with the bands.

It is important that the bands are really tight and you use as many as possible as this will ensure the dye creates clear patterns in the final garment.

Now wash the t-shirt with the dye (using the manufacturer’s instructions) and finally wash again with soap to remove any residual dye.

For the witch’s skirt: 1. Cut strips of your fabric twice as long as you would like the skirt to be and then add 5cm to this length. The width of your strips should be around 10cm.

For scary spiders, you will need the following: 3 pairs of black socks More old socks A light coloured cotton t-shirt for tie-dyeing OR a black t-shirt or dark shirt Dye (if you are tie-dyeing) Safety pins or needle and thread or glue gun How to make If you are tie-dyeing, use t-shirt and follow instructions for witches costume above.

Then: 1. Stuff three pairs of black socks with more (old) socks, or anything lightweight, maintaining the curve at the ankle.

2. Attach the stuffed socks to the back of the t-shirt using safety pins, a glue gun or by sewing them.

2. Fold a strip in half and place it underneath the elastic.

3. Make sure the legs are all facing the right direction.

3. Now bring the cut ends of the strip over the top of the elastic and between the fold. Pull the fabric and it will tighten around the elastic.

Accessorise the outfit with black leggings, or with a pair of jeans and spiky hair!

4. Continue adding more strips until the elastic starts to fill up.

5. Wrap the elastic around your child’s waist to test the size.

6. When you have enough of the elastic 18

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Gill from GillyMac Designs teaches children and adults to sew via her in-person and online classes. Gill has won national awards for her work with children and was recruited to teach classes for Liberty of London and works

nationally for the Quilters Guild of the British Isles. Follow GillyMac Designs at www.gillymacdesigns.com, or on Facebook and Instagram where she shares more tie-dye, Halloween, and small sewing project ideas.

Bonfire Night Safety Did you know that sparklers burn at 200 Degrees Centigrade - 5 times hotter than cooking oil?

Whether you’re planning sparklers in the garden or a full-blown bonfire and fireworks, here are some simple tips to keep you safe this Bonfire Night.

Sparklers should not be given to children under 5 Keep a bucket of cold water outside in case of burn injuries Children can be sensitive to loud noises, consider investing in a pair of ear defenders.

If you are planning to let off fireworks, consult the Firework Code at www.rospa.com Keep pets indoors. Animals have acute hearing and loud noises disturb them Remember, the safest way to celebrate Bonfire Night is to attend an organised display

Halloween

Remember, Remember the 5th of November…!

Your Guide to Guy Fawkes Night

By Olivia Malaure Gunpowder, treason, and plot I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.

The ‘plot’ was simple - to blow up The Houses of Parliament with barrels of gunpowder hidden in its cellar.

Guy Fawkes was given the job of lighting the fuse but, on the 5 November 1605, the plot was discovered and he was taken to the Tower Of London and executed. To celebrate his own survival, King James 1 ordered his people to light a great bonfire every year on the night of 5 November.

Many local venues and schools may be holding organised fireworks displays but if the idea of being outdoors with very young children on a cold November evening sends a chill down your spine, here are some ideas to help you enjoy

Bonfire Night at home.

Start with a Bang: Kids love listening to the popping of microwave popcorn that they can munch on.

Add some Colour: Make a rocket! Wrap silver paper around an empty kitchen roll tube and stick down. Cut out a circle of coloured card (approx 9cm) and make a cone shape. Tape the cone to the top of the cylinder. Decorate the cylinder with stickers and stick strips of red or orange cellophane to the bottom for flames. Kids can fly their colourful creations around the garden!

Bonfire Baked Potatoes: Cook up edible bonfires! Fill jacket potatoes with childfriendly toppings. Sprinkle some Red Leicester cheese on top for flames, or put the fire out with a spoonful of creme fraiche on top!

Light Up the Night Sky: Kids love torches and they’re a fun, safe way for them to play in the dark and enjoy the atmosphere of Bonfire Night.

MAOAM’s Top Halloween

Pranks with Max

Hi folks. Max here! I’m the green guy you see on your bags of MAOAM and the (self-appointed) Master of Mischief.

Believe me, making mischief is good for the whole family.

Scientists have proven it! Kids that are encouraged in mischievous play, grow up more imaginative, free-spirited and fun-loving. So today, I’m sharing some of my favourite Halloween pranks for the whole family. Let the mischief commence!

Spider Scare Cut out a fake spider from paper and stick it inside a lampshade. Then, just wait for someone to turn on the lamp… surprise! On MAOAM’s Mischief Hub, my pals Dick and Dom will show you how it’s done – just google MAOAM.fun.

Creepy Sock Puppet These aren’t just any old sock puppets. These are stinking scary ones! Grab some old socks. For the eyes, attach two delicious MAOAM Pinballs with glue and you’re ready for some spook-tacular mischief. Remember, these Pinballs are decoration only!

The Trick & Treat Get ready to prank those little monsters in style. Grab a plastic bowl. Cut a hand-sized hole in the bottom. Get a large personsized box. Cut a hole out the top of the box and place the bowl on top. Now for the sweets. Grab a few packs of MAOAM Stripes and pour them into the bowl. Wait in the box, wearing familiesonline.co.uk

gloves, for a victim - I mean, trick or treater… When they grab a few Stripes, stick your hand through! Mwahahaha.

Spooky Hot Dog Fingers Bring some extra scares to dinnertime by adding chopped onion pieces to your hot dogs. Just like that, your hot dogs become spooky fingers. Add one to the kids’ lunchboxes for an un-boo-lievable surprise.

Blood for Water Re-vamp your bathroom with this ghoulish trick! Place red food dye gel around the tap. When turned on… gasp…the kids will think real blood is streaming from it!

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Parties, Activities, Clubs and Classes Directory

Perform returns with Covid Safe ConďŹ dence Building Fun Families talks to Performâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Principal, Lucy Quick.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always put children at the heart of everything we do and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thrilled to be back in real life with classes ďŹ lled with laughter, fun and conďŹ dence-boosting activities.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put enormous effort into adapting our class content to ensure that we follow the latest government health guidelines whilst making sure the children can still sing, dance, act and have the best fun of the week.

To help children get back to enjoying the things they love most, our autumn term is packed with games and activities which build conďŹ dence, boost concentration, develop communication and help coordination. We have left no stone unturned when it comes to health and safety but the children will be having so much fun that they will barely notice a difference.

Whilst there wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be hand-holding games this term, there will be lots of eye contact, funky moves, fantastic diction and learning about how to be a great friend. Perform runs drama classes for 4-7s and 7-12s

as well as Perform At Home, our popular online classes.

Book a FREE no-obligation class in Barnet EN5 4BW & EN4 8JB, Belsize Park - NW3 4NU, Bounds Green - N22 7UT, Crouch End - N8 8AX & N8 9PX, Dartmouth Park â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NW5 1SL, East Finchley - N2 8HG, Finchley - N12 7NN, Finsbury Park - N4 2HQ, Friern Barnet - N11 3EQ, Golders Green â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NW11 8EG, Hampstead - NW3 1DR & NW3 2QG, Hampstead Garden Suburb - NW11 6PB, Hendon - NW4 4JH, Highbury â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N5 1DL, Highgate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N6 6BA, Islington â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N1 8PF & N1 1BQ, Kentish Town â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NW5 2QY, Mill Hill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NW7 2JA, Muswell Hill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N10 2QE & N10 3BG, North Finchley â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N12 9HB, Primrose Hill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NW1 8TN & NW3 3DS, Southgate N14 7EG, St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NW8 9QG, Stoke Newington â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N16 6BE & N16 0JT, Swiss Cottage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NW3 3NR & NW3 6LU, Totteridge Village â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N20 8PR, Tuffnell Park â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N7 0ND, West Hampstead - NW6 2AP & NW6 1TF, Winchmore Hill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; N21 3RS & N21 1PD by visiting www.perform.org.uk/try

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE BACK! North London

H e l ping babies communic at e bef or e speech Come join us for a free class Ages: 0-30 months Helen 07931 618 415 Helensimmons@singandsign.co.uk

Learn baby

signing the fun way!

Barnet All abilities welcome â&#x20AC;˘ Age 4 -16yrs â&#x20AC;˘ 18 sports a year All equipment supplied Our classes are full of fun, encouragement and praise! ' $) -) / ) $'' $'' *- !0'' '$./ *! ' .. /$( .Ćź ! . *- /* ++'4 *)'$) Ćź +' . 1$.$/Ć˝ www.sportsacademyuk.com 0800 0248 842 Developing young students since 2004

20

Families North London

QE Girls School - Saturday AM

Mill Hill Mill HIll County High School - Saturday AM Classes for: 5-8yrs, 8-11yrs &12-18yrs See website for class times and to book online

Parties, Activities, Clubs and Classes Directory CHILDREN’S PARTIES COFFEE AND CRAYONS CAFÉ (Ballards Lane, Finchley, N3) is a fantastic café with soft play area available. The café is also available to hire for birthday parties, special occasions and clubs/classes. www.coffeeandcrayonscafe. com tel 0208 343 1333 info@ coffeeandcrayonscafe.com NICKY GRACE, TEXTILE ARTIST IN MUSWELL HILL, offers craft parties and workshops for children (and adults) in a calm, natural place which seats up to 14 people round the table. Children take home the beautiful things they have made so no need for party bags! nicky. grace@hotmail.co.uk https:// thegreenshedn10.com PERFORM PARTIES BASED AROUND AN EXCITING THEME OF YOUR CHOICE, Perform’s energetic party leaders use a magical mix of songs, games and laughter to create fun-filled, actionpacked parties to remember.

Call 0207 255 9120 or visit performparties.co.uk for more info.

PICKLED PEPPER BOOKS (N8) have various party packages available for your child’s next party! Parties are held in a specially dedicated Events Space and packages available include themed Story and Craft parties, perfect for 4-9 year olds, - don’t forget to dress up! Or, how about a Science party, run by expert instructors from Kids With Brains, suitable for 5-11 year olds, and including a choice of three experiments! Parties can host up to 30 children. Catering also available so all you need to do is turn up! info@pickledpepperbooks. co.uk, tel 0203 632 0823 www. pickledpepperbooks.co.uk ZEBRA CERAMICS (N10) Pottery painting studio, loved by all ages!!

Whether it’ s a mug, plate or bowl being painted, we will help all party goers to create something they will treasure forever. Our parties are designed for ages 5 and above. You may also visit us if you are not organising a party, we are open 7 days a week. Tel 0208 442 1314 or visit our website www. zebraceramics.co.uk

DANCE THE LONDON INSTITUTE OF DANCE (N10, N8, N12, N21, N22, N9, EN4, Herts) Excellent, Professional tuition in Imperial Ballet, Tap, Modern, Contemporary & More. For ages 2.5years – Adults www.londoninstituteofdance.org londoninstituteofdance@yahoo. com 07563 136 803 STREET DANCE ACADEMY Offer 1 hr classes for children aged 6-16yrs, in age related squads.

Your child will stimulate their imagination through creative movement, expressing themselves familiesonline.co.uk

through dance and music.

Our classes are great for social interaction, listening, spatial awareness and improved physical health. All taught in a fun and safe environment. www. streetdanceacademy.co.uk 0800 0236 236

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT COLOURSTRINGS – for a brilliant start and long-term success in music! Develop your child’s musical talent in Kodalybased music kindergartens and instrumental programmes from six months – 19 years. Call 020 8444 9435 for a trial of 3 discounted lessons or email *admin@nlcolourstrings.co.uk www.nlcolourstrings.co.uk MUSWELL YOUNG MUSICIANS is a Saturday Music School offering musicianship classes (18 months - 5 years) and an innovative instrumental programme (5 years+). We’re passionate about music education and strive to provide an inclusive setting where young people can enjoy high-quality music making and grow as wellrounded musicians. Contact us for a free trial. We look forward to welcoming you! www.muswellyoungmusicians. co.uk, info@ muswellyoungmusicians.co.uk 07954 854 731 SING & SIGN Help your baby to communicate before speech with our award winning music programme. Sing and Sign’s unique approach combines action songs, props and toys in musical activities designed to stimulate speech and language development. Come join us for a free taster session. For children from 6 weeks - 30 months.

Contact Helen on 07931618415 or helensimmons@singnandsign. co.uk

SPORTS AND EXERCISE LONDON ACADEMY OF GYMNASTICS & DANCE GYMNASTICS CLASSES ARE BACK! Our qualified coaches are running classes all over north London or online via Zoom. The ever popular classes cater for children from Reception right up to Advanced levels. See our full schedule and book online. lagad. co.uk info@lagad.co.uk 020 8883 4675 SPORTS ACADEMY UK Have provided years of fun for children every weekend during school term time. Your child will grow in confidence, improve their communication and leadership skills, engage in a healthier, more active life style, and make new friends. Delivering 18 different sports a year, our classes are suitable for girls and boys aged 4-16 yrs, training in age related

squads. Family discounts are available. www.sportsacademyuk.com 0800 0248 842

THEATRE & PERFORMING ARTS PERFORM weekly drama, dance and singing classes Confidence building fun for 4-12s. A unique mix of drama games, dance and singing specially developed to bring out every child’s true potential. Classes are kept small to ensure lots of individual attention.

Go to perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class. Venues: EN4, EN5, N1, N2, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N10, N11, N12, N14, N16, N20, N21, N22, NW1, NW3, NW4, NW5, NW6, NW7, NW8, NW11. Contact: T: 020 7255 9120 / enquiries@ perform.org.uk www.perform. org.uk

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB / EDUCATION VINCENT & FRIDA Art History Lessons for children. Art history lessons for children. Our engaging fun hands-on interactive lessons will run in small groups online and face-to-face. We provide learning experiences that are inspiring and meaningful. Email office@ vincentandfrida to register your interest for the academic year 2020/2021. www.vincentandfrida. com BILINGUAL NURSERIES (N1) French/English Mars Montessori Bilingual Nursery is a small private nursery in the heart of Islington, offering Montessori education and a bilingual environment, coupled with extended day care for children aged 1-4 years. We have only 24 children, and 6 members of staff. The nursery is open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday for 47 weeks of the year.

020 7099 0452 www.bilingualnurseries.com INTUITION inTuition Clubs provide engaging, affordable, and high-quality tuition in Maths, English, and the 11+ for primary children. We offer tuition both in our modern centre and online; delivered in small groups or 1 to 1 classes, by experienced tutors. Please contact us for your free taster session at hello@ intuitionclubs.com 02030927280 KUMON – Kumon study helps children of any age and any ability to shine. We aim to give our students the tools they need to enjoy learning. Our programmes establish strong foundations in maths and English, helping your child to feel confident enough to tackle challenging work. Centres in Camden Town, Islington, Primrose Hill, Edgeware Road, Hampstead, Highgate, Holloway, Archway. 0800 854 714 www. kumon.co.uk

CLARSSROOM Highly sought after and recommended professional tutoring, experienced in developing and preparing children to learn, lead and succeed all around. Reading, English, Maths, verbal and nonverbal reasoning, ages 3 ½ -13.

Book a trial and free assessment today 0203 991 6110 www. clarssroom.co.uk YELLOWBIRD EDUCATION offers fun and engaging workshops for children to develop skills in Creative Writing, Handwriting, Comprehension, Reasoning and Interviews. We have extensive knowledge of the British school system and preparing children for 7+, 8+ and 11+ independent school entrance exams. 020 7731 0695 https:// yellowbirdeducation.com/

BABY AND TODDLER BABY COLLEGE Multi-sensory sessions full of games & activities that encourage balance, cognition, language, gross & fine motor skills, secure attachments, independence, multi-sensory integration & body awareness. Sing, sign, dance, move, play, make friends & more in our progressive classes designed by child development experts. www.babycollege.co.uk/haringey FRIERN BARNET COMMUNITY LIBRARY (N11) offers a variety of classes for adults and children.

These include Toddlers Rhyme time on Wednesdays at 11am, and Minecraft club for children on Fridays 4-5pm. The library is also a party venue and available to hire for education and health classes. http://www.friernbarnetlibrary.org HUMPTY DUMPTY Singalong is a relaxed singing/music session for babies and toddlers (0-2s) with grown-ups. We sing a mix of nursery rhymes and other favourite songs, we make live music together with shakers, bells and my ukulele and we have puppets, toys, bubbles and more!

Singalong parties also available!

11-11.45am Wednesdays, Hargrave Hall, Archway N1 and other sessions are available in Crouch End, Stroud Green and Islington. For current details please seewww.facebook.com/ thehumptydumptysingalong or email thehumptydumpty singalong@hotmail.com LETS LAUGH AND LEARN Our award winning classes are a unique blend of movement & music activities, fun learning exercises and arts & crafts for children aged 20 months to 6 years. All sessions involve the use of different props/puppets to encourage tactile, interactive learning and play. www.letslaughandlearn.co.uk

Here I am again. I’m Max from MAOAM, remember?

Remember to follow me through the magazine to try to win a Halloween surprise!

21

What’s On

WHAT’S ON GUIDE The leisure industry is still getting back on its feet and whilst some venues remain closed, North London and its surrounding areas still have plenty to offer for an entertaining, family-friendly day out. We strongly recommend checking with venues prior to visiting as events are currently, and understandably, subject to change at short notice.

LONDON’S CITY FARMS A slice of country living in the city.

Learn about the animals and coo and ahh at their cuteness.

FREIGHTLINERS FARM N7 Currently open at weekends only, this Islington farm offers a half hour audioguided walk to meet the animals and visit the gardens. Free. 11am – 3:30pm www.freightlinersfarm.org.uk KENTISH TOWN CITY FARM NW5 Farm visits available with free garden drop-in sessions on Tues 11am-12, Wed 1-3pm and Sat 1-3pm. Free. www.ktcityfarm.org.uk

HISTORIC HOUSES & SITES Steeped in history, these pictureperfect houses offer the perfect backdrop for a delicious picnic and many have children’s play areas and delightful walks too.

FORTY HALL EN2 Forty Hall is a Grade 1 Listed Jacobean Manor House, set amidst an idyllic landscape in leafy Enfield. The House

22

Families North London

is open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 11am – 4pm. Free admission.

The Gardens are open approx. dawn until dusk every day. www.fortyhallestate.co.uk LAUDERDALE HOUSE N6 The café at Lauderdale House is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm. They are also offering online exhibitions and Lockdown music. www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk

WALKING AND CYCLING Walking and cycling has become a bit of a pastime during lockdown, but if you’re looking for a new route, visit these websites to find something suitable. www.ramblers.org.uk www.sustrans.org.uk

WATER PARKS

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, then these water parks will keep them busy and wear them out!

PLAY KX @ LEWIS CUBITT PARK, KINGS CROSS N1C Fun activities led by experienced playworkers with equipment and open space.

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September, 11am-4pm www.kingscross.co.uk/event/play-kx

THE BEACH @BRENT CROSS NW4 Open until late September and with lots of different activities to keep you entertained all day and some great children’s shows. Prices start at £3 for entry. www.thebeachbrentcross.com

CAMLEY STREET NATURAL PARK N1C Try pond-dipping, see amphibians and spot birds and butterflies at Camley Street Natural Park. www.kingscross.co.uk/camleystreet-natural-park

WATER FUN @LEE VALLEY EN9 There’s so much to do at Lee Valley from the inflatable obstacle course to rafting and kayaking to frisbee golf.

Prices vary. www.gowhitewater.co.uk

MUSEUMS Many museums have begun to open their doors and they make for a fun, interesting and educational day out.

Here’s a few that are geared toward children.

FOUNDLING MUSEUM WC1N Open each Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm, there are many activities for children planned with Bubble and Tree Printing and knotted bracelets.

Free for children, adults £10.50 www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/ MUSEUM OF LONDON EC2Y Explore the history of London with a wealth of exhibitions and displays.

11:30am – 3:30pm Mon-Fri and 10am6pm Sat and Sun. Free entry. www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM Re-opening 7th September 2020 with a variety of exhibitions and events.

Open daily between 11am-7pm (Thurs and Sun 11am – 6pm).

Free for children adults start from £13.50 www.ltmuseum.co.uk/#

What’s On

Visit the Family Learning Festival The Family Learning Festival which runs from 17 October to 1 November is a national celebration to inspire a love of learning in family life.

Organisations across the UK, including schools, libraries, museums, children centres and galleries will be staging a range of FREE creative family learning activities.

This year’s Festival theme is ‘Love Learning’ with three strands of ‘Out and About’, ‘at Home’ and ‘Feel Great’.

Organisers of the festival, the lifelong learning charity, Campaign for Learning, believes learning that takes place in the family and home should be valued as much as learning that takes place in school classrooms and formal education. The family is where we learn important life skills and positive attitudes to learning, which enable us to become confident, motivated lifelong learners.

To find a local event, visit www.familylearningfestival.com

For up to date What’s On Guides throughout September and October like and follow us

on social media. @FamiliesNorthLondon @familiesnorthlondon @FamiliesNthLon

Visit MAOAM’s Ghoulish Gallery

FREE

Hey London! It’s me, Max! Ready to experience the FULL ON FUN of MAOAM’s Ghoulish Gallery? Along with our friends at Capital FM, we’ll be haunting Westfield on 17 and 18 October with some spookily fun surprises for Halloween!

Scientists have proven that making mischief is good for the whole family – and we’re a mischievous bunch at MAOAM. Mischief helps kids grow up more imaginative, free-spirited and fun-loving.

And what’s more mischievous than playing Halloween tricks?

That’s why. This Halloween. I’m taking my mischief on a tour of the country!

“So, Max. What’s on the agenda?” I hear you ask. Well, get ready for a spook-tacular fun event at MAOAM’s Ghoulish Gallery of Mischief including a hall of mirrors and a zombie photo wall! How cool is that? You’re going to be in for such a mischievous scaring… mwahaha. And guess what, it’s all FREE! After all that tricking, I think you deserve a treat. I’ll make sure the Big Wigs at MAOAM HQ leave something for you and your little goblins and ghouls to enjoy. I mean, mischief is tiresome work.

For frighteningly fun ideas and our full list of haunting tour dates, head over to the MAOAM Mischief Hub – just google MAOAM.fun.

P.S. We will of course be staying spooky and safe by adhering to all Local Government guidelines!

Win a Halloween Surprise Just count the pictures of Max you see in the magazine to win a special Halloween treat.

To be in with a chance of winning, email your name, answer and postcode to: info@familiesmagazine.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Am I the last Max? If so, enter my fabulous competition above.

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