Families London SE September 2014 issue 162

ESTABLISHED 1996

EE

ISSUE NO. 162

FR

SEPTEMBER 2014

®

familiesse.co.uk

south east london

online edition

with working website links

Confidence Building Fun Try a Free Drama Class

Watch your child’s self-esteem soar with our weekly classes for 4–12s Child development is at the heart of everything we do. So our drama, dance and singing sessions will boost your child’s confidence, improve their concentration and give them an outlet to have fun.

Call 0845 400 1277 or visit perform.org.uk for a free class at your nearest venue.

IT’S MIGHTY QUIET - there’s something missing. Oh yes: children. The house no longer hums with the burble of television and thump of footsteps as various offspring (ours plus whoever stayed for a sleepover) dawdle into the kitchen, shaking sleep from their eyes and looking hopefully at the toaster - it must be a new school term.

Imagine the task of welcoming whole classesful of new children, showing them around, settling them down and learning all their names by the end of the week - teachers of southeast London - we salute you!

We hit the ground running this month with more pages than usual so we could fit in extended education features, plus a round up of the best out of school classes for children.

We’ll be back in October with half term fun and Halloween listings. My, we’re barely out of summer, yet time flies faster than a witch on a broomstick.

Robina Cowan, editor

IN THIS ISSUE 2-3 Local News and Views Free reading scheme trial, mini market stallholders in Crystal Palace, a Penge support group, and autumn fundraisers

4-9 Education News First term in Reception, creative teaching, a new nursery in Blackheath, the cost of catchment areas, teaching tiny tastebuds to be adventurous, 20 tips for choosing schools, independent schools and Open Day dates

10 Family Health and What’s New The benefits of physical activitiy, organic products and a parents’ guide to technology

11-15 After School Activities Whether or not you reckon you might be raising the next Picasso or David Beckham, there’s no doubting the pluses for after school clubs

16 Book Review Page Justine Crow rounds up the summer and looks to new books for the back to school crowd

17-22 What’s On Families’ whopping six page guide to new events, festivals, shows and family workshops

23 Where There’s a Will Expert advice on the importance of protecting the assets you’d like your family to inherit

23 The Small Ads

LocalNews email your news to editor@familiesse.co.uk

ildren

Activities for ch Learn to read in 5 weeks - for FREE

From now until 30 September your child can join thousands of children across the UK taking part in the Reading Eggs Great Literacy Challenge - a nationwide effort which inspires children to read.

The free event will give your child up to five weeks’ free access to Reading Eggs - the online reading programme that teaches children aged 3 - 13 the literacy skills needed for lifetime reading success, matching phonics with fun.

The free trial is available for new customers. For full conditions and to start your trial, register today at www.readingeggs.co.uk/lse.

The Ice Queen with Perform We’re only just back at school and some families are already planning for the October half term.

From 27-29 October, Perform is running a holiday workshop for 4-8 year-olds. The theme is the popular Ice Queen story, with an energetic team of actors, musicians and dancers leading the children through three, icy-thrilling days to Blackheath and Dulwich, with a show for family and friends at the end. The course is £98, with a discount for siblings.

To book a place, call 0845 400 1277 or see more at www.perform.org.uk.

Fun Palaces In 1961, Joan Littlewood and architect Cedric Price conceived the Fun Palace as a ‘laboratory of fun’, ‘a university of the streets’. It was to be a temporary and movable home to the arts and sciences that would welcome children and adults alike. This wasn’t possible in 1961; it’s very possible now.

On 4 + 5 October 2014 over 100 Fun Palaces will pop up across the UK and globally, celebrating Joan and Cedric’s vision of combining arts, sciences and learning - welcoming and free.

Here in southeast London, the Ovalhouse Theatre is one of the venues, and everyone is welcome. For more, and details, go to www.funpalaces.co.uk.

Young stallholders Crystal Palace Food Market is offering children their own “Kids’ swap” stalls.

Run by and for children aged over six, it’s a fun place to swap books, stickers, small toys etc, and join in with a community event.

Based in and around Haynes Lane SE19 and open from 10am-3pm every Saturday, Crystal Palace Food Market is a weekly collection of grocers, bakers, raw and fresh food suppliers, arts and crafts producers and more, with regular events thrown in. For information, see www.crystalpalacefoodmarket.co.uk.

Fundraisers

Local business contacts to make your life easier

Front cover: V-neck cotton jumpers from £4, 2-pack school shirts from £4, girl’s pleated skirt from £7, boy’s trousers from £6, all BHS, 0844 411 6000, www.bhs.co.uk/schooluniform

Next Issue out: 2 October, deadline 12 September Families South East, PO Box 11591, London SE26 6WB 020 8699 7240, www.familiesse.co.uk, editor@familiesse.co.uk © Families South East. We take every 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. Families South East is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

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families south east - september 2014

Brewing for ‘chari-tea’ Brew lovers across the UK are being urged to take a break, put the kettle on and enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake, all in the name of a good cause.

National Tea and Cake Break will take place on 17 October to raise vital funds for Epilepsy Action. The charity supports everyone affected by epilepsy through a range of services, including its Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050, branch network, specialist nurse scheme and award-winning website.

Michael White, fundraising events officer at Epilepsy Action, said: “Whether it’s a simple cup of tea and cupcake at home with friends, a tea party in the office or a school bake sale, anybody can get involved.”

Everyone who registers to hold a National Tea and Cake Break will receive a free pack bursting with hints, tips and tools to get their event off to a sweet start.

For more information and to register for your fundraising pack, visit www.epilepsy.org.uk/teabreak or call the fundraising events team on 0113 210 8824.

Teacher: “Who invented fractions?”

Alfie: “Henry the 1⁄8th!”

ts

News for paren Amaze Penge

Amaze Penge is a support group for parents and carers of children with additional needs who live in, or attend school, in Anerley or Penge.

The group meets over tea and coffee on Tuesday mornings during term time, from 9.30-11.30am at Anerley Methodist Church Hall. £1 suggested donation. For more information, email amazepenge@gmail.com.

Love West Dulwich A community of West Dulwich businesses and residents is working together as ‘Love West Dulwich’, with the aim of putting the area on the map and promoting the wealth of award-winning local businesses on offer.

The organisation will be behind a regular programme of mini events, each hosted by local businesses and offering activities for all ages.

The launch event will be on 20 September, with day-long food tastings, fashion and beauty tips, discounts and promotions, and a ‘Where’s Wally’ hunt for children organised by Dulwich Books. The evening’s celebrations will be a soirée of music and barbecue food at Alleyn Park Garden Centre. See local shops for details or look for the organisation on Facebook and Twitter.

Just eat cheesecake Well of course we’re not advocating a cheesecake-only diet, but there’s nothing like a slice.

Which is where Love-A-Slice comes in. The Beckenham-based diner really ramped up its home delivery this summer, buzzing around the streets of southeast London delivering yummy cheesecakes for parties, family get-togethers and nights in. The newest development is signing up to JustEat, so you’re now just an app away from ordering cheesecakes, desserts, milkshakes, jacket potatoes, paninis and more, to your door. Find them at www.justeat.co.uk, or their own, new direct website www.loveaslicetogo.com.

Get up and go

Le Learn ea earn arn tto oR Read ea e ad iin n 5 Weeks Weeks – for for FREE! FREE! From 30 July to 30 September your child can join thousands of children across the UK taking part in the Reading Eggs Great Literacy Challenge – a nationwide effort to inspire children to read!

This FREE event will give your child 5 WEEKS FREE* access to Reading Eggs – the online reading programme that teaches children aged 3 – 13 the literacy skills needed for lifetime reading success.

Sign up for your FREE trial* today and see for yourself how your child’s reading improves by using Reading Eggs.

If the new school term has already exhausted you, a top-up supplement could be just what you need.

Pharmaton Vitality capsules are packed with vitamins, minerals and the unique Ginseng G115 that’s clinically proven to relieve fatigue and also aid mental and physical wellbeing. Designed to be taken for up to 12 weeks, it is a licensed medicine, supported by over 30 clinical trials and studies. To find out more, ask a pharmacist or see the FAQs at www.pharmaton.co.uk.

Looming trouble?

They’re eye-catching, they inspire creativity, but is this year’s big craze really the harmless fun it seems?

Environmentalists are warning that loom bands pose a choking risk to family pets, and discarded further down the line, they could also damage wildlife and seabirds if they reach the oceans.

Meanwhile, some shops are offering cheaply imported plastic charms to attach to loom bracelets; which contain dangerously high levels of cancer-causing phthalates.

Sensible precautions apply: check packaging for a UK distributor’s address and a CE marking on the packaging; keep small pieces away from small children and animals; and let’s hope the next big thing is more wholesome...

What’s On One job we promised to get around to during the summer holidays - and did - was to have a good old rummage around the back end of our website to bring you our new What’sOn app.

Next time you’re kicking your heels wondering where to take the children this weekend, hop onto our website www.familiesse.co.uk. In the top left corner, click ‘What’s on’ and choose by venue, date, age group or type of event - for example outdoors, indoors, free activities, performances and more. And then when you’ve made your choice, you can even get directions to the venue from your door - how clever is that?

The information is gathered and updated for your entertainment by Families editors right across the UK, so if you ever travel out of London (it happens, apparently), you can find out what’s on in Edinburgh, or Oxford, or York for example, by simply entering a postcode. Or try the map view to see the hundreds of ‘pins’ flagging up local events. Have fun!

familiesse.co.uk

FREE

5 WEEK TRIAL*

Hurry, offer ends 30 September 2014.

Register today at

www.readingeggs.co.uk/lse *Free trial only available for new customers who sign up at the above address.

The multi-award winning online reading programme!

september 2014 - families south east

3

education news

School starters

‘5 a day’ the children’s way

By Wendy Flynn

So your child has started school. Congratulations you’ve reached another milestone, so what can you expect in these first few weeks of settling in?

Three quarters of mothers in a survey confessed to being ‘anxious’ about their children starting school, with nearly nine in 10 saying their greatest concern was children settling in and making friends.

Some children will sail through the process smoothly while for others the transition from home to school can be a little choppy.

Tears in the playground? Relax, this is perfectly natural and it does not mean that your child is fated to hate school and never make friends. The morning rush and full days are all just a little daunting at the moment. Don’t panic, either, if a child who has happily skipped into school for the first few weeks suddenly becomes clingy at the school gate and says they don’t want to go. That can be part of the pattern too as they make the adjustment to school.

If you are concerned, have a quick chat with the reception class teacher, who will be adept at working through those early days blues, and will most likely reassure you that within minutes of arriving in the classroom your child is happy and engaged.

Expect your child to be tired at the end of the day

and don’t be surprised when you ask what they were doing at school, the reply is either “I can’t remember” or “nothing”. That’s usual too. Find out more by asking an open ended question such as “What was the best thing that happened today?”, and take it from there.

Most schools are really good at making sure the little ones are looked after in the school playground, and that newcomers have a buddy until they find their feet and make their own friends.

Then just as you breathe a sigh of relief that your child has made a friend, you will probably find that the role of ‘best friend’ changes on a daily basis until you become thoroughly confused with the who’s who of school life. It will settle in time.

Meanwhile, if you are doing school drop-off and pick-up, make an effort to get to know the other parents - many of them will be your allies over the next seven years. Avoid those with the ‘competitive’ streak (so desperate to know another child’s reading level that they invite him to tea after school just so they can look through his school book bag).

Instead, find those with a broader perspective on life who will surely become firm friends. You will survive, so will your child. Just remember that families do this every year - and survive to tell the tale.

A healthy tuck shop run by Year 4/5 children not only adds to their school’s ‘5 a day’, it gives a real world application to numerous academic and life skills.

Picture a busy playground tuck shop; children apply mental maths to handle money efficiently and get through the queue before break is over. The learning is not just about mental maths and money management: it is about crowd control and working under pressure; communication and customer service; being well organised; problem solving and working together as a team.

Pupils Profit offer engaging ‘Tuck Shop Enterprise’ training days to participating schools, along with a nutritious range of tasty and affordable snacks and drinks which are within the Children’s Food Trust guidelines.

Founder Elizabeth Gimblett says: “The key to a successful tuck shop lies in engagement, in selling products the children love; then rather than asking how adults can encourage children to eat more of their ‘5 a day’, you can watch the children encouraging each other!”

To find out more about the Pupils Profit Tuck Shops and other enterprise initiatives visit www.pupilsprofit.com, call 020 8671 7990 or e-mail info@pupilsprofit.com.

Creativity in the classroom

By Angela Drew, Headmistress, Bromley High School GDST ‘Knowledge’, Einstein observed, ‘is limited.

Imagination encircles the world.’ In order to be ready for a professional life where their knowledge will need to be constantly updated, expanded and refreshed, pupils, like Theoretical Physicists, need to learn to look to the future and to dream. So, whilst inspirational teachers will always make the acquisition of knowledge an exhilarating experience, the best education will also nurture a capacity for creative imagination in young people.

In my school, every topic explored in our bespoke Junior School Creative Curriculum has a mindopening, eye-opening and imagination-opening function. Freed from the shackles of the National Curriculum, by Key Stage One girls take an exploratory, experimental approach to the investigation of topics like ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ where they encounter every kind of animal extinct, mythical, imaginary and endangered finding wiggly worms in our Forest School, searching for evidence of dinosaurs with Professor Bones, creating our own dinosaur habitats, writing about their own mythical creatures.

Great teachers have always known that it makes learning fun to set the text books to one side from time to time but there is also a greater moral purpose in the cultivation of imagination because imagination is a key component in empathy.

New technologies are giving pupils across Britain an inspirational window onto a wider world.

Skyping, sharing letters, images and emails give today’s pupils an insight into the thoughts and concerns of children living lives very different from their own. Our link with Sushila Birla Girls’

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School in India encourages girls to reflect deeply on issues of sustainability - ‘to act local and think global.’ Every long-suffering modern parent who has unwittingly failed to recycle a newspaper or switch off a light, will know how zealous youngsters are to implement the new 4 Rs at home: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repair!

Crucially, the cultivation of creative energy and imagination fuels aspiration far beyond the confines of the curriculum. Those who have enjoyed the privilege of an excellent education should always be

properly ambitious: both to make the most of their talents and to change their world for the better.

Bromley High is holding a series of Open Days and taster days for prospective pupils and girls: Open Events: Saturday 4 October 2014, 9.30am 1pm; Sixth Form Open Evening Tuesday 7 October at 6.45pm. There are also Open Events in March and May as well regular Taster Sessions throughout the year. For more information, call 020 8781 7000, or see www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net/fse1.

familiesse.co.uk

A new children’s book festival in south London STREAM South London Book Festival is an exciting new event for children from nursery-school age through to young adults, packed with talks, readings, workshops, book signings and competitions.

The festival will be opened by Malorie Blackman OBE, Children’s Laureate and author of over fifty books, including the acclaimed Noughts and Crosses series.

Visitors can also enjoy fun and games with the hugely popular Wimpy Kid Show and hear Lauren Child, bestselling author of the phenomenally successful Clarice Bean and Charlie and Lola books, talk about her Ruby Redfort series. Steve Cole, author of the new Young Bond novel, will talk about his latest Bond adventure. Be one of the first to get a signed copy of the novel by entering the competition on the web site.

From picture books for the youngest of readers, including readings, illustration and with over 40 authors taking part, there is something for everyone. There will be panels of authors discussing writing about war and conflict, writers whose novels are set in the fashion world, including Holly Smale, author of Geek Girl, and panels of authors discussing different literary genres.

10am-5 pm on Saturday, 8 November at Streatham & Clapham High School, 42 Abbotswood Road, London SW16 1AW. Food and drink will be available, entrance is free to all, with a charge for some workshops: full details and booking at www.STREAM2014.co.uk

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Junior School Open Days 2014

Senior School Open Days 2014

Saturday

4 October

Saturday

27 September 10.00 am - 1.00 pm

Tuesday

4 November

Tuesday

14 October

10.00 am - 12 noon 9.00 am - 10.45 am

9.15 am - 11.30 am

Register for Open Days at www.schs.gdst.net

Register for Open Days at www.schs.gdst.net

Nursery and Junior School (3-11)

Senior School (11-18)

Wavertree Road, SW2 3SR

42 Abbotswood Road, SW16 1AW

020 8674 6912 junior@schs.gdst.net

020 8677 8400 senior@schs.gdst.net

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september 2014 - families south east

5

education news

Preschools and primaries On the ball at Sydenham High

New LEYF nursery in Blackheath Children under five and their parents in Blackheath can look forward to a brand new nursery opening this January. It will offer a homely environment including art and music to inspire your child to grow in confidence, make friends and develop their love for learning.

The nursery will be located at The Conservatoire on Lee Road, a social enterprise multi-arts complex, and run by London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), the UK’s largest social enterprise nursery group.

Call or email Charlene to find out more: on 07858915044 or conservatoire@leyf.org.uk.

OK so England may not have won this year’s World Cup, but students at Sydenham High Junior School went football crazy before the end of term in July when a famous footballer visited the school.

Rachel Yankey OBE, England’s most famous female footballer and youth mentor with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, visited the school to talk to students from years 3 to 6 about her experiences and childhood dreams. Rachel told the girls about the highs and the lows of her career and advised them that they should follow their dream, always believe in what they wanted to do and ensure they gained enjoyment from it. Rachel’s own highs include the distinction of being the first female player to receive a central contract from the FA, and an illustrious club and international career, including selection for the Great Britain football team for the 2012 Olympics. The girls were also amazed to hear that she has won more England caps than David Beckham!

Rachel then presented prize winners with their

awards and leaving gifts to the girls in year 6. At the end of the ceremony members of the school’s football team turned the tables on Rachel and presented her with a gift of their own: a football signed by the team as a memento of her visit.

Headteacher Kathryn Pullen said: “Rachel really embodies the true Sydenham High spirit and her speech was hugely inspiring to the girls. At Sydenham we teach the three r’s - resilience, responsibility and resourcefulness - along with academic excellence, to produce remarkable young women who will make a difference in the world and fulfil their dreams as Rachel has done.” www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net.

Play-based primary school education Imagine a school where learning is about play and exploration... Small Acres is a new, independent, alternative play-based primary school in southeast London, with a democratic and holistic approach to education.

Located in the Peckham Rye adventure playground, children have the freedom to play and explore inside and outside with access to a large playground, the park, a nearby forest and ponds.

Small Acres has a variety of options for families, offering part time places for those wishing to flexi-school, as well as fulltime places from September 2014.

For more information or to apply for a place, email smallacresschool@gmail.com or visit www.smallacresschool.org.

What price a decent education?

A good catchment area is more important than the style or look of a house when parents are choosing a new home, according to research from Sarah Beeny’s online estate agency,Tepilo.

Parents were asked what, theoretically, was the maximum additional amount they’d be prepared to spend on their home to ensure they ended up in their preferred school’s catchment area. Parents in the south of England are most likely to consider spending significant sums to get their children into the right school: nearly 13% would spend £20-£30,000 and nearly 8% say they’d spend more than £100,000.

The figures suggest the problem is a growing one, with almost two-thirds of parents saying educational provision is more of a postcode lottery than when they were growing up.

Discussing the results, Sarah Beeny said: “It may not be fair but, unless you have the money to go outside the state sector, getting your child into a

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families south east - september 2014

good school is tied up inextricably with where you live. The good news for those who have taken on a bigger mortgage for this reason is that, because being in a good catchment area is such a huge selling point, those who have invested in getting their child into the right school will often find that their efforts are rewarded not just in good GCSEs and university places, but in a very attractive sale price for that property when they, too, decide to move further up the ladder.”

A busy first term for Dulwich Wood Federation Dulwich Wood (primary, nursery, and children’s centre) ended its first term in July with a fun-filled summer fete for the whole community.

The event rounded off a successful busy term for the Federation, during which the curriculum was enhanced with numerous creative workshops, poetry and ‘superheroes’ storywriting competitions, cycle training, a week under canvas, a visit from a local policeman and his German shepherd puppy, a toddler fun day and a sports day.

Dulwich Wood Federation is in Lyall Avenue SE21. For more information, contact Colin Lavelle, Executive Head Teacher, on 020 8670 5470, or see www.dulwichwood.com.

familiesse.co.uk

BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Food matters

Firing Girls’ Imagination Since 1883

By June O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of London Early Years Foundation

One of the most common concerns parents share with nursery staff is whether their child is eating enough healthy food, especially in the light of scary statistics from the Department of Health which say that a third of children under five are obese.Taste buds are being formed for life during the early years, so it’s an important time to set a foundation for healthy eating.

While many small children are great eaters and enjoy the whole food experience, others become finicky and develop passionate food preferences which can change quite suddenly. This may limit the variety of foods they eat, the colour of the food they will eat, the way the food is presented (some won’t allow anything to touch on the plate) and can be further compounded by a child’s refusal, and sometimes fear, to try new foods.

OPENMORNING

Saturday October 4th 2014 9.30 am ‐ 1.00 pm

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING Tuesday 7th October 2014 at 6.45 pm Find out more about life at Bromley High School

For Girls 4 ‐ 18 years

Fees Assistance & Scholarships available in the Senior School

‘Picky’ is normal

At London Early Years Foundation our approach to food is designed to balance children’s developing taste buds with ensuring they eat healthily and develop a positive attitude to food. We plan menus to get the right mix of nutrients, for example our chefs will serve fish at least twice a week to counteract the higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency among children under five.

Mealtimes in our nurseries are very important, and you can try some of the things we do at nursery at home. The table is set by the children with placemats and napkins. They practice their counting and communication as they work out how many forks and knives they need, whose name is on the placemat and if there are enough cups for each child. A staff member sits on each table with the children and shares the meal while modelling good manners and encouraging social chat around the table - being able to eat in a group is a key life skill and children need help to learn this. Children are encouraged to try new foods, even if it is just half a teaspoon, but are never forced to eat their food.

You will never hear “no pudding unless you eat your main course first” as we value all food whether sweet or savoury. After lunch, children scrape their plates and stow them away neatly.

While encouraging your child to eat healthily can be stressful, remember that fussy eating is a normal phase.

London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) is the UK’s largest social enterprise nursery group. Locally there are nurseries in Peckham and Brixton, with a new one opening in Blackheath next January. For information, to find a nursery and organise a look-round, go to www.leyf.org.uk or call 020 7834 8679.

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A

Alleyn’s

A positive attitude

admissions@bro.gdst.net Tel: 020 8781 7000 www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net/fse1

© Visa Kopu at Flickr.com

This is a normal phase that most toddlers pass through. In fact this fear may be a survival mechanism to prevent increasingly mobile toddlers from poisoning themselves through eating anything and everything. It is worth remembering that small children need less food than we think and are quite happy eating very small portions of healthy food given regularly. It’s also worth remembering that at this age children have very sensitive taste buds and some tastes are actually really abhorrent to them.

However, coping with a child in this phase can be stressful as a parent because you want to do what’s best for your child. This is where nursery can help. Children are often much more willing to eat food their friends are eating and try different foods in a new situation. For example, having a café snack time often means more fruit is eaten and water drunk than if it was presented on a plate at a table.

Junior School The best start for boys and girls alleyns.org.uk

London’s top co-educational prep school as ranked by Sunday Times 2013 ‘Top 100 Prep Schools’ national list september 2014 - families south east

7

education news Joanna Moorhead on the

20 things you need to know when choosing a school 1. Make up your own mind. It’s amazing how many parents never even look round a school because of what they’ve heard. A school that doesn’t suit another family could be just right for yours.

2. Listen to your child’s feelings as well as your own. Choosing his or her primary is down to just you and your partner; but your 10 or 11-year-old deserves a say.

3. Use open days wisely. If you can, go to a daytime visit (especially to a school that seems a strong contender) because you’ll see it in working mode.

4. Nothing advertises a school like its pupils. Do they seem happy? Are they engaged? If you have time, pass by at going-home time. Are they well-behaved?

5. How about the staff - do they seem fulfilled and cheery working there? Take opportunities to chat to them.

6. Listen to your instincts. If a school doesn’t feel right, move on. You don’t have to explain yourself or your reasons for doing so to anyone else (although you do, of course, need to discuss it with your child if your instincts are different).

7. Don’t get bogged down in the detail: what you’re aiming to get is a sense of the school. Does it feel happy, productive, calm? Is there a sense of order and caring? These things matter more than the nitty-gritty.

8. Think about your child’s talents and interests and ponder carefully whether they’ll be catered for.

Then add what the school offers that might be harder to pick up at home. We’re a family of journalists, where literacy is easier for us as parents; so I’m glad my girls went to a school that specialised in maths and science, even though these weren’t their strongest subjects.

9. Pay attention to what’s on the walls - and not just the artwork. What are children being warned about, or encouraged to do? Are there any school visits being advertised? Which clubs seem to be thriving?

10. Look at the school’s league tables, but don’t pin everything on them. Read the Ofsted report too and pay particular attention to how the school has done over time. If it’s had a dip, are there signs of improvement or suggestions that it could turn round?

11. Where do pupils go on to from this school? You want to see at least some youngsters doing well academically and aiming for good courses at top universities as it shows support for the most ambitious.

12. Go to the head teacher’s talk and take your notebook. This is an important part of the event: not only do you need to pick up on the head’s attitude and values and what matters most to him or her, but you also need to pay special attention to anything that’s said about the entrance criteria. Understanding that is the crucial next stage.

13. If you like a school, do your homework about whether your child fits its entrance requirements.

However much you love the school, and however much you think your child would thrive there, you’ll only get a place if you fulfil the criteria. Read the school’s entrance policy through very, very carefully. If you don’t fulfil the requirements, could you change something so you do? If not, move on: there’s no point in wasting a choice or railing against something you can’t change.

14. You’re bound to talk to other parents, and you want to talk to other parents, but don’t get pulled

along by their tide.

Do your own research and develop your own views: knowledge is power.

15. Keep telling yourself (because it’s true!) that there is no perfect school. Every school has strengths and weaknesses. There’s more than one school that can be right for your child.

16. When the time comes to fill in the forms, allow yourself lots of time and do it extremely carefully.

There may be supplementary forms, and there may be complicated arrangements for giving them in (especially if you’re applying to faith schools). If you find it all too confusing, talk to your child’s primary teacher or primary head, or call the education department at your local authority.

17. Have a plan of action for what you’ll do if you don’t get the school you’re hoping for. Just having that plan will make you feel more relaxed.

18. Remember that there’s a lot of movement in the first few weeks after places are allocated, and many children get in from waiting lists.

19. Don’t underestimate how much hard work an appeal can be, or how emotionally draining.

That’s not to say don’t do it: just be prepared.

20. Remember that, at the end of the day, parents make more difference to a child’s future than a school does. Even if your child doesn’t get into your first choice of school (and one in seven didn’t last year) your attitude to that could be a much bigger factor in what happens next for your child than the school itself. Have confidence, first and foremost, in your child.

And trust that, together, you will work things out if and when you come up against problems.

What makes us different is the difference we make...

From scientific exploration to personal discovery, our outstanding education goes way beyond the curriculum Find out more at our open events: Junior

Sat 27 September 10am-1pm Weds 8 October 9.30-11am

Senior Sat 20 September 10am-1pm Weds 1 October 9.30-11am See our website for further Autumn Open Events & bookable Taster Days 020 8557 7004 admissions@syd.gdst.net www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net 15 & 19 Westwood Hill, London, SE26 6BL

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families south east - september 2014

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND OPEN DAYS Contact the schools for a prospectus and admissions information Alleyn’s School 27 September, 6 and 18 November Juniors, 17 September, 4 October, 5 November Seniors, Townley Road, East Dulwich SE22, 020 8557 1519, www.alleyns.org.uk Blackheath High School GDST 11 +16 October, 5 + 12 November, Juniors Wemyss Road SE3, 020 8852 1537, Seniors Vanbrugh Park SE3, 020 8853 2929, www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net Bromley High School GDST 4 October, plus regular ‘Taster Days’ for ages 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+.

Blackbrook Lane BR1, 020 8781 7000, www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net/fse1

Eltham College 20 September whole school, 6 October sixth form, 15 November Juniors, Grove Park Road, Mottingham SE9, 020 8857 1455, www.eltham-college.org.uk Greenwich Steiner School Tours on Friday mornings by appointment, Woodlands, 90 Mycenae Road, Blackheath SE3 7SE, 020 8858 4404, www.greenwichsteinerschool.org.uk Heath House Preparatory School Wemyss Road SE3 0TG, 020 8297 1900, www.heathhouseprepschool.com

Blackheath Preparatory School St German’s Place, Blackheath SE3 0NJ, 020 8858 7778, www.blackheathprepschool.com Colfe’s School 27 September, Horn Park Lane, Lee SE12 8AW, 020 8852 2283, www.colfes.com

Herne Hill School 4 October and tours by appointment, The Old Vicarage, 127 Herne Hill SE24 9LY, 020 7274 6336, www.hernehillschool.co.uk James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) 11 October, 144 East Dulwich Grove SE22, 020 8693 1181, www.jags.org.uk

Riverston School Tours on Tuesday mornings by appointment, Eltham Road SE12 8UF, 020 8318 4327, www.riverstonschool.co.uk Rose House Montessori Early years and primary years.

Forest Hill SE23, 07810 015698, www.rose-house-montessori.com Rosemead Preparatory School Tours on Tuesday mornings by appointment, Pre prep Elmcourt Road SE27, Prep department 70 Thurlow Park Road SE21, 020 8670 5865, www.rosemeadprepschool.org.uk St Christopher’s School Bromley Road, Beckenham BR3 5PA, 020 8650 2200, www.stchristophersthehall.org.uk St Dunstan’s College 18 September, 1 + 2 October, Stanstead Road SE6 4TY, 020 8516 7200, www.stdunstans.org.uk

Streatham + Clapham High School GDST 4 October, 4 November Junior school, Wavertree Road SW2 3SR, 020 8674 6912.

42 Abbotswood Road SW16, 27 September, 14 October Senior School and 6th Form, 020 8677 8400, www.schs.gdst.net Sydenham High School GDST 27 September Junior school 15 Westow Hill SE26, 020 8557 7000.

27 September, 8 October and 4 November Senior school 19 Westow Hill SE26, 020 8557 7000, www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net Thames Christian College 4 October and 6 November, Wye Street SW11 2HB, 020 7228 3933, www.thameschristiancollege.org.uk Virgo Fidelis Prep School 4 October, 147 Central Hill SE19 1DS, 020 8653 2169, www.vfps.org

Open Morning for Prospective Parents & Girls

Oakfield Preparatory School Group tours held once a month on Tuesdays, 125-128 Thurlow Park Road SE21 8HP, 020 8670 4206, www.oakfield.dulwich.sch.uk

Dulwich College 11 October and tours by appointment, Dulwich Common SE21 7LD, 020 8693 3601, www.dulwich.org.uk Dulwich Prep London 20 September, Nursery and Reception 8 Gallery Road SE21, yrs 1-8 42 Alleyn Park SE21, 020 8670 3217, www.dulwichpreplondon.org

Pointer’s Preparatory School Visits by appointment, Stratheden Road, Blackheath SE3 7TH, 020 8293 1331, www.pointers-school.co.uk

Saturday 11 October 2014

Please visit us at www.jags.org.uk James Allen’s Girls’ School 144 East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8TE Tel: 020 8693 1181 No need to book www.thameschristiancollege.org.uk

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020 3476 4398 ! www.mathsdoctor.co.uk/families KS2

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GCSE

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familiesse.co.uk

University

Thames – passion for learning, inspiration for life our exceptional independent school for boys and girls

OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER 11.00-1.00 For full list of open mornings, enrolment and fee details contact 020 7228 3933 Thames Christian College, Wye Street, London SW11 2HB

september 2014 - families south east

9

family health An active life is a healthy life

By Dean Horridge, CEO, Fit For Sport As a PE teacher with over 20 years’ experience it’s fair to say I’ve seen some PE trends come and go, from kids doing cross-country in the snow to Sports Day races being banned.

Some things have improved over time but sadly there’s still a school of thought that believes asking children to compete is wrong. Indeed, a survey of 8-16 year olds by Marylebone Cricket Club and Chance to Shine suggested the majority of children would be happy to see the competitive element removed from school sport.

However, we want to see children succeed in sport, even representing our country at international levels, and unfortunately you can’t have it both ways. Elite athletes need to learn how to compete, what it feels like to win and, more importantly, what it feels like to lose. Children need to be encouraged to push further to realise their potential. And there’s no harm in doing that, provided the goals are realistic, the child is engaged and the support structure is in place to catch them when they fall.

The key to this is engaging kids in the benefits of physical activity at a much earlier age. Fit For Sport did just that as part of our ‘Engage to Compete’ primary schools programme with Sport England last year, and the answers were revealing.

After taking part in our fun pilot, we asked children aged 4-11 how competition made them feel. The responses were overwhelmingly positive with the vast majority stating that competition made

them feel happy, excited and confident as opposed to nervous, afraid or worried.

When we asked them outright if they liked taking part in competitions, 86% said yes.

That’s 86% of children who like taking part in competitions, once they are engaged in physical activity at a younger age.

And it’s not just about being active in school, it’s about being an active family. Children learn so many of their traits from their parents, why should physical activity be any different? Parents have just as much responsibility, if not more, than schools to ensure their kids are eating right, learning

Guide for depression Around one in ten young people will experience depression, stress or anxiety by the time they reach 18. But where can their parents turn to for help?

This summer a new guide was launched for parents who might be worried that their child is depressed.

On behalf of charity the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, the guide offers answers to all the most frequently asked questions parents have, plus guidance on what to do next.

A Parent’s Guide To Depression is filled with clear, practical advice for anyone concerned that their son or daughter has a mental health problem, tackling challenges such as how to distinguish between natural adolescent mood swings and depression, and ways to talk about your concerns with your child.

“Parents are usually the first to notice that their child’s behaviour has changed,” said Jackie Williams of the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. “Often they feel powerless to help, particularly if their child is shutting themselves off from their family and the wider world. But the good news is there are proven, practical strategies to help your child overcome their depression.”

For a copy, click ‘depression’ in the tab at www.cwmt.org.uk.

What’sNew Green Living

to live a healthy lifestyle and engaging in fun activity as a family unit.

After all, an active family will lead to a healthy family and surely that is something to strive for in life. For more information go to www.fitforsport.co.uk.

New Launches Children out’smart’ their parents

You probably know the feeling - the fastest way to find out how to use your smartphone or tablet is to ask the nearest child.

Parents who struggle to keep up with the pace of change say that their lack of knowledge of different games, apps and social networks is making it difficult to share experiences with their children - or fully understand how to tackle the risks children might be exposed to.

The Vodafone Foundation has joined forces with

By Nature has expanded its range of organic The Parent Zone to provide a further 600,000 school uniforms with both new colours and more copies of their comprehensive Digital Parenting styles for their shorts, trousers, pinafore dress and Guide to schools and other public bodies this year. skirts.

The guide is also available online at Natural and www.vodafonedigitalparenting.co.uk, and there’s organic school more information at www.theparentzone.co.uk. uniforms ensure that children’s skin only comes Isossy Children has launched an ‘I Am Possible’ into contact campaign for its A/W 2014 collection. with chemicalIsossy Children has always been about breaking free clothes. down the visible and invisible cultural barriers that In addition, exist in the world, through fashion: “It is no longer current simply about uniting colours, it’s about giving kids disturbing and parents choices through headlines fashion and empowering the on the next generations. appalling The childrenswear label working and safety conditions in the fashion creates stylish, meticulous industry highlight the need for consumers to shop collections drawn from African, for ethical clothing brands certified to high social Asian and Western influences standards. but made in England. It’s fun, The range is designed for children aged 3-11 it’s niche, it’s trend-setting. years and includes trousers for boys and girls, For stockists and orders, enter pinafore dresses and pleated skirts. Prices range the Isossy world at from £12.95 to £21.95, online at www.isossychildren.com. www.bynature.co.uk.

Organic school uniforms Nom Nom organic is a winner A Crystal Palace company has won Gold and Silver at the 2014 ‘FreeFrom’ skincare awards, in the family skincare category.

Nom Nom organic pregnancy and baby skincare products were put through a four stage judging process including a rigorous month-long assessment by testers recruited by The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible, and the company’s Stretch Butter Camillia and Vanilla took the Gold.

Nom Nom range comprises three pregnancy and three baby products with a gift set for each. All are certified organic by the Soil Association with five products also gaining additional COSMOS certification. The products are made without chemicals such as petrochemicals, parabens, SLS or artificial colours and fragrances. Products and gift sets range from £8.95 - £39, available online from www.nomnomskincare.com.

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families south east - september 2014

“I am possible”

familiesse.co.uk

The value of

after school activities

By Susan Tomlinson

Whether or not you reckon you might be raising the next Picasso or David Beckham, there’s no doubting the pluses for after school clubs From ballet to basketball and art to archery, there’s something to discover for every child. And the best thing about them is they’re brilliant for all sorts of reasons - not just learning a new skill.

For a start, after school clubs give children the chance to ‘be themselves’ outside the classroom.

When you consider that in many countries around the world, children don’t even start school until they are six or seven years old, a full day in the classroom for youngsters can be a big ask. That’s why an alternative to the three Rs can be hugely rewarding.

As clinical psychologist Dr Julie Fraser, puts it: “It’s an opportunity for kids to explore different talents.

Not everyone is brilliant at academic subjects and it’s a chance for your kids to shine outside of the classroom. Learning a new skill can also affect what happens in school - kids feel more confident and able to try new tasks.”

Certainly all the research shows this to be the case.

Every leading study into extra curricular activities demonstrates that academic grades actually improve when children participate in outside school clubs.

Life skills Children’s clubs are not only great for improving academic levels but for developing important life skills too.

“It’s brilliant for developing social skills, dealing with new environments, talking to different adults and mixing with different children,” says Dr Fraser. “But best of all, after school clubs are confidence building.”

Team sports like football, rugby, and netball not only contribute to physical health but also demonstrate the value of teamwork. Competitive sports can teach difficult life lessons like being a gracious winner and loser.

Learning a musical instrument also teaches the art of practice, patience and persistence. Drama clubs can give a voice to more reserved children, while dance classes add discipline and self-expression.

The top actetivnities in 2014

Join The Strings Club this September!

Award-winning

Guitar, Violin, Ukulele courses for children aged 4-12.

Starting Saturday 20th & Wednesday 25th September www.thestringsclub.org 07799 332562

children’s most popular s survey): a recent Argo to ng di (accor ts 6. Martial ar s ic st na ym 1. Swimming G 7.

2. Football 8. Drama 3. Dance 9. Youth club ons 4. Music less 10. Athletics outs 5. Guides/ Sc

Something for everyone The opportunities are endless. There are clubs for almost anything you can imagine. Archery, chess, horse riding, computer clubs, film making and even circus skills are all proving popular alongside the more traditional arts and crafts, swimming, tennis and kung fu. There are clubs for nature lovers run by the Woodland Trust, BMX biking for tots, and even children’s yoga and tai chi.

While there is a wealth to choose from, it’s important not to overburden children with too many activities. Frantically rushing from one after school club to the next seems to be missing the point. New skills, team work and confidence building aside, the most important thing to think about when deciding which club to choose is surely the fun factor. The good news is that most classes offer a free trial to help you choose before signing up.

After that, the trick is to stay involved.

“It’s important to talk with the teacher, find out how they work and show an interest in the class” says Dr Fraser. “That way you can be sure your child really is enjoying the club, and you will begin to watch them flourish and grow.”

We’ve picked some of southeast London’s best classes, but space is limited! For even more, click ‘Things to do’ at www.familiesse.co.uk.

Imagination for the Everyday Early years Drama www.theatretots.com Weekly classes in Lee, Blackheath and Hither Green Schools, nurseries and parties too! info@theatretots.com - 07801072776

Active bodies GYMBOREE EAST DULWICH focuses on encouraging and nurturing little ones in every aspect of their development, with parents and carers right by their side. They offer a variety of fun sensory led classes for newborns to four year-olds. Classes are age specific and include activities designed by child development experts to support both mental and physical development. The award winning programme supports learning through fun and play!

Book in for your free trial and experience a 45 minute Gymboree class with enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers. Email eastdulwich@gymboree-uk.com or phone 020 3616 0033. You will be offered a class suitable for your child’s age and stage of development.

familiesse.co.uk

TENNIS-4-KIDS offer a fun-filled introduction to tennis for children aged 21⁄2 to 11 years. Sessions are played indoors with small rackets, sponge balls and a scaled-down court, after school, on Saturdays and during some school holidays.

For details or to book a free introductory session, call Gordon on 07877 391 005, email gordon@tennis4-kids.com or log onto www.tennis-4-kids.com.

TENNIS-4-KIDS

september 2014 - families south east

11

Diving is fun!

Jump off the olympic boards into our big bubble • One-to-one & small groups • Residential courses in Spain & Argentina • Corporate language tuition

We are the top Junior club in the UK and are an ASA England Talent Centre

• After school Spanish clubs • Conversation & vocabulary workshops • Exam Preparation for A/AS level, GCSE & ELE

020 8824 4811 www.livetolearnlanguages.com

Organised by World Champ Chris Snode

Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools

Suitable for 6 year olds to Teens children must be confident to swim in deep water

AVA RI L AVA R TRIAL

Cla l sses in in:

3–18 years

Bexle y Chisl heath ehurs t

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London SE19

Bookings 020 8771 4742 www.c r ystalpalacediving.co.uk Find MORE southeast London children's activities online at www.familiesse.co.uk/directory

now

0020 8447 4530 530 www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk t k

Call your local Stagecoach: Dulwich 020 8949 4116 Blackheath 020 8417 0010 Beckenham 020 8541 0833 Sydenham 020 7228 0981 www.stagecoach.co.uk

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families south east - september 2014

1995

WEEK TWO WE TW LEEE! BLE! AB I A IL ILAB

Crystal Palace Diving

n m u t Au rm Tebooking

. .Established ........

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MICROSPORT

TRY TIME KIDS’ RUGBY have created rugby-based games and activities that increase children’s enjoyment of sport as well as develop them physically. They told us: “We know what keeps kids entertained and enthused and we believe passionately that our rugby play sessions for all two to seven year-olds will give them the attributes they will need to go on and play the next level of rugby; or indeed any sport.”

You can book a free trial whenever you want, so why not come and have go. Sessions are an hour long every Saturday morning, and there are also Try Time Rugby Birthday parties. To book a free trial or find out more, 01252 794150, www.trytimekidsrugby.com.

LATINO BAMBINO runs unique postnatal Salsa classes for new mums carrying their babies in a sling. This is a fun and easy cardio workout that burns fat and releases endorphins as well as tones your entire body and stimulates your baby’s mind.

New mums will also receive their ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle Guide eBook’ to help them get back into shape faster.

Latino Bambino also runs dance sessions for toddlers ages 1-4, full of Latin beats and colourful props. Children’s party entertainment with a Latin flavour for a real ‘Fiesta’ atmosphere, and nursery sessions are also available. Visit www.latinobambino.com or call 0796 1838 349 to find out more.

TUMBLE TOTS classes are designed to develop children’s physical skills of agility, balance, co-ordination and climbing, and foster confidence and self-esteem.

Each weekly session combines fun, excitement and challenge on brightly coloured Tumble Tots equipment in a safe and caring environment. All sessions are run by staff specially trained to get the best out of your child. It is structured according to the different ages and stages of a child’s development. For classes in Blackheath, Dulwich, Battersea and Clapham, call Julia on 020 8464 4433, www.tumbletots.com/dulwich.

MICROSPORT has been running for 23 years.

Uniquely among sports classes for young children in the Bromley and Beckenham area, there is an extensive variety of sports, so no chance for your child to become bored! Indeed, so popular have the classes proved, Microsport have now introduced an after school club for 4-7 year olds, running on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Beckenham, in addition to the preschool classes. During the course of the ten week term, children are introduced to cricket, soccer, rugby, hockey, tennis and much more besides. For lots more information, and testimonials, see www.micro-sport.co.uk, or call Angela on 01689 600992.

GDND ACADEMY is now in its 11th year of teaching. They told us: “At GDND each child is important to us. We aim to help build our pupils’ confidence and self esteem, offering many opportunities to achieve through dance.” The academy appears at local community events, and in theatres for two annual shows. Pupils can take accredited exams in Ballet, Tap and Street dance, and GDND host dance parties and Frozen parties too.

Class spaces are limited but free taster classes are available. See the website, email or phone for more information: www.gdnd.co.uk, office@gdnd.co.uk, 07904 424 504.

LATINO BAMBINO

CRYSTAL PALACE DIVING

CRYSTAL PALACE DIVING is England’s top junior club, winning the national team title for the past seven consecutive years.

Based at the National Sports Centre in South London, classes are organised by former World and European Champion Chris Snode.

The Club is a England Talent programme, Swim 21 accredited and offers diving to children from six to teens.

For those showing an aptitude for diving there are competitive teams and divers compete in school, regional, national and international competitions.

For more information, visit the club website www.crystalpalacediving.co.uk or call the dive office during Monday to Friday office hours on 020 8771 4729.

DIDDI DANCE is the only pre-school dance programme to explore 14 different dance styles from reggae and hip hop to ballroom and Bollywood. Classes are ideally suited for 2-4 year-olds, however early movers from as young as

GYMBOREE

TRY TIME KIDS’ RUGBY

16 months really enjoy the sessions. A free trial class is offered and then booking is made in half term blocks through the new online booking system.

Parties and nursery sessions are available as well as weekly classes. For classes in SE1-SE18, call Anne-Marie 079 7398 2790. For classes in SE19-SE27, call Nicola 07832 913282. Or read more at www.diddidance.com.

Singing, acting, drama and music

STAGECOACH DULWICH

STAGECOACH DULWICH In July, students from Stagecoach Dulwich entertained the crowds at London’s O2 arena when they joined Robbie Williams onstage for his “Swings Both Ways Tour”.

Twenty-two children were chosen to perform the song “High Hopes” made famous by Bing Crosby.

They sat alongside Robbie and performed to sell-out houses on four nights.

Principal, Jonny Clines, said “I’m really proud of the students who performed with Robbie Williams.

They were not intimidated by the huge crowds that filled the O2 arena and they performed brilliantly!”

All the students taking part are from Dulwich and the surrounding areas. They attend Stagecoach for training in the Performing Arts every weekend.

See www.stagecoach.co.uk/dulwich for more information.

For Stagecoach classes in Blackheath, call 020 8417 0010, for Beckenham 020 8541 0833, Sydenham 020 7228 0981.

FREEDOM ACADEMY runs a programme of acting, singing and dance classes and private tuition during term time, offering weekly classes leading to LAMDA exams, end of term performances, participation in local festivals and fairs, plus holiday workshops.

There is also a children’s agency which has sent performers to professional appearances in west end productions, TV ads and children’s TV series.

All this and there are adult dance classes available too. For information and bookings, see www.freedomacademy.co.uk or call 020 8244 4873.

familiesse.co.uk

PERFORM children this term will be travelling through space on an inter-planetary adventure with The Space Queen and The Little Green Alien. On their way they’ll eat cheese with The Man on the Moon, gravity groove with The Sparkly Spaceman, and visit Venus with the beautiful Princess Star.

Their mission is to confront and stop The Cruel Commander, who plans to destroy Planet Earth... but will they stop him on time?

Perform’s drama, dance and singing workshops for 4-8 year-olds are ‘guaranteed to be the best fun that your child has all week!’ Local classes are held in Beckenham, Blackheath, Bromley, Dulwich, East Dulwich, Greenwich, Hither Green and Wickham.

For a free trial, call 0845 400 1277 or go to www.perform.org.uk.

Street dance, Ballet & Tap Classes Enrolling now for September starts GDND Academy, a fun and exciting dance school where your child will grow in confidence, make new friends and have opportunities to achieve through dance, taking part in local performances, dance shows, as well as accredited IDTA exams.

Classes start from as young as two years, right up to adults!

FREE tasterufoprils new p W: www.gdnd.co.uk E: office@gdnd.co.uk T: 07904 424 504

See our website for class listings in the following areas:

SE14 | SE15 | SE21 | SE22 | SE23 | BR1

september 2014 - families south east

13

PERFORM FREEDOM ACADEMY

JIGSAW PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOLS

FUNKY MONKEY MUSIC CLASSES are always looking for new talent, so why don’t you book in a trial session to see how your little one enjoys playing the electronic keyboard? Trial classes are running in September, so now’s the perfect time to get in touch. Funky Monkey teach children from 4-8 years in small groups how to read and write music too up to a recognised first grade, so it’s perfect for any instrument they may want to take up in the future. There are also fantastic courses running in the October half term and at Christmas. Visit www.funkymonkey.info for more details or call 0800 107 7949 for a chat and see what it’s all about.

FLEET TUTORS is a national tutoring service provider with over 36 years’ experience in helping students of all ages and academic backgrounds with personalised tuition. Fleet specialises in small group revision courses and one-to-one tuition in all academic subjects, starting from school entry and Common Entrance right up to GCSE, A-level and university. The company is recommended by ‘The Good School’s Guide’. 020 8580 3911 or 0845 644 5452, www.fleet-tutors.co.uk, email clientsupport@fleet-tutors.co.uk.

THEATRE TOTS run drama sessions for 1-7 year-olds. After starting with two classes in southeast London in 2008, there are now sessions all over the UK, in China and as of this year, in the USA. Run by local mum of two (almost three!) Laura Sydonie, the company offers workshops for schools and nurseries, classes, shows, published books and parties. They also write shows for places of historical interest, most recently Westminster Abbey.

Classes are a mix of stories, music and movement to engage and enthral the youngest imaginations. A free trial is offered for all weekly classes and there is a flexible payment scheme.

0780 107 2776, www.theatretots.com.

THE STRINGS CLUB

THE STRINGS CLUB teaches children to play instruments in a fun and rewarding environment, with top strings tutors. Choose from Violin, Guitar or Ukulele in the Strings Club Minis programme for 4-5 year-olds, or the Sound Start courses for those in year 1 and above. Free trial class available.

Also brand new to SE London are Strings Club holiday camps and music activity days, packed full of unique music workshops and events run by friendly, experienced teachers and suitable for everyone from complete beginners to budding string players up to grade 8. Call 0779 933 2562 or see www.thestringsclub.org for details.

OLE´ KIDS is looking forward to another year of Spanish classes for children and parents starting up again in September, group classes, schools, nurseries and at home.

As well as classes for children from 6 months up to 18 years old, Olé Adults are now also teaching adults across London.

Sign up to the newsletter for monthly ideas on how to keep up Spanish language at home through books, films, games and activity ideas for children.

For more information, call 020 7386 0376 or see www.olekids.com.

For a tasty ‘taster’, head to Iberica London Canary Wharf where Olé Kids run workshops for children while you eat amazing Spanish tapas at the restaurant, www.ibericalondon.co.uk.

JIGSAW PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOLS run weekend dance, drama and singing classes for children aged 3 - 18 years. Children are divided into age appropriate groups and work towards shows and presentations. Jigsaw focuses on having fun and building confidence through engaging performing arts activities. Two week trials are available. Go to www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk or call 020 8447 4530.

Language and development THE BABY BEAR CLUB is coming to southeast London! Founded by a local mother in conjunction with education, dance, art and speech professionals, the Baby Bear Club runs exciting weekly classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. The classes are unique in offering a range of activities from singing, dancing, story telling to messy play, arts and crafts and introduction to phonics. Book your free trial class in Dulwich Village or Canada Water Library, at www.thebabybearclub.co.uk or call 0782 571 0044.

INKHEAD is a group of writers who run creative writing courses in schools and libraries for passionate or reluctant writers aged between 7 and 14. The workshop approach encourages children to use their own ideas, knowledge and experience to create the stories they want to write. Writing exercises, prompts, games and feedback on their stories all help to promote a love of writing.

Children can also sign up for tuition in writing, comprehension and preparation for the 11+ or for help in literacy. 07943 514408, www.inkhead.co.uk.

THEATRE TOTS

14

families south east - september 2014

LE CLUB FRANCAIS AND EL CLUB ESPANOL teach French and Spanish through games, songs and performances, giving children the confidence to speak and understand the language in a fun setting.

The clubs also cover French and Spanish food, customs and festivals to incorporate the culture.

All teachers are native French or Spanish; giving children a head start in understanding and speaking the language with the right accent. The classes are for 3-11 year-olds, with the added bonus of access to the Babelzone website, filled with songs, stories and games to enjoy at home.

Classes are competitively priced with sibling discounts available; and children are invited to a free trial session. For more information or bookings, email Sévérine, severinecoupe@aol.com or call 020 8699 7665.

YES TUITION AND TRAINING teach intensive touch typing, using their own highly successful programme. Classes are held on Saturdays and every school holiday and they are fun! Most children are touch typing in just 10 hours, helping enormously with their school work and using a PC at home. There are particular benefits for those with dyslexia or dyspraxia. 020 7515 1707, www.yes-tuitionandtraining.co.uk.

EXPLORE LEARNING

OLE KIDS

EXPLORE LEARNING has opened a new centre in Brixton to provide out of school English and maths tuition for 5-14 year-olds, plus the options of 11+ tuition, creative writing and a course designed to help children succeed in secondary school.

Explore Learning has a number of drop-in centres across London which have proved hugely popular with parents, children and schools alike.

Sessions are held in groups so children can make friends, while each is tutored to their own level.

There are discounts for siblings and families eligible for Childcare Vouchers, Working Tax Credit or Income Support. For more information and a freetrial, call 01483 447 410 or email Brixton@explorelearning.co.uk. Explore Learning is also in Sydenham 020 8659 6026 and New Cross Gate 020 7871 7110, www.explorelearning.co.uk.

LIVE TO LEARN LANGUAGES specialise in bringing Spanish to all ages, with an afterschool club and a Spanish club for bilingual children, and GCSE and A’level preparation courses.

For adults, there are small group classes or one-to-one tuition, leisure related workshops, and even themed trips to Spain to enjoy the country’s festivals, experience horse riding or flamenco dancing.

All classes are delivered by professional teachers with plenty of experience, who guide students in listening, reading, speaking and writing, with feedback on every lesson. For information, call 020 8824 4811 or send an email through the website www.livetolearnlanguages.com.

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The springboard to confidence for your child • Exciting physical play programme • Specially designed equipment • Supervised by trained staff • Develops a child’s confidence, balance and co-ordination • First steps to an active life • Great fun! • Parties available For more information please call Julia on: 020 8464 4433 julia.forrest@tumbletots.com Classes in: Battersea, Clapham, Dulwich, Blackheath www.tumbletots.com/dulwich

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september 2014 - families south east

15

The Bookseller Crow

is a fantastic, volume stuffed shop run by some of the most knowledgeable bookworms in the business.

Call in for the feel of a real bookshop, or if you’re too busy, pick up the phone or point your mouse at their website for a fast mailorder service. Justine Crow recommends this month’s best titles.

Some of the more, um, experienced readers of this page will recall that for quite a few years I delivered my September selection of books from a straw-stuffed barn in northern France, usually while the children - mine and many others - tickled the cows, devised ghastly never-ending plays for us watch (when all we wanted to do is get slowly blottoed) and made umpteen bizarre sculptures out of the contents of the recycling trug using miles of Sellotape and snipped straws (which all ended up dans la poubelle anyway - so much for eco-art). The only time they saw a screen was in the morning when the cartoon Titouf was on among copious yogurt ads (we weren’t up yet) and in the evening (between bath and bed when we stuck on Monsieur Disney so that we could nit-comb and nail-trim with least resistance). And when it rained (and mon dieu, did it rain), they read real books, the kind with pages and everything.

HELP YOUR CHILD LOVE READING by Alison David Egmont rrp £9.99. So I discover a laudable effort to convince us that this is still possible (as the author’s actual job title is ‘Consumer Insight Director’ I do hope there is nothing cynical in her pursuit). For a generation that find absolutely nothing extraordinary in text zipping by on a screen - it’s all still fascinating alchemy to me, though you are looking at someone who still finds being on the top deck of the 157 thrilling - surely the starting point is to nurture the idea that some words are for keeping.

TAMING THE TIGER PARENT by Tanith Carey - How to Books rrp 8.99. Here is a welcome response to the tedious guilt-inducing diatribe of the “Battle Hymn...”, where a more relaxed attitude is proposed with a little less panic-driven pressure to fill kiddo’s every waking hour with proscribed activity and a little more just hanging out in trees reading books (you can drop a paperback from a high branch and it won’t break by the way). Personally I subscribe to the bed-time story method whereby the grown-up actually does the actual out-loud reading and shows ‘em the pictures. Especially in France. My sister-in-law was particularly good at this, when she could focus. While I meanwhile was downstairs conjuring up an unforgivable dinner involving prawns and Pernod or something.

HOW TO BE A HIP MAMA WITHOUT LOSING YOUR COOL by Jenny Scott - Hardie Grant rrp £12.99. Can I just say that if you need a book to be hip, you ain’t never gonna be, um, hip. However, there is nobody more impressive than a cool mum. That’s where my ambition always lies. Stay chilled in all regards - to appear cool and not let the children see the whites of your eyes or they’ll have you; to look cool, or at least to try to brush my hair and put on a fresh t-shirt every day; to be cool, what is the point of shouting your head off all the time? It only hurts your throat.

THE SHED: THE COOKBOOK by Gregory, Oliver & Richard Gladwin - Kyle Books rrp £19.99. As this features a 100 recipes ‘showcasing ingredients foraged from hedgerow and beaches’, it could have been written just for us. Confession time: this page has indeed been brought to you from deep in the Norman countryside again, and this year the only way to calm Trasha down after her brother threw his skateboard at her (or probably vice versa), was to do some therapeutic black-berrying for the traditional crumble that we have made every single season since year dot, to which our local neighbour inevitably replied when presented with the fruit, fat and flour concoction: “Oh, j’adore le croomble.”

THE HEALTHY LUNCHBOX by Fiona Beckett - Grub Street rrp £6.99. Ah, back to school means back to the thorny ole issue of school dinners. Though I am a big supporter of the hot variety, rustled up in a clanging school kitchen by expert practitioners, my offspring are fully paid-up members of the

awkward squad, so packed it is. And no chance of ever running out of inspiration with possibly the most comprehensive guide to the food genre there is. Covering everything from age, inclination, time (or lack of it), budget, food politics and even ethnicity, I only hope the Co-op on the corner can keep up.

EMPTY FRIDGE by Gaetan Doremus - Wilkins Farago rrp £12.99. Translated from the French - I’m nothing if not topical this is an utterly charming high rise tale, wonderfully drawn, which goes up and down the stairs while somehow managing to describe the diversity of life in the city with - spoiler alert a recipe for quiche. Ingenious!

HELLO! SCHOOL illustrated by Angie Rozelaar - Campbell rrp £9.99. And some of you may be needing this as you try to explain what to expect as they begin their ritual institutionalisation. It’s all here in pull and push form - the playground, a sandbox, painty aprons, recycling for models (cue robot voice: There. Is. No. Escape) and that unmistakable British school dinner hall, complete with hairnets and mop.

BABY ON BOARD by Kes Gray & Sarah Nayler - Hodder rrp £6.99. The somewhat brash style is mitigated by the wit here in this helpful attempt to get the message across that number one is about to get some competition in the attention department. I especially like the bit where she’s fit to burst, the hospital bag is packed and dad says she ought to practise her breathing, to which mum retorts that he ought to practise sleeping on the sofa..

IF I HAD A VELOCIRAPTOR by George O’Connor - Walker rrp £6.99. A defter brush stroke makes for a more appealing picture book about what pets are all about. Substitute this cute miniature dinosaur with a puppy or kitten and you’ll still have a shredded armchair and a paw in your face at dawn.

The Phoenix Presents, GARY’S GARDEN BOOK 1 by Gary Northfield - David Fickling Books rrp £6.99. This guy knows more than a little about diminutive beasts, not only having previously created the hilarious Terrible Tales of the Teenytinysaurs but also contributing an exquisite cartoon strip following the travails of those non-human garden regulars such as Podgy Pigeon, Boris and Monroe, the daring fox and rat duo, Professor Ladybird Zarpov and Anton the Hover Fly for this great ground-breaking weekly comic for all ages with NO advertising. Also out is book 1 of The Etherington Brothers, Long Gone Don, same price, but you might need to lay off the caffeine with this as the description ‘manically bonkers’’ doesn’t do it justice. But it is spectacular and always entertaining.

HOW TO MAKE AWESOME COMICS by Neill Cameron, with Professor Oanels & Art Monkey - David Fickling Books rrp £.99.

Also a Phoenix Presents production, get the felt-tips out and have a go. Completing a caricature that succeeds in making your friends laugh is a life lesson and one that should be on the school curriculum alongside country dancing and baking a cheese and potato pie. Never did me any harm.

Mindyou, while you’ve all been busy getting used to new classroom routines, tight shoes and timetable changes, I’m still trying to put the farmhouse back together after the family left and have been paying the price for encouraging my nephew, Dinky Bill, to do something creative - I swear if I suck up one more ruddy loom band, I and the Hoover will go bang. Come Armageddon, there’ll be nothing left but IKEA bookcases, plastic patio chairs and fifty bazillion little rubber loops in all the colours of the rainbow. Next year, on second thoughts, I’m gonna park him in front of the laptop afterall.

The Bookseller Crow, 50 Westow St. Crystal Palace, London SE19 3AF Telephone: 020 8771 8831 email: info@booksellercrow.co.uk www.booksellercrow.co.uk 16

families south east - september 2014

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LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

THE CHOCOLATE SHOW

What’sOn

LONDON HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING AND HOME IMPROVEMENT SHOW

Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

Diary Dates for Grownups CRYSTAL PALACE FOOD MARKET

FOREST HILL FASHION WEEK

Saturdays, Haynes Lane SE19 3AP, www.crystalpalacefoodmarket.co.uk Crystal Palace Food Market is a community not-for-profit Transition Town project founded by local residents Karen Jones, Rachel de Thample and Laura Marchant-Short in May 2013. The market brings together the best quality, locally sourced, low-carbon food, including meat, fresh fish, fruit & veg, eggs, cheese, raw milk, artisan bread, cakes and hot food into the heart of Crystal Palace, with regular events as well. Open 10am-3pm every Saturday.

UNTAPPED, 20 September. Join Crystal Palace-based community arts organisation, Untapped, for a sustainable creative session. Free but donations welcome, suitable for all ages. See the Untapped Facebook page for details.

APPLE DAY, 20 September. Spa Hill Allotments present ‘Apple Day’ for Autumn Equinox in recognition of the traditional celebratory harvest.

Apple pressing and apple games - fun for all. 10am-3pm.

HAPPY FEET, 27 September. Loads of fun for families with local mum, Lotte Layzell, at the Hartbeeps Happy House with her Happy Feet interactive educational music session. Expect funky tunes, friendly characters, sparkles, bubbles and masses of magic sprinkles. 11.30am and 12.45pm (40 mins sessions), suitable for babies and children up to 4 years, £1 per child.

18-21 September, VARIOUS VENUES in and around Forest Hill SE23, www.fhfw.co.uk Forest Hill’s festival of fashion returns with a bigger and better than ever programme of events for fashionistas and families alike. Designers on the high street join forces to stage catwalk shows, workshops including jewellery making, upcycling, knitting, photography and more, visitors can browse markets to buy vintage items, children’s clothing and accessories, and the fun culminates with a closing concert of live music on the last day. See the event website for full details.

INTRODUCTION TO WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 12 September, WWT London Wetlands Centre, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT 020 8409 4400, www.wwt.org.uk Are you confused or frustrated by the buttons and settings on your camera and want to really take control of your photographic creativity?

Photographer and author Iain Green will guide you through your camera’s various automatic settings - and then show you how to turn off the ‘automatic ‘ mode but still get fantastic photos. 10am-4pm, £55pp + admission.

TABLE TOP SALE 13 September, LOCHABER HALL, Manor Lane Terrace, Lee SE13 5QL, www.facebook.com/Lochabertablesale Nearly new clothing, toys and equipment for children. 3-5pm.

NCT NEARLY NEW SALE 20 September, St JOHN’S CHURCH, Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham HR3 4JN Children’s and baby clothes, toys and equipment at nearly-new prices, organised and in aid of NCT Beckenham and Borders. 10.30am-1pm.

BEATING ANGER 17 September - 19 November, VICTORIA, London SW1, 0345 1300 286, www.mindyouranger.com A ten week course designed for anyone interested in exploring and understanding their anger. Beating Anger helps to examine how anger often takes root in childhood experiences. Withdrawal of love, inappropriate punishments, rejection, bullying and belittling are historical issues that can fuel present-day anger. Ranging from those who are extravagantly violent in their anger demonstrations, to those who inhibit and contain their rage, the course helps you step through your fear and inhibitions to start the process of effectively dealing with your anger and that of others.

BABY JUMBLE 20 September, St HILDA’S CHURCH HALL, Courtrai Road, Crofton Park SE23 1PL, www.babyjumble.com Pre-loved baby to 3 year-old essentials at second-hand prices, with 25% of door takings going to charity. Early bird tables can be purchased from £18, with sellers keeping 100% of their takings on the day.At each event Baby Jumble offer parents a “leave behind” service, where sellers are welcome to donate any leftover items to their charity partner Wandsworth Oasis who support children affected by HIV. 2-4pm, entry £2.50 per family.

BABY JUMBLE GOES TO SCHOOL 11 October, St HILDA’S CHURCH HALL, Courtrai Road, Crofton Park SE23 1PL, www.babyjumble.com Pre-loved essentials for children aged four to 11, at second hand prices, with 25% of door takings going to charity. Early bird tables can be purchased from £18, with sellers keeping 100% of their takings on the day. At each event Baby Jumble offer parents a “leave behind” service, where sellers are welcome to donate any leftover items to their charity partner Wandsworth Oasis who support children affected by HIV. 2-4pm, entry £2.50 per family.

An Ailie Cohen Puppet Maker / Unicorn production

THE ART OF THE BRICK

26-28 September, OLYMPIA, Hammersmith, Kensington W14 8UX, 0871 230 1086, http://london.homebuildingshow.co.uk The UK’s fastest growing home show is coming to London for the first time as a combined event designed for both self-builders and remodelers. Visitors will have the chance to discover an extensive range of products and recommendations, and pick up tips and bespoke advice from an expert panel on how to successfully complete a project from start to finish.

Piers Taylor, award-winning RIBA architect and co-presenter of BBC2 series ‘The House that £100k Built’ will be making his first appearance on the London expert panel to inspire visitors with quality interior design and architecture recommendations to help homeowners make the most of their projects. Charlie Luxton, sustainable architectural designer and presenter of More4’s ‘Building the Dream’, will be making his awaited comeback to the London event and will also appear alongside other homebuilding and home improvement professionals including Michael Holmes, editor-in-chief of the Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine.

The Ask the Architects area will provide a space for dialogue between certified RIBA Architects and visitors curious about the design and construction process of their project. After a consultation with a member of the team, homeowners will leave with the assurance that their plans will be ready to be implemented by well-guided contractors. Admission £17 on the door, £12 in advance (children under 16 go free).

THE CAKE & BAKE SHOW 3-5 October, EARLS COURT , Warwick Road, London SW5 9TA, 0844 854 1364, www.thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk Rachel Khoo, Lisa Faulkner and Phil Vickery will be appearing at this year’s show, which is set to entertain 30,000 baking enthusiasts during three days of baking action. For the first time, London will play host to all four Great British Bake Off Champions, as well as Eric Lanlard, Paul A Young, Rosemary Shrager, Simon Rimmer and the Fabulous Baker Brothers. Audience members can compete with the stars live on stage in the Competition Theatre and visitors can get hands on in a series of free Renshaw Modelling Magic workshops. The incredible CakeBomb walk-in Jungle feature will also return with life size animals, leaves and flowers created entirely from cake and sugar. It’s an edible adventure like no other. Tickets from £14.50.

PAINTING YOUR PATHWAY Various dates throughout September, WHISTLING STUDIO, 88 Grove Park, Camberwell SE5 8LE, 07947 104135, www.intuitivepaintinguk.com Intuitive painting allows participants to reconnect with their own creative impulse and paint from their hearts. The studio invites adults to play with colours and discover hidden creativity. There are taster workshops, and longer courses available, with all materials provided. See the website for full details.

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september 2014 - families south east

17

THE GREAT RIVER RACE

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

STREAM BOOK FESTIVAL

MoreWhat’sOn

8 November, STREATHAM & CLAPHAM HIGH SCHOOL, 42 Abbotswood Road SW16 1AW, www.stream2014.co.uk STREAM South London Book Festival is an exciting new event for children from nursery-school age through to young adults, packed with authors’ talks, readings, workshops, book signings and competitions.

The festival will be opened by Malorie Blackman OBE, Children’s Laureate and author of over fifty books, including the acclaimed Noughts and Crosses series. Open 10am-5pm, admission free with a small charge for some activities.

Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

THE CHOCOLATE SHOW

THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SHOW

17-19 October, OLYMPIA WEST, Hammersmith Road, Kensington W14 8UX, www.thechocolateshow.co.uk

8+9 November, Evolution Centre, BATTERSEA PARK, Chelsea Bridge Entrance SW11 4NJ, 020 3301 0299, www.schoolsshow.com By bringing Britain’s top independent schools together under one roof, this unmissable event enables visiting parents to explore the many options available in a single day and make informed choices based on their child’s particular needs. Exhibitors include expert speakers and experienced independent advisors, alongside representatives from over 190 of the UK’s leading nurseries, preparatory and senior schools.

The longest running and most established exhibition of its type, it is a ‘must attend’ event for parents considering private education. The event is completely child-friendly, with a children’s entertainment area offering circus skills and a whole host of other exciting activities for young visitors. Family tickets are free if you register online in advance, saving £10 per head on the door.

The grand finale of Chocolate Week will see the return of Salon du Chocolat’s world famous Chocolate Fashion Show, bigger and better than ever. Daily catwalk shows will showcase couture outfits designed by chocolatiers and fashion designers made entirely out of chocolate prepare to be wowed by the magic of chocolate. Visitors can get their hands chocolatey in a L’Ateliers des Chefs chocolate workshop, discover more in the Tasting Room and enjoy demos from top chocolatiers and pastry chefs on the main stage, as well as of course buy delicious treats from the best UK and international chocolatiers and chocolate makers. Tickets from £12.50.

TOTALLY THAMES

Events and Attractions FAMILY EVENTS AT THE HORNIMAN HORNIMAN MUSEUM and gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23, 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk Museum open 10.30am-5.30pm daily, general admission free, charges apply for special exhibitions and the aquarium. The museum’s music gallery and hands-on base, regular weekend and holiday drop-ins and workshops allow family visitors to explore the collection through arts and crafts, music, stories and hands-on sessions. All this within 16 acres of beautiful green space which has the oldest nature trail in London.

EXTREMES, until 2 November. Calling all explorers. Go on an expedition to see how animals and plants survive in extreme heat, cold, dryness and constant darkness or with little oxygen, in the museum’s new family-friendly exhibition. Book tickets first.

AT HOME WITH MUSIC. From parlours to palaces, musical keyboards have been part of family homes for hundreds of years. The exhibition brings together highlights of keyboard instruments from the Horniman and the Victoria and Albert Museums, including organs, harpsichords, pianos and clavichords, featuring rare and beautiful examples.

FARMERS’ MARKET, Saturdays. A weekly market of locally sourced hot food and more, in the park gardens. 9am-1.30pm.

SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road SE1 8XX, 020 7960 4200, www.southbankcentre.co.uk MONSKI MOUSE’S BABY DISCO DANCE HALL, 7 September. Take to the dance floor in this friendliest of discos. DJ Monski Mouse and her team bring high-energy smiling to the Spiegeltent, spinning retro hits and funky nursery rhymes. For ages 0 - 5, accompanied by an adult.

ALI MCGREGOR’S JAZZAMATAZZ, 13-28 September. An afternoon of jumpin’, jivin’ jazz for kids, led by cabaret star Ali McGregor. An hour of jazzy beats to get the kids singing and dancing with two dance teachers.

Parents and friends welcome to join in!

DARBAR- CHILDREN’S SITAR, 21 September. A sitar workshop for children with Jasdeep Degun. The leading sitar maestro explains in child-friendly language the raga tradition and the sitar’s place as an iconic Indian instrument. Children also get the chance to hold the sitar and play basic notes. 12.30 - 1.15pm and 1.15 - 2pm, free.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

CHILDREN’S INDIAN SINGING, 21 September. Tofail Ahmed, Indian classical vocal teacher leads a session for children on singing Indian ragas from the basics. Children can explore the building blocks of Indian ragas and find out how to sing raga-based compositions. Free.

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM, 39 Wellington Street, Covent Garden WC2E 7BB, 020 7379 6433, www.ltmuseum.co.uk Children can let their imaginations run wild as they are transported back in time at the historical and interactive London Transport Museum. Filled with buses, trains, and taxis they can take the wheel, try their hand as a Tube conductor or bump around with the other passengers in the back, as they explore the vehicles of London’s past and present. Museum open 10am-6pm Mondays to Thursdays and weekends, from 11am Fridays. Admission free for under 16s, £15 adults. Tickets are valid for 12 months’ unlimited admission.

September, VARIOUS VENUES, www.totallythames.org Totally Thames is an exciting new, month-long arts and cultural celebration of London’s river, featuring over 100 river-related events along its entire 42 mile course through the capital. Delivered by the same team behind the Mayor’s Thames Festival, this inaugural programme features arts, music and community festivals, colourful regattas, thrilling river races, foreshore archaeology, exploration, environmental and educational activities, as well as river-linked activities in all 17 London riverside boroughs. For the full line-up, see the organisers’ website.

BLUE RIBBON VILLAGE, 13+14 September. Two days of free activities for all ages - meet farm animals, make a model or talk to the many river organisations exhibiting in Potters Field Park SE1 2AA. Noon-6pm, free.

CLASSIC BOAT RALLY, 13+14 September. Beautiful boats of all descriptions from all over the country - both working and leisure - will moor at St Katharine Docks for public enjoyment and tours, with live music adding a festival atmosphere. 11am-6pm.

THE GREAT RIVER RACE, 27 September. Over 300 crews from all over the globe will be part of the spectacular race for traditional boats up the Thames from Milwall in the east to Ham in the west. 12.30-7pm.

For viewpoints, check www.greatriverrace.co.uk.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R, 020 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the UK’s central bank.

Examine intricately-designed banknotes, feel the weight of a genuine gold bar and see the pikes and muskets that were once used to defend the Bank. Children’s activity sheets provide fun for younger visitors.

Open 10am-5pm Mondays to Fridays, admission free.

THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE BANK OF ENGLAND, until 31 December. Discover the impact the Great War had on the economy, and its effects on the Bank of England and its staff.

OPEN HOUSE LONDON WEEKEND, 20+21 September. Enjoy 30-minute guided tours of parts of the Bank not generally accessible to the public. No booking required. 9.30am-5pm.

MAIZE MAZE 13+14 September, PENSHURST PLACE ESTATE, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8DG, 01892 870307, www.penshurstplace.com One of ‘This is Kent’s’ top 10 things to do in Kent, get yourselves lost in a field of maize - lots of eco-fun for all the family! Open 10.30am - 6.pm.

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020 8658 9975 www.lancasters.co.uk 18

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Streatham & Clapham OTSchool TJunior S ON TUESDAY

at Streatham & Clapham Junior School

s a great place to meet other parents and carers U a fun time for babies and toddlers (up to 4 years) U an opportunity to socialise and share ideas and support U a stimulating and safe environment U stay and play while enjoying a coffee (or tea!)

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

HMS BELFAST

SPIEGELTENT AT CANARY WHARF CANARY WHARF, One Canada Square E14 5AB, 020 7418 2000, www.canarywharf.com A fabulous Spiegeltent programme based out of a classic ‘Mirror Tent’ brings a packed schedule of eclectic activities and performances for all ages. With its sparkling interior and festival vibe, the tent provides a perfect setting for eye-popping acrobatics, a cabaret showcase and a Family Rave, alongside comedy performances, creative workshops and insightful talks from well-known guests.

A REAL FAIRY STORY, 13 September. Ripstop Theatre performs a beguiling magic and clever shadow puppetry show aimed at children of all ages. Tickets £7.

COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS, 20 September. The best stand ups and sketch acts - but without the rude bits!

Ages 7+, tickets £7.

FAMILY RAVE, 20 September. Big Fish Little Fish bring DJs, a multi-sensory dance floor and craft activities for all the family movers and groovers. All ages, tickets £4 children £8 adults.

THE ART OF THE BRICK 26 September - 4 January 2014, OLD TRUMAN BREWERY, 91 Brick Lane E1 6QL, 020 7492 5374, www.artofthebrick.co.uk Nathan Sawaya’s world renowned exhibition The Art of the Brick is coming to London for a limited season. Over seventy five art sculptures created from more than a million LEGOTM bricks will be on display, including many human figures, a T-rex skeleton, and interpretations of world famous artworks. The exhibition includes an Interactive Zone where younger (and older) visitors can explore their own creativity using the iconic bricks. Open daily, admission from £8 children, £14.50 adults.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM GEFFRYE MUSEUM OF THE HOME, 136 Kingsland Road E2 8EA, 020 7739 9893, www.geffrye-museum.org.uk Explore the home from 1600 to the present day through a series of period living rooms and gardens which reflect changes in society, behaviour, style and taste.

Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, from noon Sundays, admission free. Special workshops and quizzes inspire creativity and provide amusement for accompanied children on the first Saturday of each month and during school holidays. Places allocated 30 minutes in advance of each workshop.

HISTORIC ALMSHOUSE TOURS, 3+17 September.

The restored historic almshouse has been fully restored to its original condition, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of London’s poor and elderly in former times. Tours are conducted by museum volunteers and take place at specific times each month.

COUNTRY FAIR AT CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE 14 September, CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE, Hill Hoath Road, Chiddingstone, Kent TN8 7AD, 01892 870347, www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk Set in the idyllic rural setting of Chiddingstone Castle and its attractive grounds and lake, the fair will celebrate the traditions of our countryside and the country sports associated with it. Activities and displays include a Dog & Runner Duck Show, a promenade of horses with riders in elegant costumes, a dog show, falconry, gundog training, marquee stalls and locally-sourced refreshments. 11am-5pm, admission free for under 5s, £1 children, £4 adults.

IGHTAM MOTE IGHTAM MOTE, Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0NT, 01732 810378, www.nationaltrust.org.uk Visit a moated manor house which medieval knights and courtiers to Henry VIII used to own. Standard admission to house and gardens £10.50 adults, £5.20 children, £26.30 families.

STRICTLY HISTORICAL DANCING, 14 September.

Pastime historical dance performances through the ages. 12noon, 2 and 3pm.

APPLE & ORCHARD WEEKEND, 27+28 September.

A whole weekend of events created to celebrate the apple and the many heritage varieties which grow in Ightham’s orchard. Follow a trail around the garden and enjoy apple-related cakes, soups and baked goods in the restaurant. 11am-4pm.

Tots on Tuesday takes place at 10 am until 12 noon every Tuesday morning during term time.

Junior School 7AVERTREE 2D SW2 3SR 020 8674 6912 www.schs.gdst.net

K&ES RAILWAY HOP FESTIVAL WEEKEND 13+14 September, TENTERDEN and BODIAM stations, Kent, 01580 765155, www.kesr.org.uk Enjoy a weekend of hopping nostalgia at the Kent & East Sussex Railway’s annual Hop Festival Weekend.

There will be five steam departures on Saturday and Sunday between Tenterden and Bodiam stations and plenty of entertainment for everyone throughout the weekend. Former hop pickers will re-live memories while visitors experience the hop picking way of life first hand in the recreated hop garden and hopper’s hut where typically pickers would have stayed, sometimes for as long as six weeks. Live music and dance will add to the nostalgic atmosphere, and visitors will be able to sample local specialty foods. 10.30am-6pm each day, family tickets £48 include return train travel to Bodiam.

SCIENCE MUSEUM SCIENCE MUSEUM, Exhibition Road SW7 2DD, 0870 870 4868, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science, engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. Open daily 10am-6pm except 24-26 December.

LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS. The largest free interactive science gallery in the UK is packed with exhibits which allow visitors to launch a rocket, turn their head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud.

Ages 8-14, free.

WHO AM I? Find out what makes you special through interactive activities which use the latest in brain science and genetics. Free.

THE RUBBISH COLLECTION, until 14 September.

What does one month of ‘rubbish’ from one institution look like? Discover the beauty, value and volume of what we throw away. A unique two-part exhibition uses 30 days’ worth of the museum’s waste to expose the beauty, value and volume of what we call ‘rubbish’.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 5BD, 020 7942 5000, www.nhm.ac.uk Dinosaurs, volcanoes, precious gems and creepy crawlies - discover the diversity of the natural world through the nation’s finest collection of natural history specimens. Fascinating exhibitions display up to 70 million plants, animals, fossils, rocks and minerals, with a hands-on education centre where you can meet real scientists at work. Museum open 10am-5.50pm, admission free.

DINO SNORES, 20 September. Discover what really happens at the Museum when the staff and visitors have gone home. Ages 7-11 years. 7pm start to 9.50am the following day. £52, members £47.

SENSATIONAL BUTTERFLIES, until 14 September.

Wander among hundreds of the beautiful free-flying creatures as the family friendly exhibition returns to the Natural History Museum for a sixth year, housed in a specially constructed tropical enclosure on the Museum’s east lawn. Highlights include an outdoor butterfly garden with tips on how to attract butterflies and create your own butterfly garden at home; interactive activities allowing you to explore fascinating butterfly facts; the chance to watch butterflies emerge from their chrysalises through the hatchery window; a riot of colourful tropical plants in the house and garden; and tips and advice from the butterfly house manager. Open 10am-5.50pm, single tickets £5.50, families £19.

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IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH

HMS BELFAST

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On the THAMES at The Queen’s Walk by Morgans Lane, Tooley Street SE1 2JH, www.iwm.org.uk Discover the exciting stories of those who served HMS Belfast; exploring the nine decks where sailors once hurried up and down its ladders, or take a look at the mess desk where her 950-strong crew ate and slept.

Open 10am-5pm, admission free for under 16s, £15.50 adults.

Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

Events and Attractions ONE MILLION YEARS OF THE HUMAN STORY, until 28 September. What was Britain like when the first humans arrived on its shores?

Meet life-size models and travel back in time nearly one million years to uncover what life was really like for our ancient relatives long before the Romans, Saxons and Vikings arrived. £4.50 children, £9 adults, £24 families.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, Lambeth Road, London SE1, 020 7416 5000, www.iwm.org.uk IWM London has been transformed with brand new, ground-breaking First World War Galleries alongside a new central atrium space with large object displays, new shops and cafes. Open daily 10am-6pm daily except 24-26 December, admission free, charges apply to some temporary exhibitions.

FIRST WORLD WAR GALLERIES. Discover the story of the war - how it started, why it continued and its global impact, through the lives of those who experienced it at the time on both the front line and the home front across Britain and its empire.

ATRIUM AND TERRACED GALLERIES. ‘Witness to War’ displays nine iconic objects including a Harrier, Spitfire and V2 rocket suspended from above, as well as a T34 tank and a Reuters LandRover damaged by rocket attack in Gaza. Levels 1 to 3 tell key stories from the Second World War to modern day conflicts, though curated displays using both large objects and other materials from IWM’s collections, including film and artworks.

A FAMILY IN WARTIME explores the lives of William and Alice Allpress and their ten children, showing what life in London was like during the Second World War. Daily life is brought to life through interactive exhibits, photographs, recorded interviews with the family, archive film footage, paintings, personal documents and an intricate model of the Allpress family home.

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: SPIES, until 4 January 2015. Uncover the deadly world of spies at this major interactive exhibition for families, based on Terry Deary’s book from the bestselling Horrible Histories series. Find out how exploding rats were used to sabotage German factories, what secret agents carried in their suitcases (apart from their socks!), and discover the tricks, traps, techniques and stories of the real wartime Super Spies. Follow a trail to collect stamps for your essential spy kit, test your undercover skills including using devious disguises, and have a go at cracking cunning codes. Under 3s free, family tickets from £12.25 on the day, less when booked in advance online.

OBJECT CONVERSATIONS, Sundays. In these new immersive object handling sessions, families can explore objects from the collections and see they connect with iconic objects on display in the new atrium and Terraced Galleries. Feel the weight of a shrapnel piece from the First World War and come to grips with real objects from the museum’s collections. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

CREATIVE RESPONSE, Sundays. Make a creative response to themes held within the new atrium and Terraced Galleries as a drawing, a photograph or a postcard. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

PEACE WEEKEND, 20+21 September. Join the museum’s creative drop-in discussion for young people around this challenging theme.

Participants are invited to fold an origami paper crane to commemorate World Peace Day. 11.30am and 2.30pm starts.

INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLOCAUST, 4+5 October. A free discussion and replica object handling session, designed as useful starting point for families who wish to learn about the Holocaust.

Suitable for children aged 11 and above but please note that the Holocaust Exhibition is recommended for children aged 14 and above.

11.30am and 2.30pm starts. Limited to 30 places. For further information, contact Grant Rogers, grogers@iwm.org.uk.

GOLDEN HINDE 1 Pickfords Wharf SE1 9DG, 020 7403 0123, www.goldenhinde.com Board the replica ship on Saturdays for a family-friendly guided tour to find out about life at sea and Sir Francis Drake’s voyage around the world. Regular fun days with costumed staff feature Tudor life at sea, filled with gruesome stories, treasure hunts, battles and hands-on activities. Open 10am-6pm, £4.50 children, £6 adults, £10 families.

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D-DAY FAMILY TRAIL, until 31 December. Pick up a family trail to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day by learning about the role HMS Belfast played during this important day. The trail will bring visitors through the ship while pointing out interesting facts that relate to D-Day. Pay close attention to the various points around the ship for clues that help to crack the final code!

CUTTY SARK CUTTY SARK, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT, 020 8858 2698, www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark The world famous 19th century tea clipper offers visitors four levels to explore. Take in the views from the main deck and steer at the ship’s wheel, meet the crew who worked on board, explore the various cargoes from wool to whiskey, and see how tea was loaded on board through interactive displays, props, information boards and animations.

Family friendly events run at weekends and during school holidays.

Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Sundays, admission £6.50 children, £12 adults, from £20 families. Bundled tickets are available with the other Royal Museum Greenwich attractions.

GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE. Immerse yourself in the new Gun Turret Experience, a chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like. Overlooking the front of the ship, or Fo’c’sle, is the forward most of HMS Belfast’s Triple Gun Turrets. Lights, audio, videos and projections will recreate the experience, highlighting the hectic and cramped conditions that would have seen twenty-six men in this confined space at any one time. Entry included in general admission price.

loves The Imperial War Museum Lambeth Road, London SE1, 020 7416 5000, www.iwm.org.uk IWM London re-opened this summer following a major, £40m transformation, thanks to the support of numerous funders, sponsors, trusts and individuals.

Do you remember the museum from school trips, with its huge atrium filled with military vehicles and hanging aircraft?

They’re all still here: and look up the soaring walls to spot more large-scale exhibits bursting through to introduce different galleries on three levels.

The collection tells the story of conflict in Britain and the former empire chronologically from 1914 to the present day, through the voices of the people who were involved, both at war and at home. There are personal letters, postcards, photographs, audio clips and more, making war a movingly personal experience.

Compelling for history buffs, enlightening for school children and an important national

collection, the museum is a must-see. There is plenty for younger visitors, from the fascinating ‘Family in Wartime’ exhibition which focuses on a real south London family, to Horrid Henry spy activities and weekend hands-on sessions for families - see our What’s On listings for details.

Family-friendly facilities include step-free access, four lifts, baby changing facilities, buggy lockers and a family-friendly cafe and tea room.

We say: “The collection is so vast it’s well worth planning ahead to visit highlights rather than expect children to take in the whole museum in one go. At the end of the visit, stop off at the shop and buy your children a realistic looking, bouncy rubber egg!”

Open daily 10am-6pm daily except 24-26 December. Admission free, charges apply to some temporary exhibitions.

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APPLE DAY, 12 October. Sample and buy traditional British apples, and take part in craft workshops, a treasure hunt, archery, face-painting, and apple pressing. Stalls will be selling local produce, including honey and home-made jams, cakes and Kentish Cider. 11am-4pm admission free with donations welcome to help care the animals.

FIREPOWER - THE ROYAL ARTILLERY MUSEUM

CUTTY SARK

BRIXTON WINDMILL

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM, Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HT, 020 7881 6606, www.nam.ac.uk The history of British land forces from 1485 to the present day, with costumes, paintings, artefacts and special displays telling the stories of men and women who served in British armies across the globe. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free.

ACTION ZONES. Learn about life as a Victorian soldier or World War evacuee through quizzes, games and hands-on activities.

KIDS’ ZONE. Under 8s can enjoy an exciting soft play area.

VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM V&A MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL, 020 7942 2000, www.vam.ac.uk/families During any visit, families can pick up a trail from the Information Desk and explore the museum through puzzles, drawing and observation.

Suitable for 7-12 year-olds. There are also hundreds of exciting hands-on exhibits containing plenty to touch and try out. Museum open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free.

WEDDING DRESSES 1775-2014, until 15 March 2015. Trace the eternal fashion of the wedding dress and discover the most romantic, glamorous and iconic dresses from the last 200 years. This magical exhibition highlights exceptional craftsmanship and brings together couture and designer-made wedding garments from key fashion designers including Charles James, Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang. Share the stories behind the outfits and celebrate the most comprehensive, nostalgic and evocative collection of wedding dresses and bridal fashions ever. Admission £8.

Saturday BACK-PACKS. Pick up a back pack and explore the museum with fantastic jigsaws, stories, puzzles and games.

10.30am-5pm.

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www.museumofchildhood.org.uk This gem of a museum is fascinating for families with young children.

The collection includes dolls, dolls’ houses, puppets, teddy bears, games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography.

Everyday drop-in activities include storytelling, arts and crafts, and trails. There’s dressing-up, role play and an under 3’s area, an indoor sandpit, and regular special events. If it’s sunny there’s an outdoor space to enjoy a picnic. Open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free.

DAYDREAMS AND DIARIES, THE STORY OF JACQUELINE WILSON, until 2 November. Delve into Jacqueline Wilson’s life and work and find inspiration in the settings where she came up with some of the ideas for her most famous books. The exhibition begins with a replica of the childhood bedroom where she developed her love for reading and finishes with a mock-up of the study in which she now works. Also on display will be short stories and diaries written by Jacqueline as a young girl, showing the origins of her talent for writing, while annotated drafts of favourites such as Tracy Beaker and the later work Hetty Feather will give fans further insight in to these well loved stories.

THE GREAT DIARY PROJECT, until 14 October. Using documents from The Great Diary Project archive at Bishopsgate Institute, this exhibition offers unique insights into the lives of children and teenagers at particular moments in history.

TOY STORIES, until 14 December. An exhibition of photographs by Gabriele Galimberti explores the role and function of toys in the lives of children around the world. The collection reflects the impact of the children’s backgrounds and families on their choice of toys and highlights the universality of play.

FAMILY FUN FRIDAYS. A day of creative fun, run as a drop-in from 11am-4pm.

ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark, Greenwich SE10, 020 8858 4422, www.rmg.co.uk Royal Museums Greenwich holds the world’s largest maritime collection. It is housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and incorporates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the 17th-century Queen’s House, and Cutty Sark. The Museums works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people, and is also a major centre of education and research. Open 10am-5pm daily. General admission is free; some buildings, special exhibitions and events have an admission fee.

EXPLORE SATURDAYS. Meet a character from the past and take part in an exciting performance that brings maritime history to life. Suitable for ages 6+. Noon, 1, 2 and 3pm start, free.

DISCOVER SUNDAYS. Be inspired by the museum’s galleries and take part in free design, craft, illustration and music workshops designed for families. Suitable for all ages. 11.30am-1.30pm and 2-5pm, free.

PLAY TUESDAYS. Young children can have fun with their families as they explore the Museum through making, music, dance and drama.

Timed sessions; collect tickets from the admissions desk.

LONGITUDE PUNK’D. Until 4 January 2015. The Royal Observatory celebrates the creations of wacky inventors, star-gazing scientists and extremely elegant explorers of the 18th-century. Nine UK ‘Steampunk’ artists have created new works inspired by the technical inventions that were presented to the Board of Longitude between 1714 and 1828.

10am-5pm.

THE GREAT EXPLORER., The Great Explorer is a magical new interactive game for visitors to the National Maritime Museum. Borrow a tablet device from the museum and set sail across the Great Map to explore distant lands and discover treasures from all around the world.

Where will you visit and what will you find? Take a photo and share your adventure @NMMGreenwich #greatmap.

MUSEUM OF LONDON MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS, West India Quay E14, 020 7001 9844, www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands, and MUSEUM OF LONDON, London Wall EC2Y 5HN, 020 7001 9844, www.museumoflondon.org.uk Open daily 10am-6pm, admission free. Regular programmes of weekend and holiday events and workshops help visitors find out more about London’s history, covering events such as the Great Plague, Londoners’ jobs and occupations, and Roman life.

GRANT MUSEUM GRANT MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UCL, University Street, London, WC1E 6DE,020 7679 2000, www.ucl.ac.uk/museums EXPLORE ZOOLOGY, 13 September. See some of the most amazing animals for family hands-on specimen based activities. Have you ever wondered what the skin of a python feels like or how sharp a shark’s tooth is or how many spots a leopard has? Bring along your budding zoologists and be inspired to ask these questions in a hands-on specimen-based day with enthusiastic museum educators. 1-4.30pm, free drop in.

WOODLAND FARM TRUST 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, Kent DA16 3RP, 020 8319 8900, www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org Woodlands Farm Trust is an 89-acre working city farm. Find out about farming life and experience the countryside including native bird species, butterflies, wild flowers and ancient woodland. Open 9.30am-4.30pm Tuesdays to Sundays.

BAT WALKS. Experience a bat walk around Woodlands Farm. With a number of different bat species living on the farm this is a great opportunity to find out more about bats. Ages 6+, book first. £4 adults, £2 per child.

ROYAL ARSENAL, Woolwich SE18 6ST, 020 8855 7755, www.firepower.org.uk Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich tells the powerful and dramatic story of artillery, scientific discoveries made through warfare and human stories of courage and endeavour. The ‘ground shaking’ Field of Fire audio-visual show puts you in the midst of battle as shells whizz overhead and guns roar.

The Royal Arsenal was one of the most important centres in the world for munitions manufacture and until recently was a well kept secret from the public. Many of the guns and carriages on display were made in the Arsenal, making it a significant part of the local heritage. Together with a world class collection of artillery and associated weapons, uniforms, drawings, displays of diaries and medals bring together some 700 years of world artillery history, Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays.

Admission £2.50 children, £5.30 adults, £12.50 families.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS, until 11 November 2018. A new exhibition about the Great War bringing to life artillerymen of different nations, through extracts from their diaries, letters home and photographs. There had never been a war like WW1 and hopefully there never will be again.

By 1914, man found that he had the weapons, technology and ability to kill, maim and destroy...

BRITISH MUSEUM BRITISH MUSEUM, Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG, 020 7323 8181, www.britishmuseum.org The British Museum was founded in 1753, the first national public museum in the world. From the beginning it granted free admission to all ‘studious and curious persons’. Each year nearly 6 million visitors pour through the doors to see the museum’s collection of ancient and historical artefacts including the ever-popular Egyptian mummies, or to take in the latest block-buster exhibition. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free, charge for some exhibitions.

ANCIENT LIVES, NEW DISCOVERIES, until 30 November. Interactive technology reveals the secrets of ancient, preserved bodies. From a priest’s daughter to a temple singer, a middle-aged man to a young child, a temple doorkeeper to a woman with a Christian tattoo, find out how they lived and what happened to them after they died. Booking recommended. Under 16s free, adults £10.

MING: 50 YEARS THAT CHANGED CHINA, 18 September 5 January. Between AD 1400 and 1450, China was a global superpower run by one family - the Ming dynasty - who established Beijing as the capital and built the Forbidden City. During this period, Ming China was thoroughly connected with the outside world. Chinese artists absorbed many fascinating influences, and created some of the most beautiful objects and paintings ever made. The exhibition will feature a range of these spectacular objects, including exquisite porcelain, gold, jewellery, furniture, paintings, sculptures and textiles, from museums across China and the rest of the world. Many of them have only very recently been discovered and have never been seen outside China.

BRIXTON WINDMILL Windmill Gardens, End of Blenheim Gardens, London, SW2 5EU, 020 7926 6056, www.brixtonwindmill.org WINDMILL TOURS. Explore the windmill with one of their tour guides.

Visit the ‘two mills in one’ and hear the intriguing story of the Ashby family. You will see the original wind-powered machinery and find out how it was once used to make stoneground flour. Dates vary, and booking required. free.

OPEN HOUSE AND HARVEST FESTIVAL, 20 + 21 September.

Theatre, Shows & Music FAIRFIELD CROYDON

UNICORN THEATRE

FAIRFIELD, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1DG, 020 8688 9291, www.fairfield.co.uk HEY, PRESTO! 13 September. Presto the cat is a very talented magician, so when he and his best friend Monty the dog join a funfair and start a magic show things look good for the duo. But fame goes to Monty’s head and soon Presto loses his friend and his show! Based on Nadia Shireen’s book, this is a song-filled show for ages 3+. Tickets £10.

THE GRUFFALO, 7+8 October. Meet a wheeler-dealer Fox, an eccentric old Owl and a maraca-shaking, party mad Snake! Tall Stories’ hit musical stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s award-winning picture book has songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3+. Tickets £11.50.

UNICORN THEATRE, 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ, 020 7645 0560, www.unicorntheatre.com GET UP AT THE WEEKEND. Join the Unicorn Play Club every Saturday from midday. Take part in free activities in the foyer such as rocket building, cake decorating or even Olympic musical chairs.

SEESAW, 6 Sept - 2 November. Being little can be hard work. There are holes to dig, sand castles to make, treasures to find, adventures to be had. It’s much easier when you have a friend to help. But what if making friends is hard work too? Age 2+, £10-£16 TALES FROM THE MP3, 11-13 September. Young people from the award-winning 20 Stories High tell each other’s true stories straight from their MP3 players. As they hear the words in their headphones, the performers deliver line for line to the audience what they are hearing live. Age 13+, £10-£16 THE SECRET LIFE OF SUITCASES, 18 Sept - 12 October. Larry works in an office and he likes it very much. He likes sorting and tidying and putting things in order. But one day a suitcase appears at his door with Larry’s name on it. And this suitcase has a mission... Age 4+, £10-£16 SOMETHING VERY FAR AWAY, 20-28 September. Kepler is an ordinary man who loves two things beyond all others: the cosmos and his wife Tomasina. After a sudden and tragic loss, he looks to the stars for answers and journeys deep into space to keep the thing most precious to him alive. A moving tale of love, loss, space and time that uses puppetry, music, sound and live animation to create a unique performance that will enchant children and adults alike. Age 8+, £10-£16.

ALBANY THEATRE Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG 020 8692 4446, www.thealbany.org.uk DISCO KIDS: JUNGLE BOOGIE, 21 September. Welcome to the jungle! Get ready to go wild for DJ Jean Genie and C12 Dance’s return to Disco Kids. Swing down from the tree tops for a†jungle boogie with your little monkeys, explore the Albany’s deep, dark forest, and get creative in the colouring canopy. 2-5pm / £6 single ticket, £20 family ticket.

CIRCUS FAMILY WORKSHOP, 28 September. Tumble, fly, swing and spin with your chicken. £14 for two tickets.

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SEESAW - UNICORN

SECRET LIFE OF SUITCASES - UNICORN

SOMETHING VERY FAR AWAY - UNICORN

MoreWhat’sOn Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

ZIPPOS CIRCUS

THE TALE OF THE BUNNY PICNIC

9-16 September, PECKHAM RYE COMMON, Strakers Road SE15 3UH, 0871 210 2100, www.zipposcircus.co.uk This year’s show is ‘Unchained’ - a colourful and action-packed medley of thrilling new acts from around the world including astonishing aerial acts, contortion, juggling, clowning and feats of unimaginable strength and skill. The new line-up includes flying aerial antics, a new equestrian act, awesome contortion, classic clowning, and the astonishing strongman Hercules. Once again, the show is presented by the one and only Norman Barrett MBE accompanied by his world famous budgies. Tickets £7-£25.

28 September, BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road SE1 8XT, 020 7957 8986, www.bfi.org.uk It’s time for the annual bunny picnic but young Bean Bunny is left out of the preparations. Feeling hard done by, he wanders into a lettuce patch and is shocked to discover the farmer’s dog on patrol. This rarely-seen treasure from the Henson film archive is full of fun, excitement and more muppet bunnies than you can shake a carrot at.

Hop along to the Bunny Picnic Workshop with your little ones and they’ll be able to become puppet masters! Create your own animal-related adventures by drawing ideas onto a storyboard, and then have a go at making your lead animal character into a puppet by using special arts and crafts techniques. Maybe your story will feature a pack of dogs, a school of fish, or even a jungle? All ideas are welcome, and we’ll be offering prizes for the craziest-looking puppets and the most creative stories.

Workshop 11.30am, film 1.30pm, tickets from £8.50.

SUNDAY FAMILY JAZZ 28 September, THE CONSERVATOIRE, 19-21 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ, 020 8852 0234, www.conservatoire.org.uk Grown up jazz for little people. A fun way for you and your child to explore musical opposites with some of London’s best jazz musicians.

Jazz is simple to understand. It’s high and low, it’s fast and slow, it’s yes and no. And it’s fun. 4pm, £5 children, £10 adults.

STORY DAYS AT THE GLOBE Sackler Studios, SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE, 21 New Globe Walk SE1 9DT, 020 7401 9919, www.shakespearesglobe.com/education Dynamic and unforgettable retellings of Shakespeare’s stories by Globe Education story tellers, suitable for the whole family. Ages 6+. 11am and 2pm start. Tickets £15 for one adult and one child.

STOMP AMBASSADORS THEATRE, West Street WC2H 9ND, 08448 112 334, www.theambassadorstheatre.co.uk Celebrating its 10th sensational year in London, Stomp is now fresher, faster and funnier than ever before.3pm and 8pm, tickets from £26.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL Until December 2014, CAMBRIDGE THEATRE, Earlham Street, WC2H 9HU, 0844 412 4652, www.matildathemusical.com Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda is the captivating musical masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dares to change her destiny.

Art Activities DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY, Gallery Road, Dulwich Village SE21 7AD, 020 8693 5254, www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

FREE FAMILY TRAIL. Ask a gallery assistant or stop by at the Gallery Friends desk for a free trail; updated frequently and available for the permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Museum open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Fridays, from 11am weekends and bank holidays. Admission free for accompanied children, £6 adults.

Listed activities free for families with a gallery ticket or £3 per child.

SOUTH LONDON GALLERY, 65-67 Peckham Road SE5 8UH 020 7703 6120. www.southlondongallery.org

ARTPLAY, first and last Sunday of each month. Creative drop-in workshops for adults and children, with a different activity each session.

Make anything and everything from bunting to block printing and all things in between. 2-3.45pm.

Hands-on family workshops exploring the themes of the gallery’s current exhibitions. These artist-led workshops are experimental and playful so come prepared to be spontaneous.†2-4pm, all welcome, ages 3-12, no booking required.

THE SUNDAY SPOT

ZIPPOS CIRCUS

THE WALLACE COLLECTION THE WALLACE COLLECTION, Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500, www.wallacecollection.org The Wallace Collection displays wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess, in their main London townhouse. Family multi-media tours and trails bring the exhibits to life for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm daily, admission free.

ART AT SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2A 3PB, 020 7440 4263, www.soane.org Tucked away in Lincoln’s Inn Fields at the heart of London, this magical, mysterious museum encourages young visitors to explore Soane’s treasures and develop new skills with specialist guidance. Sir John Soane (1753- 1737) was an inveterate collector, filling every nook and cranny of his beautiful home with items that fascinated him. From fossils to classical fragments from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and from contemporary paintings to architectural models, drawings and literature, he intended that after his death both his house and its extraordinary contents should be used to educate and inspire. Free drop-in activities run on the third Saturday of every month, with activities for all ages and families can take part together from 1.30-4.40pm.

SOMERSET HOUSE FAMILY EVENTS SOMERSET HOUSE, Strand WC2, 020 7845 4600, www.somersethouse.org.uk Free family workshops run on Saturdays from 2-3.30pm. Tickets available from 1pm from the information desk. Children aged 6-12 years must be accompanied by an adult.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY TRAFALGAR SQUARE WC2N 5DN, 020 7747 2885, www.nationalgallery.org.uk Open daily 10am-6pm, Fridays to 9pm, admission free.

With over 2,300 paintings in the collection, there are hundreds of reasons to visit the gallery, along with free hands-on art workshops for families at weekends and during school holidays. No need to book, but places are limited and allocated on arrival up to one hour before the start.

MAGIC CARPET STORYTELLING, every Sunday. Fly away for a story on a magic carpet, coming to land in front of a different painting each week. Ages 2-5, 10.30am and 11.30am starts.

FAMILIES AT THE TATE TATE BRITAIN, Millbank SW1, 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk/britain Open daily 10am-5.50pm, and until 10pm the first Friday of the month.

Family trails are available daily from the Information Desks and are free for 5yrs and under. Go on a journey around Tate Britain and post your discoveries into your ‘Post it’ box as you go. When you get home, open up the box and show your friends what you found. Or you could follow the ‘Join up’ trail: play the listening game, search for shapes, patterns and talking hands, and make your own sculptures.

Every weekend the free Art Trolley encourages children to imagine and create, make colourful collages, style a wonderful sculpture or perhaps make a sketchbook and fill it with great ideas.

Are you looking for...

Childcare, summer daycamps, local schools, party entertainers, What’s On listings, parenting advice, health tips, things to do, or competitions?

Our NEW LOOK website has it all!

www.familiesse.co.uk “... endless ideas for families”

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and finally...

A S K

T H E

E X P E R T

My partner and I have been together for years and we have three children We don’t have Wills.

What will happen if he dies before me?

Will I automatically inherit from him?

Would it be better if we were married?

When someone dies and there is no valid Will, they are said to die “intestate” and “intestacy rules” govern how a person’s assets are distributed in such circumstances. These rules do not make any provision for couples who are not married or in a civil partnership to inherit from each other; everything passes to children, or, if there are no children to members of the family, such as parents or siblings.

...even married couples do not automatically inherit everything from each other Under the intestacy rules, even married couples do not automatically inherit everything from each other. The rules are due to change, however, and the new rules should make it easier for families in the future.

Currently, the rules state that, where someone dies intestate leaving a spouse or civil partner and direct descendants such as children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, the spouse / partner takes the first £250,000 and personal belongings. They then have a life interest in one half of the balance, and

the children take the other half. A life interest means that the surviving spouse can use the property or receive its income until their own death at which point the property passes to the deceased’s children.

Under the new rules, which are expected to come into force on 1 October 2014, the surviving spouse or partner will still receive the first £250,000 and the personal belongings, but they will receive half the balance absolutely, so it is their own property. The remainder of the balance will continue to go to the children.

The rules were last reviewed back in the 1970s and we’ve seen big changes in what defines ‘family’ since then. Although the new rules are welcome, and well overdue, without a will, you still can’t make sure that your family will be cared for in the way you would wish. Whatever your marital status it’s worth making a Will – but if you’re not married and have significant assets such as property in sole names, then it should be top of your list. It’s also important where there is a second marriage with children from previous relationships.

Making a will is something that people often put off but it’s not a difficult thing to do and it means you get the outcome you want.

...without a will, you still can’t make sure that your family will be cared for in the way you would wish

About the author: Rose Walker is a Chartered Legal Executive and has worked for south east London Solicitors, Grant Saw, for twenty years. Her work includes making bespoke Wills for individuals and for couples as well as dealing with matters relating to the administration of an estate following a bereavement. If you would like to find out more, please call for a free initial chat about your requirements on 020 8858 6971 or e-mail rw@grantsaw.co.uk.

Families South East PO Box 11591 , London SE26 6WB Tel: 020 8699 7240 Email: info@familiesse.co.uk Contact: Robina Cowan Party planning and entertainment

Handyman For all your household repairs and odd jobs.

I offer a professional and courteous service

Adult & Children’s Entertainer Magic, Plate Spinning Balloon Modelling Interactive Games Karaoke, Mini Disco

Tel: 020 8480 8176 www.amigosmagic.co.uk

themed games, face painters, bouncy castles, entertainers & complete party planning We are here to make their day special and stress-free.

Call us for a quick chat or email for further details!

0751 611 9338 email minimesparties @mail.com

www.minimeschildrensparties.co.uk

France with the Family Justine’s family friendly house in rural Normandy is available to rent.

Sleeps 6+, fully equipped, beautiful location Contact Justine@Justinecrow.co.uk thenormandienest.wordpress.com

www.shaunthehandyman.co.uk 020 8249 3264 or 07913 656 502

PAINTING & DECORATING Interior / Exterior Experienced, Reliable, Clean Fully Guaranteed / Insured FREE ADVICE AND QUOTE John:- James & Lamont

020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695

Bumps,Babies & Beyond Effective, safe treatment and care for you and your child, from pregnancy to early years and onwards through life.

The Vale Practice Osteopathy, Cranial Osteopathy, Acupuncture, Nutrition, Massage, Counselling and much more...

64 Grove Vale, London SE22 8DT

T. 020 8299 9798

E. info@thevalepractice.co.uk

www.thevalepractice.co.uk

familiesse.co.uk

child & adolescent psychotherapy parent support parent / infant therapy Consultation & Treatment London SE22 Jackie: 0797 092 7001 vanrosetherapy@gmail.com I am a professional member of ACP

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Conservatoire Nursery opening January 2015 A brand new nursery is opening at The Conservatoire in the heart of Blackheath. It will offer a homely and creative environment with art and music to inspire your child to grow in confidence, make friends and develop their love for learning.

London Early Years Foundation is a family of 28 nurseries that works with parents and communities to enrich and extend children’s learning, so every child is the best they can be. As a social enterprise all profits are reinvested in our staff and nursery spaces.

Phone 07858915044

Special offer!

Register for a place before January and receive 10% off your fees for the first three months!

Email conservatoire@leyf.org.uk Web www.leyf.org.uk/conservatoire Address 21 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ

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

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

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

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

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MAGAZINE DESIGN: Lancasters 020 8658 9975 www.lancasters.co.uk Printed on paper from sustainable forests. www.russellpress.com

Call or email Charlene to find out more.